DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
RID AND TAKE OFF
Col 3:7-11
7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
NIV
There certainly is no wiggle room here at all for any part of my old self to exist within this frame I use here on this earthly kingdom. I cannot get around those words ‘rid yourselves’ in any way. How can I continue to experience this list of behaviors, of thoughts? I cannot, I have to rid myself of them. The question is; have I? When I look at this list I cannot help feel all of those emotions or behaviors are based on being self centered. This simply has to be the very center of all sin. If I have taken off my old self, which I certainly have done. When I think back to how I really was, all the stuff I actually did, how I thought about things and people, I must admit I was a really horrible person, I was an old self. I have taken that self off, but there still remain portions which fight for control of my new self. I think this is when I have to apply this ‘being renewed in knowledge in the image of my creator.’ It is a daily renewal process which must be applied. Each day I must keep my focus on him. I must allow his influence to work in my heart. I know, without question, I am a new self, a being who no longer exists for the earthly kingdom but rather for the heavenly kingdom, the Kingdom of God. Yet war does wage within my being, the old self does not want to be put to death, it wants to live, and rule in my members, thus I must be alert and aware not to allow that to happen. I must always be endeavoring to listen to his voice rather then that of my old self. I cannot walk in those ways, in which I once lived, and although I do not on the outside, I also must not on the inside. I am being renewed
1 comment:
I understand what the BIBLE is saying here, & I understand what you are saying, but as hard as I try, I cannot shake off parts of my old self. And in some ways I am worse now than I was many years before.
When I get stressed or upset, sometimes words and emotions can just spew & flow & it seems I am someone standing off to the side watching what is happening and thinking, "Is that really me ?"
Why is it that the person I really want to be, especially in times of need is not the persona that shines through. As Paul said, "why do I do that which I do not want to do and yet I do not do that which I desire to do." My paraphrasing of course.
Sometimes it seems people I know that are not Christians have a more even keeled personality and always seem to be the middle and never the ups & downs.
Just my thoughts re: that which I struggle with.
Todd
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