Colossians 3
Rules for Holy Living
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[1] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[2] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
This scripture speaks so totally to recovery. In a time when people are more polarized than we have been for a long time (at least politically) we must keep constant reminders like this one to continue doing the good things that recovery has taught us to do.
In the weight loss program that I am currently participating in, I could all too easily lose all of the progress that I may make toward my goals of a healthier self by forgetting the disciplines of correct eating and exercise.
This is no different in our spiritual lives. We must continue to fight the good faith and constantly remind each other of God’s grace that allows us to accept ourselves and other just as God has. This grace gives us the power to continue to do what God calls us to do.
I pray that Gods grace will shine its light into your life and allow you to see and accept yourself as God sees you, and to accept those that God brings into your life. May we learn to daily give and receive God’s grace in all of the different forms that God showers us in it.