#5 Colossians 3:1-2 Since, Then, You Have Been Raised
On February 7, 2021 by Amy Burgin
Joy: Episode#5 Colossians 3:1-2
Welcome
Amy: Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy: I’m Joy Burgin
Amy: The new word we have created for this podcast, Christgazing, similar to stargazing, is rooted in the words of the great musician and Jewish King David, who lived around 3,000 years ago.
This podcast is for those of us who share David’s desire or who wonder who God is. We make make space here for us to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD by setting our minds on his thoughts and ways. We do it by gazing on one biblical passage as Joy reads it several times and creates stillness after each reading to consider who God is and what he wants us to know. As we focus on his word, we find ourselves gazing upon his personality, his desires, his intentions, his power, and his beauty. This also makes room for a living conversation with God under the great expectation that together, we will see him, hear his voice and know him more.
Over the next many weeks, we will focus on Colossians 3:1-17. That’s a lot of verses. Today, we gaze on only the first two.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy: Before Joy brings those to us, take the next 30 seconds to pour out your heart to God, whether it be joy or sorrow, thanksgiving or heartache, worry or peace. Whatever is on your mind, name it and bring it to the Lord in these next 30 seconds.
[Pause and pour out]What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy: I’m going to ready today’s passage two times. As I read, consider the question, “What does this passage say about God?” What does he want? What is his intention and purpose?
Take a few moments to answer the question, “What does this passage tell you about God?”
[Pause and know]What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy: As I read the scripture again, consider the question, “What does this passage tell you about people?” Where do people belong? Do people have a purpose? Are people valuable?
Take a few moments to answer the question, “What does this passage tell you about people?”
[Pause and know]Lord, What Would You Have Me Know or Do Today?
Joy: As I read for the last time, ask God the question, “Lord, what would you have me do today in response to this passage?” Remember, he is a good shepherd and his sheep can hear his voice. He never condemns or belittles but rather, he lifts our heads and builds us up.
Take a few moments to listen for his voice as you ask him, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today?”
[Pause and listen]Blessing
Joy: Christgazer, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May he cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he turn his face toward you and give you peace. May you come to deeply know you are raised with him, God Most High, and invited to share his thoughts all according to his desire as written in Numbers 6:26 – 27 and Colossians 3:1-2.
One Response
Amy:
Wow. The words of King David come to my mind when he said in Psalm 8 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? … you put everything under their feet.
Can we fathom this? And not only have we been raised up with Christ, The Most High God, he also invites us to think like him when he says, “Set your hearts and your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
This reminds me of Isaiah 55:9, where the Lord declares, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Even though his thoughts are higher, he invites us to think like him, which reminds me of the verse in Episode 3, Philippians 4:8, Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy – think about such things.
These describe the thoughts of God. When I look at myself and at my people, I can have a tendency to focus on the facts of our failures. But God is not like that – he’s thinking about what’s true.
When I fail and say the wrong thing in that meeting, I have thoughts of stupidity and my head lowers but God looks at me and speaks his mind, “I love your desire to speak rightly in all situations. Stick with me and I will teach you well.” My head is raised and I want to think like him.
When my student fails, missing another school assignment, I have thoughts of worry about the future and his head lowers, but God looks at him and speaks his mind, “I know the future, plan and purpose I have for you. Stick with me and I will bring it about.” See how his thoughts lift our heads? I want to think like him.
When we remember the sins of our past, feel ashamed, dirty and grieve, God looks at us and says, “Sons and daughters, there is no condemnation and you are pure in me, white as snow.”
And speaking of snow, we can think like him because he says in Isaiah 55:10, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
His word, his thoughts manifest, are like seed and water to our minds. And we know seeds grow plants after their own kind.
Closing
Amy: We will be back next week continuing with Colossians Chapter 3. James Bryan Smith has a book titled Hidden in Christ, which is based on Colossians 3 and can be a sweet enhancement to our next many episodes. I leave you paraphrasing him again, When you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a very child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails and so do you.
It blesses me to hear from you! Please leave a reply here.