[:en]SCRIPTURE: COLOSSIANS 3
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2)
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14)
“Whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17)
RULES FOR HOLY LIVING (vs. 1-17)
- Put heaven priorities into our daily practice by concentrating on the eternal value rather than the temporal matters.
- Put to death all earthly nature: sexual sin, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed
- Rid yourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language from your lips
- Do not lie, exaggerate, gossip or boast. Be committed to tell the truth
- Put on the new self by matching your conduct with your faith
- There should be no barriers of nationality, races, education, social status, wealth, gender or religion because Christ is all and is in all
- Live as God’s children by imitating Christ’s compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiving spirit.
- Live in love and peace and in perfect unity with each other.
- Be thankful with gratitude in your heart by singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
- Whatever you do or say, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus.
RULES FOR CHRISTIAN HOUSEHOLDS (vs. 18-25)
- Wives should submit to her husband
- Husbands should love his wife
- Children should obey their parents
- Father should not embitter their children
- Slave should obey their earthly master by doing everything with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord
- Master must provide his slave with what is just and fair
REFLECTION:
- How is your Christian life? Are you growing spiritually?
- Have you put off the old self and put on the new self being renewed in the image of Christ?
- Are you in fellowship with fellow believers in love, peace and unity?
- How is your relationship with your family members?
- Are you doing your work heartily as if working for the Lord?
- Do you treat your workers fairly and compensate them justly?
May we strive to put Christ first and give Him pre-eminence so that we can become matured Christians to live for Him.
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