We are all tempted to sin, but we don’t have to give in to that temptation.

In chapter 3 of Colossians, Paul offers wisdom for living out our lives in obedience to Christ –

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory”. (Col 3:1-4).

As we seek those things which are above (Col 3:2) we experience peace, hope and joy.

When we follow Jesus in obedience and seek to bring honor and glory to Him, rather than ourselves, we find abiding peace and inexplicable joy.

Do you know someone like this—someone who daily dies to themselves and their desires and their needs…but it is right there that they truly live?

And make no mistake, with them, God is not just giving them peace but bringing amazing light into the darkest of darkness and setting captives free. These, often suffering, saints don’t just cognitively believe in the crucifixion, they have, themselves, been crucified with Christ.

They no longer live for the emptiness of temporary worldly, satisfaction…. they’ve answered a higher, better calling to an eternal purpose.

I’m not just talking about pastors, missionaries and the like. I’m talking about ordinary people you know, some of you who are reading this right now—people who serve day in and day out the cause of Christ.

They do things like endure the hard marriages, they care for the elderly parent, they patiently raise the child with special needs who will never leave home.

They love the prodigal. They serve the homeless, and pick up the broken and addicted. They study the Word and preach in the small churches and the hard places. They care for the orphans and seek out the lonely. They love the hard to love.

Like their Savior,
they daily deny themselves—
their comfort,
their dreams,
their finances
for a GREATER good
and a HIGHER cause.

Yes, they’ve been hurt, knocked down, scarred and disappointed in the battle; but their eye remains steadily on the eternal, better prize.

But each of them will tell you their strength is not their own.

Human love would have walked away long ago.

Jesus is the source of their strength and their love.

Over and over, day by long day, they place their hope in the One True King who will right all the wrongs, heal all the wounds and make all things new.

And as they quietly follow God’s ways and do the hard things, and patiently serve, a lost world sees Jesus in them.

One by one, dying people catch a glimpse of what it means to truly live. People want what they have!

And disciples make disciples …and the Kingdom of God advances….

One person,
one decision,
one day at a time.

Oh friend, oh soldier, be encouraged! Keep on! Encourage others to keep on keeping on! God is at work in you and through you!

He sees you!

And one day… our eyes will behold His glory! Our faith will become sight! 🙌🏻Victory belongs to our Lord!!

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory”. (Col 3:1-4).

What a Savior!!!

readColossians

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