July 27, 2021 -- Colossians 3:1-11 -- Covid-wrought sins exposed
/If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3:1-11 ESV
Hmm, I wonder, what sin has Covid reignited in your life? There were so many lockdowns and so much more time spent at home, perhaps you got your Covid-20, you know, 20 extra pounds from sitting at home. Perhaps you started watching more TV and then binge-watching shows you know are not wholesome or healthy for you. Maybe you got into pornography, again, allowing former old sinful habits which had been put to death, to reemerge. I wonder how many have become gossips. Since getting together in person is not allowed, and loneliness has been exacerbated, slowly it happened that talking changed to malicious talk and gossip evolved. You can fill in the blank and acknowledge before the LORD what your sin (or tangled web of sins one which led to another) is and how you have stepped back from setting your heart and your commitment fully on Christ.
Take one look at me and you’ll know that I have Covid-20. That’s right, I’ve gained weight and not disciplined myself to deny myself and find Christ my all in all. This morning, having renewed my commitment to honour God with my body and honour Him by watching what I eat, I took a good walk. It is a small start. But my life is now hidden with Christ and it will take His Spirit in me to defeat this old, sinful nemesis.
No doubt that is true for us all. As we begin to emerge from our Covid hibernation, the passage before us calls us to renew our commitment to Jesus. Read the Bible; it is the Word of God that will show you your sin and convict you of your wrong-doing. Pray—that the Spirit would show you what needs to change and where you have compromised and lead you to repentance. Repentance is turning from sin and walking in a new direction—towards Jesus Christ. Be prepared for the Christian friend who loves you enough to broach the hard subject with you and call you to change your behavior for the sake of Christ. Ask a Christian friend to hold you accountable and help you in your march towards greater. When someone asks you for help, be honoured and be prepared to invest times of prayer on behalf of that person, times of prayer with person and offer rebuke where sin creeps up again and offer encouragement where victories in Christ are becoming evident.
Father, You call us to be holy as You are holy. It is a standard of impossible, unscalable heights. Blessed are You, Jesus, for You have taken our many sins upon Yourself at the cross and having taken away God’s reproach, given to us Your righteousness. Spirit of God, renew in us a desire for and commitment to walk in the holiness given us in Christ. Spirit of God, as others seek to walk in true community, asking our help in the pathways to holiness, help us to be prepared to be concise in rebukes and extravagant in encouragements. Triune God, Who is there in all the cosmos like You? You are rich in mercy. You are steadfastly holding out to Your people compassion. Your covenant faithfulness upholds us. Let us offer ourselves up, our words, thoughts and actions, as a fragrant offering of praise to You. Amen.
https://youtu.be/I1GiZL60c80
