2-11-21 THOUGHTS

The MIND and BEHAVIOR of the Christian is TO BE FROM GOD!   If we belong to Christ, then CHRIST IS LORD.  The preoccupation with THE SELF in today’s world is ENMITY with God’s desire to put HIS MIND IN OUR MIND!  The passage area below doesn’t make much sense in the mind-set of the world today.  Words like humility, and submit and obey and serve,  work only with a person “crucified with Christ”,  not a person living to promote self!
Jesus lived in a world of slavery.  His teaching was that LOVE will overcome all evil.  Jesus planted the seed of love.  So I look at the verses below with awe.  I have far to go yet in this life.  These words surely remind me that “IT’S NOT ABOUT ME!”  I will drop my typical “emphasis” today in the first reading..  No bolding of key words.  It’s all so rich.  It speaks to us powerfully!

Col 3:12-24    So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. 18  Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19  Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20  Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21  Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. 22  Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23  Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Luke 6:35     "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil [men.]
We really have to think about this last one.  The wisdom of the world is turned 180 degrees!
1Cor 7:22    For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave.

My Prayer:
Teach us Oh God to believe, not just the easy things we want to believe, but harder things we need to believe.  Help us then to apply what we believe.  We desire to be your sons and daughters, pleasing children.  Help us, Oh Lord,  to guard what we put into our minds.  We would have the mind of Christ please.  We seek eternity with you loving Father.  
In the precious name of our Savior            Amen