30 Days - an Overview of the Bible in Just Thirty DaysNäide

Paradigm Shift

The term ‘paradigm shift’ was introduced by the philosopher of science, Thomas Kuhn (1922–1996). He shows how almost every significant breakthrough in the field of scientific endeavour is first a break with tradition, the old ways of thinking and the old paradigms. The astronomer, Copernicus (1473–1543), created a paradigm shift by seeing the sun, rather than the earth, as the centre of the solar system. Suddenly everything took on a different interpretation.

The apostle Paul encourages his readers to make a ‘paradigm shift’. A relationship with God through Jesus Christ affects who you are and all your relationships. See everything in a new light. Many of Paul’s letters can be divided into two distinct parts. In this one, the first part is to do with doctrine (the nature of Christ and the gospel). The second part is concerned with the practical outworking of becoming a Christian.

Colossians 3:1-17

What you believe affects how you live, which is why what you believe matters so much. Paul writes here that being a Christian will make you different from other people. How does this paradigm shift affect your life?

1. Shift yourself

There are many self-help books and much success literature that teach techniques to sort yourself and your life out and offer you superficial solutions. But what matters most is much more fundamental: your character.

You died with Christ, were raised with him and you will one day appear with him. The old self has died so that you get rid of the old ways and live in the power and presence of God. Paul uses an image of changing your clothes: you are to take off old habits and put on new ones.

• Take off the old clothes

The old clothing may involve the misuse of sex and money. There is nothing wrong with these things in themselves except insofar as they are misused or become idols. When this happens, serious consequences follow. Also, our old clothing may include sins of speech: using language aggressively and destructively. Finally, it may include discrimination. Among Christians there should be no racial, religious or class barriers. We are all God’s chosen people, holy and loved by him.

• Put on the new clothes

The new clothes offer an alternative way of behaving and responding to each other: ‘compassion’ rather than malice, ‘kindness’ rather than slander, ‘humility’ rather than anger, ‘gentleness’ rather than rage and patience rather than bad language.

2. Shift your relationships

• Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a uniquely Christian virtue. Others may forgive but only Christians have a real basis for it. You have to forgive because you have experienced God’s forgiveness: ‘Forgive as the Lord forgave you’.

• Love

Love is not just an emotion but something you are to ‘put on’ and which ‘binds everything else together’. Your love stems from the fact that youare ‘dearly loved’.

• Peace

The kind of peace that Paul speaks about here is only possible when the ‘peace of Christ’ is filling your heart.

3. Shift your attitude to Jesus

• Listening to him

We experience a longing to hear Jesus and a thirst for the word of God. Change your priorities: find time to study the Bible regularly, meditating on it and putting it into practice.

• Worshipping him

Respond to God’s love for you by expressing your love and thankfulness to him in worship – ‘as you bringpsalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts’.

• Centring your life on him

‘Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus’. Your family, your job, your friends, money, possessions and leisure activities are all important and have their place but none of them should be at the centre of your life. That place should be reserved for Jesus and him alone.

You can change. Jesus died to make it possible for you to live a new life. We must all change. As you move on in your life with Jesus, you will change. You will be transformed into his likeness.

Prayer

O Lord, fill me with the grace of Jesus so that, increasingly, his beauty may be seen in me.

References

© Nicky Gumbel, 2024

This reading plan is adapted from the book 30 Days by Nicky Gumbel. It is published by Hodder and Stoughton in the UK, and by HarperCollins Christian Publishing in the USA.