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 Matthew 27:14 He answered him to never a word.He had never been slow of speech when he could bless the sons of men, but he would not say a single word for himself. "Never man spake like this man," and never man was silent like him. Was this singular silence the index of his perfect self-sacrifice? Did it show that he would not utter a word to stay the slaughter of his sacred person, which he had dedicated as an offering for us? Had he so entirely surrendered himself that he would not interfere in his own behalf, even in the minutest degree, but be bound and slain an unstruggling, uncomplaining victim? Was this silence a type of the defencelessness of sin? Nothing can be said in palliation or excuse of human guilt; and, therefore, he who bore its whole weight stood speechless before his judge. Is not patient silence the best reply to a gainsaying world? Calm endurance answers some questions infinitely more conclusively than the loftiest eloquence. The best apologists for Christianity in the early days were its martyrs. The anvil breaks a host of hammers by quietly bearing their blows. Did not the silent Lamb of God furnish us with a grand example of wisdom? Where every word was occasion for new blasphemy, it was the line of duty to afford no fuel for the flame of sin. The ambiguous and the false, the unworthy and mean, will ere long overthrow and confute themselves, and therefore the true can afford to be quiet, and finds silence to be its wisdom. Evidently our Lord, by his silence, furnished a remarkable fulfilment of prophecy. A long defence of himself would have been contrary to Isaiah's prediction: "He is led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." By his quiet he conclusively proved himself to be the true Lamb of God. As such we salute him this morning. Be with us, Jesus, and in the silence of our heart, let us hear the voice of thy love. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Samuel 7:3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines."1 John 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols. 2 Corinthians 6:17,18 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. • "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Exodus 34:14 -- for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God-- 1 Chronicles 28:9 "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever. Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 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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