Colossians 3:1-4
Paul is concerned about what is occupying the attention and affection of the Colossian Christians. The key words are: things above, hidden, appear, life and death. This continues the word picture of being dead to our sinful desires and raised to a new life with new desires in Christ. It also connects to 2:13-15 in that this is another conclusion of that truth (the previous conclusions were that we no longer have to try to earn God's favour through observing rituals and rules). The main argument of this passage is that since we are raised with Christ, we are dead to the philosophies and desires of this world and our sin nature. Therefore, instead of focusing our attention and affection on worldly philosophies, we should focus our attention and affection on heavenly philosophies and desires.
My life has become intricately connected to Christ and so my life is now hidden in Christ. I think what Paul is saying here is that my desires (my attention and affection) have been imprinted in Christ and only when Christ appears will my desires be fulfilled. At least that's the way it should be. It reminds me of playing peek-a-boo with Zach - if I get distracted and forget to come out of hiding, he makes noise and tries to get my attention again because his joy is fulfilled when he sees my smile and my face. The cool thing is that he has a half-smile on his face because he is already anticipating the joy and fun of my face being revealed.
The application is obvious: I wait with eager anticipation for Christ's smiling face to appear in all its glory because only then will my joy, my affection and my desires be truly fulfilled. In the meantime I am too often distracted by the ideas, desires and philosophies of this world. Jesus, may my affection and attention be directed only to you and may I wait with eager anticipation, with a smile on my face because I know that when you appear all my desires will be met and my joy will be full. The core of my heart longs only for you - nothing else will satisfy me.
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1 comment:
alot of great truths here. Sometimes we totally forget about the coming of Christ and we focu on things of this world, when really we should be anticipating the coming of Christ. It reminds me of anticipating my wedding day, and now anticipating the birth of m child. There is alot of excitement, but also a little bit of fear and wonder, but mostly great anticipation, and this should only be a hint of what it will be like when Christ returns.
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