Seeking Things Above Part 3
This is part 3 in our series on Seeking Things Above. We’re picking up where we left off last week in Colossians 3:15, where Paul continues to instruct us in how we ought to live.
We’re told that we need to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since we were called to peace. Having peace can be quite difficult, but we need to be at peace in everything that we do. If we’re going through a rough time, we need to rely on God, and not be troubled. If we’re in a disagreement with someone or hurt by someone, we need to remain at peace. We should work to resolve the situation in a right and godly manner, but we need to stay strong and rely on God, and also not rage or be troubled by it. It can be extremely hard to fully rely on God like that, but it’s not only what we’re supposed to do, but it’s healthier for us as well. Stress does horrible things to the body.
In the next verse, Paul says that we need to be thankful. Regardless of our lot in life, we all have something to be thankful for. Even if it’s simply the fact that we have salvation through Jesus, there is always something that we can be thankful for. It’s easy to look at what other people have or have done, and be jealous as we don’t have those things or didn’t do them. However, that’s wrong; we need to give thanks for what we do have, and be content with it.
Continuing, Paul talks about how we need to be understanding and bear with our fellow Christians. It can be so hard sometimes to get along with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Whether we disagree on some obscure theological or political idea, or whether we simply don’t get along, it can be quite a struggle to get along. As Christians, however, we need to strive to all get along. We need to deal with our brethren’s quirks and differences, and when someone wrongs us, we need to forgive each other, and move on. We can’t dwell on each other’s failings. God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, so how can we justify not forgiving a fellow Christian?
Paul then says that we need to word of Christ dwell in us. We need to know what the Bible says and how it applies to our lives. One of the worst things that we can do to our witness is when someone asks us why we believe something to simply say “It’s in the Bible somewhere”. We need to know what it says and where it says it. It destroys our witness when we don’t even know where are beliefs are. Even more than that though, having parts of the Bible memorized strengthens our walk with God and helps us to be more like what He wants us to be. Of course, having them memorized means nothing if we don’t apply them and live them. We need to make sure that we’re “not only hearers of the Word, but doers as well”.
Paul continues from there, in verse 16, saying that we need to help our fellow Christians in their walk with God, and encourage them. We all should be teaching and strengthening each other’s walk with God. If someone is going through a hard time that you’ve been through, share the verses that helped you. If someone comes to you with something that they’ve learned from the Bible, listen to them, and apply it to your life, and then when the time comes, return the favor. Now, do be careful to do this in a attitude of meekness and humility, don’t lord your knowledge over them, because that causes strife. If a fellow Christian lords their knowledge over you, ignore the manner of how they do it, rather, focus on the message. We need to also encourage them if they’re going through a rough time. Be there for them when they’re struggling.
Paul ends the section saying that all we do we need to do in the name of Christ and give thanks to God. We need to make sure that our actions glorify God, and are not sinful or harmful. We need to give thanks for what we do have, and not be jealous of those who have what we don’t. If there is something that we’re doing or would like to do and are not sure if it’s sinful or not, it’s better to just not do it. We need to make sure that all of our actions glorify God.
Next week, we’ll finish off Chapter 3.
