Raised in Christ

I was reading and came across Colossians 3. This chapter sparked my interest because I have been wondering how to address the situation that occurs often when a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but doesn't want to live a life that is Holy.

Now, by no means am I insinuating that I live a perfect Holy life day to day. That would be a lie! I do, however, TRY to live a life that's Holy and pleasing to God. I fall down. I stumble. But as all Christians know, living a life thats Holy, walking in the spirit, hearing and listening to God, is a process.

When we submit ourselves to God, we are "born again." And that is truly what happens. We are babies in Christ. We don't get saved and wake up one day completely void of sin and our sinful nature. We don't automatically have the ability to hear God clearly and do exactly what he tells us to do. NO! We're going to stumble. We're going to fall. We're babies.

But as we continue to be obedient to God's word, go through trials, and grow, we become more spiritually mature. It's just like growing up in a natural sense. And as we continue to grow and become able to handle more, God will bless us with more. But you can't get there unless you fully submit yourselves to God.

Colossians 3:1-3 says, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

That's powerful. You made the choice to say, "Hey, God. I can't do this on my own. I need you in my life. I accept you into my life. I make Jesus my Lord and savior." When you did that, you too died just as Christ died. And you were raised just as Christ was. You are a child of God. You have His grace. You are forgiven. Now, why let it stop there?

God has so much in store for us. But he can't give it to us if we WON'T obey Him! If we can't be responsible now as babies in Christ, how can He trust us to bless us with more?

So, we need to live a life that's Holy. We need to stop going after worldy things. Yeah. Sex feels good. God intended for it to feel good. But it was intended to be shared between two people who love one another in marriage. Yes, its easy to get angry and curse out the woman who cut you in line. Or key the car of the guy that broke your heart. But at the end of the day, where does that leave you?

Colossians 3:12-13 says that we are supposed to be clothed with, "compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." We are to, "bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another."

So, this is my cry to you as well as myself. Let's do our best to live a life that is Holy. Understand that you WILL fall. Romans 3:23 states, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But you repent- tell God what you've done and ask for His forgiveness- pick yourself up and keep on keeping on, living a life that is Holy, not doing what YOU want to do.

That's my ramble for the moment!