Colossians In 7Sample

Read it out Before Jesus came in our lives, we were self-centered, indulgent people only concerned over our own interests. But now with Christ as the center of our being, our lives are characterized by compassion, love, forgiveness, harmony, and thanksgiving. As we grow in Jesus, we grow in these things. They are not religious items to do to get God’s attention. No, they are so much bigger. They are things that we become because the Spirit of Christ is reforming us into these things. We cannot live this life under our own strength. We desperately need the Holy Spirit to empower us, to fill us. When this happens, we will choose compassion over self-centeredness, love over hate, unity over discord. Each one of us will learn to listen daily for the Spirit of God in His Word. And we will have a newfound strength to follow Him in obedience, even through normal circumstances. Talk it out Looking at 3:12-17, what behaviors are we called to take into our lives? How can we do these things in our everyday life? Pray it out Praise God for forgiving you. Pray that His Word would richly dwell in you. Pray for your church and for its unity and effectiveness in this world.