May 10, 2017 – Colossians 3:1-2

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Colossians 3:1-2

Being raised to new life in Christ happens when we rise from baptismal waters.  Everything changes in our lives.  We learn how blessed it is to think about eternal things, not just the things of earth.  The ‘new’ things of earth decay and rust.  Through Jesus we experience a newness that is everlasting.

How often I longed to ‘grow up’ as a child.  There is n0 need to prove we are ‘old enough’ with Jesus.  Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.  Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Matthew 18:2-4.

We learn to trust God, and depend on Him as His children.  As His children, he protects us, disciplines us, and guides us.  As young parents, we take ‘responsibility’ and think  ‘standing on our own feet’ to ‘fix’ the lives of others is our duty.

A child’s innocence and purity can be destroyed when the example before him is tainted with the sin of the world. The gentleness and humility of Christ Jesus on this earth gives us hope.  He is our life and our way.

When Jesus returns to the earth – every knee shall bow. “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to me,
and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Romans 14:11.

When Christ is revealed to the whole world, we will share in all his glory…

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Colossians 3:3-4