Anglican Daily Fountain 20 October 2023 (Devotional Today)

TOPIC: ABSTAIN FROM EVERY APPEARANCE OF EVIL

TEXT: Colossians 3:1-17(KJV)
3:1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
3:2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3:3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
3:4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
3:5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

3:6. For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
3:7. In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
3:8. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
3:9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
3:10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
3:11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

3:12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
3:13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
3:14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
3:15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
3:17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Anglican Daily Fountain 20th October 2023 STUDY:

In this epistle, Apostle Paul, pointed out three basic things about human behaviour and their relationship to God. First, we should consider ourselves dead and unresponsive to evil desires: Sexual sin, impurity, lustful desires and materialism.

Christian men and women should be open to true love and to sexual intimacy within the commitment to lifelong fidelity. That is God’s way. The rest is dangerous and futile. Sexual sin and perversion drain our energies and turn our hearts away from God. Second, Paul advises us to lay aside the old self and put on the new. In other words, we are to be done with our old morals and commit ourselves to what Christ teaches. Paul appealed to believers to hold fast their profession in Christ (Heb. 10:23-24). Thus, lying to one another disrupts unity by destroying trust; it tears down relationships and may lead to serious conflict in church society.

Third, Christians are to forgive one another, realising how much God forgives them. Is it difficult for you to forgive someone who has wronged you a little when God has forgiven you so much? God’s infinite love and forgiveness can help you love and forgive others. Don’t quench your life with bitter feuding (Heb. 12:15); live renewed in love and joy.

Finally, Apostle Paul asks us to (1) imitate Christ’s merciful, forgiving attitude(Col. 3:12-13);(2)Let love guide our life(Col.3:14);(3)Let the peace of God rule in your heart and always be thankful(Col. 3:15);(4) Keep God’s Word in you at all times(Col. 3:16);(5)Live as Jesus Christ’s representative(Col.3:17).

PRAYER: God please grant me abundant grace to live worthy of Your holy name, Amen.

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