READING: Numbers 15-18, Psalm 113, Colossians 3
It’s not my intent to limit the application of today’s New Testament reading, but instead to illustrate how allowing the Word to speak into our lives can be quite convicting and challenging. Simply listing some of Paul’s standards for believers—and then critiquing our own lives on the basis of those standards—can drill deeply into our hearts. For example, Paul writes:
- “. . . put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5)
- “. . . put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth” (Col 3:8)
- “. . . as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive” (Col 3:12-13)
- “Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you” (Col 3:16)
- “. . . whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:17)
So, the Word that tells me what to put away and what to put on. Each object in these lists is a call to self-evaluation followed by confession, if needed. Personally, I must confess today that I still cling to temporary things and occasionally allow anger to rule. I’m not always compassionate, gentle, and forgiving. Nor is it the case that I do everything I do in the name of Jesus. I have much room for growth, but that’s the power of the Word: it somehow speaks across the ages and the cultures into my heart.
PRAYER: “Lord, I plead for Your help to follow You.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Numbers 19-21, Colossians 4