#7 Colossians 3:5-7 Put to Death, Therefore

On February 21, 2021 by Amy Burgin

Joy:
Episode#7 Colossians 3:5-7

Welcome

Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.

Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin

Amy:
Christgazing, similar to stargazing, is rooted in Psalm 27:4, which says, One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. This podcast is for those of us who share this desire or who wonder who God really 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. Each episode, Joy reads one biblical passage several times and creates stillness after each reading to consider who God is and what he wants us to know.

Since episode 5, we have been camping in Colossians Chapter 3 with the intent of covering verses 1 – 17. You may wish to memorize them with us. Recall verses 1 – 4 from the previous two episodes, “Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and the life you now live is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, you also will appear with him in glory.

Today we continue as we gaze on verses 5 – 7.

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 unmet desires, contentment, regret, gratitude, shame, pride, sadness or joy 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 he doing?

Colossians 3:5-7 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

Again? Colossians 3:5-7 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

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?” What do people think? What do people do? What do people want?

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. God wants you to know him better. He is a good, gentle and kind shepherd. He never condemns or belittles but rather, he is the lifter of our heads.

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 see his shining face of Love and Goodness inviting you to put away that which doesn’t belong to you and to walk with him in His good and beautiful ways.

One Response

Amy:
I used to walk in those ways – ways of sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed. To those who put their trust in Christ, who have been raised with him to new life, Paul says, put these to death. He implies they are separate from us and no longer fitting for us.

For many years, it was hard to look back on that shameful time in my life but something changed when my son was in middle school. I was alone in my bedroom and remembering the ways in which I used to walk. I was overcome with such grief that my son heard my crying and came into the room, “Mama, why are you crying so hard?” he asked.

I couldn’t bare to tell him.

“Well, I’m not leaving the room until you promise me you will talk to Jesus about it,” he demanded.

“Ok son, I will do it.” I answered.

When he left the room, I kept my promise. I asked, “Jesus where were you when I used to walk in those ways?” Immediately, I could see him in my mind’s eye, he was with me in those painful places of the past, looking right at me in the midst of my immorality. Maybe it was the way he looked at Peter when the rooster crowed three times.

Straight away, I was struck with an even greater grief and I asked him through bitter tears, “You died for those disgusting ways?” I was so troubled by the impurity he saw when he looked at me and the suffering he endured because of me.

I heard him answer, “I died because, when I was looking at you in that place of immorality, I could see you separated from that. And look how separated you are now! You are so separated that you grieve and weep at the thought of it.”

Wow, isn’t Jesus so kind and so encouraging?

In his book, Hidden with Christ, James Bryan Smith tells a story about a nineteenth-centruy Orthodox priest John of Kronstadt. Each morning he went into the streets and lifted up the drunken men who had slept in the gutters, saying to them, “This is beneath your dignity. You were meant to house the fullness of God.” Like Jesus, he could see sinners separate from their sin.

Because of these ways – the ways of our earthly nature – the wrath of God is coming. And aren’t we glad? Don’t we all long for the all-powerful God to put an end to all the immorality? Human trafficking? Rape? Murder? War? Genocides? Devastating greed which demands to be fed at any cost without any care of who it causes to bleed? We long for a genocide of these things.

Our God is just – one who makes everything right. He will put an end to it all in one of two ways (1) We can take on the wrath of God ourselves if we dare. Considering consuming fires, I know I don’t stand a chance, or (2) We can put our trust in Christ allowing him to separate us from our sin and to bare the wrath of God on our behalf. And this is his desire – to separate us from our sin before his wrath breaks out. And oh the benefits that come with this!

Closing

Amy:
Joy and I will be back again next week continuing wtih Colossians 3:1-17. If you want to memorize it with us, a fun app to help with that is called Remember Me. I have a link to the app and a link to the transcript of this episode in the show notes. As usual, we leave you with our familiar closing paraphrasing James Bryan Smith, When you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails and so do you.