Out With The Old

Scripture:
Colossians 3:1-10 (NIV)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on 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 now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 

Devotional:

How many times I catch myself slipping back into old habits.  How often are the old ways still creeping in?  I pray for change, to be a better person, a kinder, gentler, more loving person.  Instead I find that my temper runs short and I get really frustrated hearing the little ones fuss, cry, and snit at each other.  Too many times I had found myself ready to yell out in anger or frustration.  As Paul shares with us in the opening of Colossians we are made new in Christ.  Through grace and God’s loving hand I have been able to change over the years.  

There are still times when something of the old sneaks out.  The important thing is not to dwell on them.  When we slip up we need to acknowledge our mistake, confess our sin, and move on.  We are able to overcome what we once were not by our own efforts but because we are made new.  We are made righteous in Christ.  We must not allow ourselves to continue to purposely live our lives as we once did.  Grace is not an open checkbook allowing us to sin as much as we like.  Our goals should be to become perfect as Christ is perfect.  For we are made perfect in Christ, we will see ultimate perfection after this life and are in heaven.  We need to set the goal aiming for perfection.  However, we must also realize that we will still sin.  We cannot dwell on our failures but focus on the goal.  A marathon runner keeps their goal in mind and takes it one step at a time.  It isn’t a sprint but a continual process.  Eventually the runner will make it to the finish.  Eventually we will make it to our home in heaven…