Lurking

Today, Paul offers two very important reminders for our journey.

Colossians 3

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.

7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.

8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Lurking. I appreciate Paul’s honesty. When you begin to follow Jesus, your life doesn’t magically get easier and your live doesn’t instantly become perfect (actually that never happens in this life; but don’t tell my wife). The temptations we struggled with before we met Jesus didn’t disappear ... they are still there, lurking around, waiting for an opportunity to present themselves again. Thankfully, Paul doesn’t hang us out to dry on this issue. First, he offers some suggestions ... do your best to avoid places where these temptations exist by refocusing your life and your thoughts (verses 1,2). Then, do your best to say no when they are unavoidable (verse 5). Second, he offers some encouragement ... we aren’t alone. When we accepted God’s forgiveness, He put a part of himself (known as the Holy Spirit) inside of us to help us with the journey (verse 10,11). In church lingo, this process is known as sanctification. I pray God reminds you that you are not alone on this journey ... that He is present and wants to help.