Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 26
Friday


THINGS ABOVE

READ:
Colossians 3:1-13
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Seek those things which
are above, where Christ
is, sitting at the right
hand of God.
__Colossians 3:1
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Stepping outside and gazing heavenward on a star-studded evening always helps to soothe may soul after a trouble-filled day. When I peer into the night sky, I forget, at least for a moment, the cares of life on earth.

Ancient Israel's prolific songwriter wrote a poem thousands of years ago that still rings true: "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?" (Ps. 8:3-4).

When we try to imagine the immensity of God's heavens, our problems indeed seem trivial. Yet God doesn't think so! With all the galaxies He has to attend to, God is mindful of us. And not only are we on His mind, He cares for us.

No wonder the apostle Paul advised new believers to set their minds on things above (Col. 3:2). In doing so, we raise our thoughts above the level of earthly disputes and focus instead on our loving, heavenly Father, who wants us to know Him, to know how to live peacefully with one another, and to know that we can live eternally with Him in a place even more beautiful than the heavens.

"The heavens declare the glory of God" (Ps. 19:1). Let's join creation in praise to Him. __Julie Ackerman Link
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`````````````````Bless the Lord and sing His praises,```````````````
```````````````````Bless the Lord now O my soul;`````````````````
``````````````````Join the song all heaven raises,`````````````````
```````````````Let the anthem loudly roll! __Peterson``````````````
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Because God gives us everything,
we owe Him all our praise.

*****************Today's Bible Reading __ Colossians 3:1-13********

1 If then you were raised
with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where
Christ is, sitting at the right
hand of God. 2 set your mind
on things above, not on
things on earth. 3 For you
died, and your life is hidden
with Christ in God. 4 when
Christ who is our life
appears, then you also will
appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death
your members which are on
the earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil
desire, and covetousness,
which is idolatry. 6 Because
of these things the wrath of
God is coming upon the sons
of disobedience, 7 in which
you yourselves once walked
when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are
to put off all these: anger,
wrath, malice, blasphemy,
filthy language out of your
mouth. 9 Do not lie to one
another, since you have put
off the old man with his
deeds, 10 and have put on the
new man who is renewed in
knowledge according to the
image of Him who created
him, 11 where there is neither
Greek nor Jew, circumcised
nor uncircumcised, barbarian,
Scythian, slave nor free, but
Christ is all and in all.

12 Therefore, as the elect of
God, holy and beloved, put
on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness,
longsuffering; 13 bearing with
one another, and forgiving
one another, if anyone has a
complaint against another;
even as Christ forgave you,
so you also must do.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

That Jesus is exalted and now at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1) is
the Father's response to Jesus' prayer (John 17:5). This is constantly
affirmed in the New Testament__Acts 2:33; 5:31; Ephesians 1:20;
Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Peter 1:21;
3:22; Revelation 3:21. __Sim Kay tee
we owe Him all our praise.