Wednesday October 13, 2010

Read Colossians 3:1-3, Luke 9:22-27

As I look around the world I see the rich and the famous, the powerful and the pretty living life to the full. As the Psalmist said, they seem to have no cares, no worries and no problems in their lives. And as I look at my Christian brothers and sisters I see a very different story. Some are genuinely struggling. Others  are being hunted down for their faith. Some are made sport of. Others are poor because they support the needy above and beyond the call of duty.

Is this unfair? Is this the way it should be? Is it right? Colossians 3:1-3 helps to answer that question. You and I are called to deny ourselves daily, to take up our cross and to follow Jesus. We are called to lose our life for the sake of Jesus. We are called to a willingness to die as Jesus died. We are not to chase the things, the joys, the pleasures of the world. We are not to love the things of the world or have them close to our heart.

Spirituality we have already died with Christ. This dying with Christ has implications in the here and now. Basically our life is hidden with Christ. We can’t and shouldn’t expect a “full” life as those in the world live a full life. Our excitement, our joy, our sphere of desire lies not in this world but in the next. This world has nothing to offer us. Hence the world may see us as boring. The world may see us as sad little creatures who don’t know how to have a good time.

But they cannot steal our life away from Christ, for we are hidden in Him. They cannot, by persecution ruin our fullness of life for we are hidden in Him. They cannot detract from the significance of our life for it is hidden in Jesus.

Prayer:-

ÿ Pray that our brothers and sisters in Pakistan will know that their life is hid with Christ as they suffer immense persecution. Pray that through this hidden life, the power and glory of Christ will shine.

ÿ Pray that we will have attentive and obedient hearts and minds as we sit under the Word this coming Lord’s day.

Read 1 John 2:15-17. Are there areas or ways in which you are loving the world? What needs to be done about it?