Continuing our meditation in Colossians, if we don’t live by religious do’s and don’t’s, how do we live?
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3.2, ESV)
What are “things on earth”? We often think “worldly” things, don’t we? But that’s not it. Things of the earth are the legalisms. That’s the idea in Colossians 2.16 – 23, “the elemental spirits of the world,” the immediately preceding passage that we wrote about yesterday.
And go back and look at the condemnation in Philippians 3:
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (Philippians 3.17 – 19, ESV)
“Who mind earthly things.”
Does that mean we’re free of all rules? Certainly not. Paul is clear: we “put to death” and “put off” the old self. Here’s the list of things to put off from Colossians 3.5 – 11:
- Sexual immorality
- Impurity
- Passion
- Evil desire
- Covetousness, which is idolatry
- Anger
- Wrath
- Malice
- Slander
- Obscene talk
- Lying
- Prejudice (no Greek or Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, slave, free, etc.)
And the whole thing is wrapped in Jesus:
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. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory…Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3.2 – 4, 11, ESV)
I quoted Beth Moore last Sunday.
The ways & means of Jesus. Teach people to follow Jesus. If you’re a Christian minister, pastor, teacher or leader, …walk with Jesus. Seek to know him with all your heart. Consider everything loss for the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus the Lord. Then teach others to do the same. Jesus, Jesus. His ways. His means.
“His ways. His means.” That would preclude a lot of behaviors on the “put off” list, wouldn’t it? I remember years ago when our daughter was 3 or 4 years old, there was a television preacher on. I was listening for his content, checking the accuracy of his message. Melody looked at me at said, “Daddy, why is he so angry?” A good observation. A famous mega-church pastor was known for preaching against sexual immorality, trying to challenge young men to live responsibly, but he did it with anger and obscenities.
Jesus is our life. We have to do things his way. Tomorrow, we’ll look at the positive list.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8.12, 13, ESV)
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5.1 – 4, ESV)