Bible League: Living His Word For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.— Colossians 3:3-4 ESV If you're a Christian, then you have died. The old you, the spiritually sinful you, has died. That part of you died on the cross with Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20). Although it tries to revive and take control again, it can never completely succeed. This is because the new you that was spiritually raised with Christ Jesus from the dead (Colossians 3:1), the new you in whom Christ Jesus lives (Galatians 2:20), the new you in whom the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16), is who you are now. The old man no longer characterizes the Christian. It can never have you back again. Our verse for today tells us that your life, meaning your new spiritual life, is "hidden with Christ in God." What does this mean? It means that the spiritually new you has a source that goes beyond anything you are in yourself. That's why the Apostle Paul can say, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). Although this can't be seen, its effects can be seen. The spiritually new you is radically different from the spiritually old you and the spiritually discerning can see the difference. Although your new life is hidden, it will not stay hidden forever. A day is coming when it will be revealed for all to see, even those who do not have spiritual discernment. It's the day when Jesus Christ returns. It's the day when His rule and reign are finally made public. On that day you will appear with Him and be publicly revealed with Him (1 Thessalonians 3:13). At that time, the new you will be more than a spiritual reality hidden with Christ that only the spiritually discerning can see. It will be a public reality that all will see—and it will be glorious. No doubt, you long for that public revelation. You long for the vindication it implies. The doubters and the scoffers will finally be forced to admit what they have missed. To their dismay, they will finally see what you have seen all along. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJudges 8, 9 Judges 8 -- Zebah and Zalmunna Taken; Gideon's Ephod and Death; 40 years of Peace NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Judges 9 -- Abimelech Conspires to Become King, Falls after 3 Years; Shechem; Abimelech NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 8:22-56 Luke 8 -- Parables of the Sower and Lamp; Jesus Calms the Storm, Heals the Demoniac, Raises a Dead Girl NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Hear my cry,for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Insight Have you ever felt that no one cared what happened to you? David had a good reason to feel that way, and he wrote, “Hear my cry, for I am very low.” Challenge Through prayer we can pull out of our tailspin and be reminded that God cares for us deeply. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 53:10 He shall see his seed; he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.Plead for the speedy fulfilment of this promise, all ye who love the Lord. It is easy work to pray when we are grounded and bottomed, as to our desires, upon God's own promise. How can he that gave the word refuse to keep it? Immutable veracity cannot demean itself by a lie, and eternal faithfulness cannot degrade itself by neglect. God must bless his Son, his covenant binds him to it. That which the Spirit prompts us to ask for Jesus, is that which God decrees to give him. Whenever you are praying for the kingdom of Christ, let your eyes behold the dawning of the blessed day which draweth near, when the Crucified shall receive his coronation in the place where men rejected him. Courage, you that prayerfully work and toil for Christ with success of the very smallest kind, it shall not be so always; better times are before you. Your eyes cannot see the blissful future: borrow the telescope of faith; wipe the misty breath of your doubts from the glass; look through it and behold the coming glory. Reader, let us ask, do you make this your constant prayer? Remember that the same Christ who tells us to say, "Give us this day our daily bread," had first given us this petition, "Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." Let not your prayers be all concerning your own sins, your own wants, your own imperfections, your own trials, but let them climb the starry ladder, and get up to Christ himself, and then, as you draw nigh to the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat, offer this prayer continually, "Lord, extend the kingdom of thy dear Son." Such a petition, fervently presented, will elevate the spirit of all your devotions. Mind that you prove the sincerity of your prayer by laboring to promote the Lord's glory. Daily Light on the Daily Path Luke 18:8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"John 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 1 Timothy 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 Timothy 4:2-4 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. • For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, • and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. Mark 13:32,33 "But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. • "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. Luke 12:37 "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Titus 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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