"SIMPLY JESUS" DAILY DEVOTIONAL
RISEN WITH CHRIST
Saturday, October 18, 2014
RISEN WITH CHRIST
Saturday, October 18, 2014
COLOSSIANS 3:1,2
1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
The Gospel is glorious indeed.
Christ died for our sins. We die to our sins.
Christ rose again in victory over sin and satan. We rise again with victory over sins and temptation.
Christ lives in heaven. We live for heaven.
God's great work of salvation through sanctification echoes throughout every page of the New Testament.
We have read it in Colossians: "Buried with him in baptism, wherein ye also are risen with Him through faith of the operation of God, who has raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:12 "Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3.
We read it in Romans: "3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life...: Romans 6:3-11'
In Ephesians we see it, "5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2:5,6)
Pagan religions are long on ceremonies and pleadings for divine favor, but short on morality and virtue. Their worship may be sincere but their worshippers are unchanged.
Legalistic religions are noted for doctrinal rigor and behavioral manipulation but they lack the Spirit of Holiness and Love. Their self-righteousness feeds their carnal pride and devolves into bitterness and blindness and belligerence.
Think Islam.
But Christ's disciples, dead to the world, alive unto God, truly love things that are above. It is our affection for heaven that renews our minds, changes our behavior, and transforms our will. Our faith is living, active, daring, obedient faith that acts by love!
We sing, "I will serve Thee, because I love Thee!" Not, "I will serve Thee, because I have to" or "I will serve Thee, because I'm afraid not to."
The difference between the earthly minded and the heavenly minded is dramatically illustrated in the tombs of the Middle East. King Tutankhaman "Tut" and all the Pharoahs of Egypt said that they believed in an after-life, but their mummified remains were buried in Pyramids with gold, elaborate artwork, precious gems, and idol servants to serve them. For the Pharoahs the afterlife was measured in terms of this world's possessions.
Travel 270 miles from the ancient Pyramids to a garden tomb outside the city of Jerusalem. Walk into that tomb that was carved out of rock near Golgotha. There you will see no gold. There you will find no elaborate artwork. There you will see no precious gems or idol servants. And neither will you find the remains of Jesus. Our risen Savior is seated at the right hand of the Father. Sure he held the things of this earth, but the things of this earth did not hold Him.
Following in His steps, we have set our affection on things above! Keep looking up.
It's not a where, it's a who upon whom we are focused!
Who? SIMPLY JESUS!
Christ died for our sins. We die to our sins.
Christ rose again in victory over sin and satan. We rise again with victory over sins and temptation.
Christ lives in heaven. We live for heaven.
God's great work of salvation through sanctification echoes throughout every page of the New Testament.
Death.
Resurrection.
New Life of Love.
We have read it in Colossians: "Buried with him in baptism, wherein ye also are risen with Him through faith of the operation of God, who has raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:12 "Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God." Colossians 3:3.
We read it in Romans: "3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life...: Romans 6:3-11'
In Ephesians we see it, "5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (Ephesians 2:5,6)
Pagan religions are long on ceremonies and pleadings for divine favor, but short on morality and virtue. Their worship may be sincere but their worshippers are unchanged.
Legalistic religions are noted for doctrinal rigor and behavioral manipulation but they lack the Spirit of Holiness and Love. Their self-righteousness feeds their carnal pride and devolves into bitterness and blindness and belligerence.
Think Islam.
But Christ's disciples, dead to the world, alive unto God, truly love things that are above. It is our affection for heaven that renews our minds, changes our behavior, and transforms our will. Our faith is living, active, daring, obedient faith that acts by love!
We sing, "I will serve Thee, because I love Thee!" Not, "I will serve Thee, because I have to" or "I will serve Thee, because I'm afraid not to."
The difference between the earthly minded and the heavenly minded is dramatically illustrated in the tombs of the Middle East. King Tutankhaman "Tut" and all the Pharoahs of Egypt said that they believed in an after-life, but their mummified remains were buried in Pyramids with gold, elaborate artwork, precious gems, and idol servants to serve them. For the Pharoahs the afterlife was measured in terms of this world's possessions.
Travel 270 miles from the ancient Pyramids to a garden tomb outside the city of Jerusalem. Walk into that tomb that was carved out of rock near Golgotha. There you will see no gold. There you will find no elaborate artwork. There you will see no precious gems or idol servants. And neither will you find the remains of Jesus. Our risen Savior is seated at the right hand of the Father. Sure he held the things of this earth, but the things of this earth did not hold Him.
Following in His steps, we have set our affection on things above! Keep looking up.
It's not a where, it's a who upon whom we are focused!
Who? SIMPLY JESUS!
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