Away Put Your Anger, God Has Freed You From Harm
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Colossians 3:5–8 Read More
If you have a pulse, you might have been moved by those Olympics commercials during the Super Bowl last night. As we watched them all of us guys on the couch were inspired to do just what Bret was talking about on Sunday morning; do whatever you do with all of your heart, like you’re doing it for the Lord. Lindsey Vonn didn’t return to the 2018 Olympics by giving life to her injury. Shaun White didn’t see a slope in a dinner table by contemplating his 62 stitches. Whatever you do, do it with all of your might!
It might sound extreme for Paul to say “put to death what is earthly in you.”
But that’s not what he says. This is not some motivational poster in a gym.
“Put to death THEREFORE what is earthly in you.” The word ‘therefore’ is always a signal to go back a verse or two.
‘When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ’ – Colossians 3:4
Since Christ is your life, not sexual immorality, impurity, passion, etc., you can put all of that old life to death. Christ is your life and you are going to appear with Him when He makes His grand appearance, clothed in the same glory with which He is clothed! We aren’t holy because of our determination or effort, but His holiness in us inspires us to live holy lives.
We all lived lives, to one degree or another, that deserved wrath. For some it was fear, for some it was lust, and for others, it was pride or self-hatred or apathy. All of us have lived apart from God’s will in some way and resisted or stunted His kingdom. He has taken away the wrath and consequences of that rebellion and replaced it with the greatest gifts ever. It’s like we wiped out on the ski slope, hit trees and dislocated all of our joints, then stood up completely unharmed.
Therefore, since we have been made invincible by His grace and filled with all strength according to His love, let’s put to death those old ways. Quit getting satisfaction from stuff that kills. It takes a conscious effort to not give into anger, slander, obscene talk. It might be as hard as training for 5 hours in a weight room every day.
Physical therapy hurts, but it gets your arms and legs working the way they are supposed to work. Discipline, putting to death our old evil selves that died with Christ, is hard work, but it helps us become the people Christ turned us into.
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