October 3, 2023

Passage Read: Colossians 3-4
Meditation Verses: 3:5-10

Thought

"Put to death" and "you must rid yourselves" is pretty strong language. Paul isn't saying that, as we have opportunity, we should try to work on changing these things. He also isn't saying that as we are filled more with God's Spirit and His love, God will change these things in us. Paul puts the responsibility on us and calls us to make it the highest of priorities. We're supposed to kill these wrong behaviors in ourselves. We're supposed to get these things out of us. We have been made new, so anything that belongs to our old self needs to be cast out, and the things that belong to our new self are to be built in and built up.

Application

Paul doesn't allow me to consider these changes as optional or something that some day will somehow be greatly reduced. He expects me to go to war against the things that are ungodly and pour out the effort to develop those things that are godly. These behavior changes should be my highest concern and receive all effort.