Bible Reading: Colossians 2:11-15, 3:1-17
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3)
Too often, our Christian life is filled with dos and don’ts. When we fail to resist temptation, we pity ourselves and our inability. On the contrary, when we succeed in leaving behind sin and putting on godly virtues, we become satisfied in pride with our capabilities. When our actions show that we have served the Lord and have contributed to the greater cause, we are convinced that we have been made right with God.
Satan deceives us into the ways of the Pharisee. When our Christian life is based on do’s and don’ts, it is no Christian life at all because, in essence, we have fallen to believe that our works can bring us salvation. If we think that by serving God, resisting sin and becoming Holy, God will be pleased, we are in grave danger.
Our goodness can never satisfy the Holiness of God. If we thought it could, we do not understand the depth of our sin. Sin is more than just an action. It is more than just lying or coveting. Sin is our heart’s attitude. When we live in sin, our hearts are in rebellion against God. Our hearts seek to satisfy ourselves, and so, fruits of sin like lying and coveting surface. We are all people who reject and forsake our loving creator. That is a severe issue deserving the eternal wrath of God.
If you think that by ticking the “Christian” boxes, you will be safe, in the deepest part of your heart, there lies pride which says, “I am still capable of saving myself, I don’t need a saviour”. With such, it is evident that you have and continue to reject God in order to rule your lives by yourself.
The basis of Christian living is not the dos and don’ts. The essence is found in who Christ is and what He has done on the cross. God wants us to grow in knowing Him, knowing who He is and what He has done for us. God did not create us to check boxes. He made us for a personal relationship with Him. That personal relationship starts from knowing what He did for each of us personally.
We all know the theoretical answers, but do we actually know what Christ has done for us on the cross from personal experience?
Read through Colossians 2 and 3 carefully. Paul and Timothy talk about how our sinful God-rejecting nature has been put to death on the cross in Christ. We who were dead to God in our sinful ways have been made alive by Christ’s power. He has also forgiven us for our terrible crime and has cancelled all the debts we had to bear. He did all this by offering His own Holy life to be ours and bearing our sins on Himself. Not only that, but He also defeated all the powers of evil, triumphing over them in the assurance that what He has done will not fail.
Do we know this Jesus? Do we know what He is? If someone asked you about your best friend, it wouldn’t be hard to describe who they are and what they’re like. However, if someone asked you, “who is this God you believe in?” would you have an answer?
The basis of Christian living is knowing God. Earnestly pray and seek to know God personally for yourself. Ask God for it with all your heart. He will not reject you because he promises to reveal Himself to you if you seek whole-heartedly (see Deuteronomy 4:29).
When we know God, works will flow as fruit that blooms. God will work it Himself in us. When we know God, then we will put to death sin. When we know God, we will grow to love and serve Him. In our Christian life, turn our focus to knowing God. From there, our life will show itself that we are people who know God.
Lord, please help me to know You. You have died for me and loved me, yet I do not actually know who You are and what You have done for me personally. Please forgive me. I focused on the dos and don’ts. You promised to reveal Yourself to those who seek You with a whole heart. I want to know You personally. Please reveal Yourself to me. Thank You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.