Check this verse
I came across this verse today from Col 3:1-2 in the Message version, “So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” Colossians 3:1-2
A good question
I thought to myself, that’s a really good question. “Am I serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ”? The writer, Paul, says – then “act like it”. Mmm, easier said than done. Yet he goes on to give some insight into how to do that.
-
Pursue things over which Christ presides.
-
Don’t be absorbed with things right in front of you, and…
-
Look up and be alert to what is going on around Christ.
A good answer?
That seems fair enough. Yet, it seems to ask more questions than it answers, right? I want to be serious about living this “new resurrection life with Christ”. And, I feel like I have been trying to figure HOW for the past 40 years. Even Paul’s 3 points create more questions.
Some helpful thoughts
Perhaps these introductory thoughts to may help you. I’ve been doing some work around them…
What is Christ currently presiding over?
Again, not an easy answer. Or, should I say that I don’t want to give a trite answer. Yet, I think Jesus is presiding over His church and our world. And regardless of what anyone thinks, His church remains both His bride and the way Jesus loves our world. Seriously… Loving God, loving others and making a difference is the best I can do to answer this question.
What is absorbing my attention now?
This becomes a little more insightful in shifting my “serious endeavour to live the resurrection life”. To be honest, the thing that is absorbing my attention at this time of life is my future. What does it look like? My money – do I have enough as I move to a more “retired” way of life? My children and their well-being and my health. Funny, all the things Jesus tells us not to worry about in Matthew 6!
What is going on around Christ?
I think it is the fact that the church is the hope of the world. Like it, leave it, ignore it, the church remains His idea of bringing redemption to our world. Yet, my perception of society and many Christians, is that they are preoccupied with other things. That although many are seeking a meaningful life, it is as if they are wilfully ignorant of what it is that will really give them this meaningful life.
There is a shift
Answering these questions is having a marginal shift in me which I think is helping me to be “serious about living the new resurrection life.”
What do you think?
I have shared some of my personal thoughts and ideas about these questions, but I would like to hear what you think?
Thanks Mark. I struggle with the same things, and somehow the closer ‘the future’ gets the greater the challenge of the unknown, the things we have no control over. I am so grateful for the life giving practice of loving God, loving people and making a difference has brought to me. It helps me not to focus on ‘the things that are absorbing my attention’.
Great Comment. Thanks Ruelle
Thank you Mark.
My comment is a big thank you for the inspirational read, as always.
I look forward to your messages which are always well received now that I am in the UK.
Thanks Trevor
Hi Mark,
Thank you for the wonderful page. Your comment “Yet, my perception of society and many Christians, is that they are preoccupied with other things. That although many are seeking a meaningful life, it is as if they are wilfully ignorant of what it is that will really give them this meaningful life.”
I agree 100% with you Mark. I have personally found, that when I am preoccupied, it is a “wilful ignorance”. The Word teaches us to be completely and utterly dependent on the Lord, but we, as humans, always want to do things our way, always in a rush and can hardly wait on the Lords time. I do, and have only the best intentions as a Christian, but my preoccupation with the world causes me to stumble away from the Lord. I have also found that when I totally, 100%, wait on the Lord, absolute peace fills me, and this is when I know that God is in control. I am trying to practice this each and every new day that our Lord blesses me with. Some days are easier than others 😊 but won’t give up.
All Gods blessings to you and your loved ones Mark.
Thanks for your comment Belinda. I agree, seeing Jesus in day life is an on going journey.
Paul speaks speaks about this tension in Phil 2:12-13, What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
God bless
Mark
One thing that has really stood out for me over the past year or so is being seated in Christ in heavenly places. It’s only now that I understand that seeing things from Christ’s perspective , seated in heaven , and not seeing things as we see them here below. Calling things that be not as though they were, living as a Son and an heir that everything changes. “On earth as it is in heaven”
Great comment Patrick. I know for me, seeing things from Christ perspective is in a sense, the faith walk. God bless