#8 Colossians 3:8 But Now You Must Also
On February 28, 2021 by Amy Burgin
Joy:
Episode#8 Colossians 3:8
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy: I’m Joy Burgin
Amy:
If you’re anything like us, you long for God’s presence and holy direction in the midst of your own wrong-thinking, unpredictable relationships with people you long to love well and calendars and circumstances that breathe down your neck and masquerade as your boss. This podcast is for you.
Or maybe, you don’t really know who this Jesus is, what he says about you, where you fit in or why you’re even here. This podcast is also for you. If you’re curious about Christ, put aside what the world or religion has told you and see for yourself who he truly is.
Here, we make room for Christgazing, the act of gazing upon the beauty of the Lord. Each week we focus on one biblical passage as Joy reads it several times and creates stillness after each reading to consider who God is and what he thinks about us.
Since episode 5, we have been camping in Colossians Chapter 3 with the intent of covering verses 1 – 17 where Paul, a follower of Jesus, is talking to those who have put their trust in Christ. Recall verses 1 – 7 from the previous three 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. Put to death, therefore, everything that 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.
Today we continue as we gaze on verse 8.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy: Before Joy read it to us, take the next 30 seconds to pour out your heart to God, whether it be anger, patience, stress, peace, a long to-do list or nothing to do – 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? Who is he thinking about? What is he doing?
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 in accordance with his desire as written in Numbers 6:24-26.
One Response
Amy:
Filling my mind with the Word of God through memorization makes more room for the Holy Spirit to personally speak to me. It also helps me recognize his voice because his voice is always in line with scripture.
When I began memorizing Colossians 3:1-17, I thought about this list: anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language and I thought “ok, ok, no problem. I’m pretty much on top of all that.” But just a few Sundays ago, our family was getting ready for church, and as is usually the case, we were running late. I don’t like to be late and this makes me angry. I let more than a few angry words fly out of my mouth on the way out the door and we drove to church in silence that morning.
I don’t remember what worships songs we sang or who even stood on that stage, but I remember what God said. God spoke ever so gently, “Amy, you’ve got to put that anger away.”
We ate lunch together as we do most Sundays after church and I confessed to my family. “You guys, here I was, memorizing Colossians 3:1-17, which specifically says, “rid yourselves of anger,” yet here I was this morning, angry, and you all felt it. Got reminded me in church what I was memorizing and told me I have to put that anger away, it’s no good.” We all laughed at me as things became right between us.
Two days later, my husband, son and I were sitting at the kitchen table, trying to read a Bible verse together but our minds were filled with many distractions. I didn’t say a word, but I was angry about these distractions. My son asked, “Mom, why are you angry?”
“I’m not,” I lied looking away as I stood up from the table.
“Mom,” he laughed, “I see that anger flashing in your eyes. You’ve got to put that away.”
I looked right at him and started to smile as the anger melted away, “You are so right.”
God giving instructions is sometimes like a good father walking down the street with his three year old. She sees a piece of trash and picks it up. It’s wet, sticky, nasty. She’s puzzled as she starts to realize something’s not quite right, but she has a strange instinct to bring it up toward her mouth. Her father leans down and stops her, “Oh baby girl, that’s nasty, we’ve got to put that away.” He leads her to the trash and then leads her to the sink where he washes her hands with soap and water. He is teaching gently and she is learning oh so much.
Closing
Amy:
Joy and I will be back again next week continuing in Colossians 3. 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.
Photo by ÉMILE SÉGUIN 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
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