Colossians In 7Sample

Read it out Do you want victory in life? Here is the secret: when we make Christ first in our lives, His story will become our story. As we appropriate His story, we appropriate His power to live life with victory. This is something we are not expected to do by ourselves, under our own authority. Look at the verses we read today. • 2:12: “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith” • 2:13: “you, who were dead .... God made alive together with Him” • 2:20: “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations” • 3:1: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is” • 3:3: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” • 3:4: “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. As we have union with Christ, we find the compulsion and attractiveness of sin begin to fade and lose its appeal. When our hearts are softened to the Gospel, we are forever changed. This is what Paul was thinking about when he describes walking with Christ in His death and resurrection. Talk it out According to Colossians, how does a Christian grow in maturity? How can you personally pursue maturity this week? Pray it out Ask God to give you a desire to seek things that are above, where Christ is. Thank God for leading you away from dead, lifeless religion and calling you toward union with Jesus.