Colossians 3:3-11 "Hide Away"

Read Colossians 3:3-11.

"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." NIV

I love that I am now "hidden" with Christ in God. When Shay was about two years old, we'd play hide and seek with him. Jim would take Lauren and help her, and I would help Shay. One night, I hid him in a pile of 15 stuffed animals arranged on his floor. It was very ET-esk. All you saw was this little boy's head in among bear, duck, and dog heads. And he was good, too. All he moved were his eyes. Lauren never saw him, and it took Jim a while, too. When anyone looked at the stuffed animals, all they saw was a montage of stuffed animals.

This is what I imagine it means to be hidden with Christ in God. We just melt away from the direct view of mankind, and what they see is God, not me. That's the goal anyway. Unfortunately, there are things that we must put to death for that to happen in its clearest form.

Sometimes we can just fly over these lists of traits that we need to rid our life of and fail to really think how those words translate into the actions of our present society. So let's break it down.

sexual immorality
impurity
lust
evil desires
greed (idolatry)
anger
rage
malice: wanting to cause another pain or wish them ill will.
slander
filthy language
lying

Here's the way The Message says it:

3:5 And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God.

3:6 It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger.

3:7 It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better.

3:8 But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.

3:9 Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire.

3:10 Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.

It's impossible to hide ourselves in Christ if we continue to clothe ourselves with the evil of the world. They are in stark contrast to one another and by the way, we know better. If we take off these things, people will see Jesus, not our sin. Do you want to be hidden in Him?

Further Thoughts:

1. Read through the list of "put offs" again. What ones do you need to work getting rid of? Why do you hang onto it?
2. Another way of asking question one is, "When people look at you, do they see Christ or one of those sins listed above?"
3. What other Scripture talks about putting off the old self?

Ephesians 6:14b "Guard Your Heart"

"...with the breastplate of righteousness in place...." NIV

After the belt of truth comes the breastplate of righteousness. The Greek word for righteousness is dikaiosune. It means the "state of him who is as he ought to be, ...the condition acceptable to God." So this is why righteousness is in our breastplate -- to cover our heart. It's the center of our desires and our values. It governs where we place our trust and loyalties. And we want to guard our heart to remain in a state that is pleasing to God. Interestingly, it's the state where we began - before the fall. A righteous person is living as God designed us to be. When He cleansed me from my sin at conversion, He made me again the person He planned for me to be. And if I will put on my armor, the breastplate will protect that purified condition. Again, however, I must choose daily to put on that breastplate. I must choose to stay away from the old self and protect the new.

Lord, thank You that you not only cleanse my heart from my sin and separation from You, but You provide the protection to guard my heart. I choose, today, to put on my breastplate and live in righteousness.

Further Thoughts:

1. God called Noah a righteous man. Reread his story and be reminded of what God can do with a person fully devoted to Him. Genesis 6:5-9:17.
2. Look at what Jesus had to say about righteousness in Matthew.
3. Are we a slave to sin or to righteousness? Read Romans 6, then Romans 8
4. Have you let the breastplate slip and tainted the righteousness that is yours through salvation? If so, confess it, stop doing it, and choose to guard your heart for God.

Ephesians 4:25-32

"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." NIV

When you see "Therefore," figure out what it is there for. Paul has been telling these converted Gentiles to live out the new life they have been given through Jesus Christ. Put off the old self and put on the new. Now he describes some specific behaviors and attitudes that need to be altered to line up with a life pleasing to God.

Everything Paul lists is rooted in selfishness. Lying - keeping yourself out of trouble or making yourself look better. Anger - not happy with how things are affecting you, so lash out at someone else or maybe just because you are not getting your way. Stealing - laziness. Unwholesome talk - again, you think it makes you look cooler or better than someone else; putting someone else down to elevate yourself. But the things that Paul tells us to put on are unselfish acts - kindness, compassion and forgiveness. A self-absorbed focus will destroy us. Part of taking off the old self is turning the spotlight of my attentions off of myself and onto those around me - those hurting, in need, or ones who just don't know Jesus.

Lord, reposition my internal spotlight. Help me recognize my sin for the selfishness it is. Teach me to be content with who I am and what I have and to look outwardly to others and their needs and feelings. I do not want to grieve Your Spirit, Lord.

Further Thoughts:

1. Compare these "old self" attitudes with the Fruit of the Spirit that we are to live out in the "new self" as described in Galatians 5:22-23.
2. Some will say it's okay to get angry because Jesus did. Reread that passage where Jesus gets angry. Is it rooted in selfishness or something else? (See John 2:12-17)
3. The antithesis of selfishness is service. Using a concordance, look up Scripture with the word serve, service, or serving.
4. Do you still struggle with any of these things Paul is telling us to "put off?" List them and surrender them to the Lord. Ask Him to forgive you and point you in a new direction.