The Life of the New Man – Colossians 3

Joy:  You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #181.  Today we’ll read Colossians chapter 3 together:  Paul covers some good ground here as he describes the life of the new man, a life in Christ, and Christ in the home.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

I know I’ve said this before, but it’s been awhile.  In case we have new listeners, I want to make it clear that I am not a theologian.  As Lysa TerKeurst from Proverbs 31 Ministries says, I’m just a Jesus-girl who likes to read and study the Bible.  My breath still catches when the God of the universe reveals something new to my spirit, and I believe strongly that Christ followers should be in the Word every single day.  Technically, I believe we should read the Bible systematically, cover-to-cover every year.  

For me, that means the whole thing.  For others, it might mean the study of a group of books, but it is systematic.  What it doesn’t mean is flopping open the Bible and reading whatever your finger lands on.  It also doesn’t mean that when we take vacations, we take a vacation from reading the Bible.  C’mon…you’re taking your tablet with you anyway…put a Bible on it.  The Bible is part of who we are; it’s part of our DNA.  It’s also our life blood.  

God-breathed

We all know 2 Timothy 3:16 & 17 by now:  All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.  Between you and I, I like the NIV (that’s the New International Version) because it says what that word inspired actually means: God-breathed. 

Envision that just for a minute.  As we’ve proved for the last 181 days, it doesn’t take that long…less than fifteen minutes a day.  Way less in most cases.  And that’s with me jabbering on both ends of the text.  You can read the whole Bible in the time you spend listening to this podcast.  Which coincidently is exactly what we’re gonna do next year.  So, I hope you all stay with me.  I already have a plan for 2021 and I’ll give you more details as we near the end of this year’s goal.

So, what about you?  Is this the first time you’ve attempted a systematic approach to reading the Bible?  Or are you seasoned and just like being read to?  No shame…I like that too.  Tell me why you’re here at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Colossians 3

The Life of the New Man

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the 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 your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator. In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.

The Christian Life

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Christ in Your Home

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they won’t become discouraged. Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

Closing Thoughts

Laura, my cousin through Mitch, is one of my most faithful listeners, God bless her.  She fell in love with the book of Ephesians.  I got the impression it was gonna be kind of her go-to, Christ-following handbook.  Well, if you’re like Laura, you’ll probably love Colossians too.  So much in this book, and especially this chapter, is almost a repeat of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. 

Remember in the intro to Colossians a couple of days ago, I told you that Epaphras visited Paul in prison at Rome just about the time the ink was drying on his letter to the Ephesians?  I mean, it makes sense, right?  That Paul would say a lot of the same things?  I know if I’d just written a great set of instructions like he did in Ephesians and had God’s confirmation that it was good, I would probably shrug and say, “Why reinvent the wheel? Sounds like that church at Colossae needs to hear some of the same things.”

And isn’t it true for us too?  Can I really be told too frequently to keep a check on that temper?  Can I be told too often to watch my mouth?  I always need regular reminders to be kind and compassionate.  How about you?  Let’s pray.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that the Colossians had so many of our own foibles and that You gave Paul the opportunity to write this good advice down.  Truly, Father, remind us that whatever we do in word or deed, to do it as to Christ, always giving thanks.  Help us to be conscientious workers, Lord.  And finally, thank You, Jesus, for taking God’s wrath for my sin – past, present, and future – so that I wouldn’t have to.  I cannot thank You enough.  Amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.