Jesus said that He came to give us “an abundant life” (John 10:10). Once we are “in Christ,” God wants us to enjoy ourselves in the Lord. Christians are to be a joyous people (Phil. 4:2). We must show our love for the Lord through our actions. One song says, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
Paul tells the Colossians that since we are Christians, our mindset must change (Col. 3:1-2). This is the message where we are told to “set our minds on the things that are above,” not “the things that are below” (Col. 3:2). “Set your minds…” tells us that it must be a deliberate choice not only to accept Christ, but one to serve Him. Jesus will not force Himself on the unbeliever, and likewise, He will not force the believer to grow in Him. We must want to. And if we want to, He has promised to equip us for the journey.
We must put everything out of our hearts and minds that is detrimental to Christian growth (Col. 3:5-11). When ever God tells us to “put something off,” He replaces it with something for good (Col. 3:12-17). We are told that we must have the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25). We must realize that once we become a Christian these characteristics don’t come automatically. They must be activated. These are attitudes we must have if we are to live the “abundant life” in the Lord. So, let’s seek to “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus” (2 Pet. 3:18). If we make this our goal, we will desire everything God has for us and will use what he has given us to help ourselves and encourage each other as we live this life in the here-and-now, waiting, watching and working for the Lord Jesus Christ. Look up! He may come today!
- Larry Miles lives in Louisville, KY and publishes "Larry's Lines" several times a week. Copyright 2009. Visit his website: http://larryslines.com/
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