Written by: Naomi Hill - TES

Colossians 3 v 5-9
So put all evil things out of your life: sexual sinning, doing evil, letting evil thoughts control you, wanting things that are evil, and greed. This is really serving a false god. These things make God angry. In your past, evil life you also did these things.
But now also put these things out of your life: anger, bad temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and using evil words when you talk. Do not lie to each other. You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before.

Notes 
Paul tells us to ‘put all evil things out of our lives’ – why? Two reasons

1)These things make God angry
Yes, God gets angry. His is a holy anger against sin which must be judged. Sin can’t exist in the presence of a holy God. If you are a believer in Jesus, every moment of your life should be about pleasing Him, not doing things which make Him angry. So, Paul commands us to put all of these things which make God angry out of our lives completely. God, who made the earth, who raises the dead, whose dust of his feet are the clouds in the sky…you want to make Him angry? No then quit, get rid of, kill, exterminate, put to death all that makes God angry, live to please Him. 

and 

2) You have left your old sinful life and the things you did before.
Paul lists the sins which characterised how these believers lived before they knew Jesus. However, they have left that life, it was put to death along with Jesus on the cross. Since our old lives have died with Jesus, and you have a brand new life with Him, let’s live like it! Make a determined decision that your old way of living will be completely gone –run from it as far away as you can into the arms of God your Saviour, Creator and Friend. 

Action Points
Why not make your own list of ‘sins’ that you struggle with, that you know are wrong, that characterise how you were before you knew Jesus. Make a determined decision to get rid of these things. 

Thank Jesus that because of His death and resurrection, these things have been forgiven and can be got rid of. 

Colossians 3 v 10-12
You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God. In the new life there is no difference between Greeks and Jews, those who are circumcised and those who are not circumcised, or people who are foreigners, or Scythians. There is no difference between slaves and free people. But Christ is in all believers, and Christ is all that is important.
God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 

Notes
Today’s chunk of the Bible talks about the new life we have when we know Jesus, how that new life is the same regardless of background, and how we should act in the light of this new life. 

As a believer puts to death their old way of life with Jesus on the cross, they have a brand new life with Jesus since He rose from the dead. This new life is completely different to anything they have known before. In this new life, there is no difference between people. The duty to be holy and live right is the same whoever you are. The privilege of being saved by God’s grace is the same no matter where you come from in the world. 

Paul says that just as we must put off our old way of living (Colossians 3:5-9), we must also put on a new way of living. So, as believers in Jesus, what should we do? What should characterise this new life that we have?
We must understand that God never asks us to do anything that He doesn’t know about through experience. In other words, we are told to show mercy and patience – we should do this because this is what God has shown to us. We are told to be kind, gentle and humble – the exact qualities which Jesus continually showed while here on earth. 

Action Point
Think of examples of how and when God has shown mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Thank Him for those and let it spur you on to show these to everyone you spend time with. Let the characteristics of God be yours! 

Colossians 3 v 13-17
Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. Do all these things; but most important, love each other. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity. Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body to have peace. Always be thankful. Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.

Notes
Here we have simple, basic, yet profound instructions on how to live. Read it, read it again, let this teaching pour over you, soak it up, breathe it in and desire to be more like Jesus as we look at today’s awesome Bible bit!

Paul’s first instruction here is ‘forgive each other’. The word used for ‘forgive’ is the same word used elsewhere in the New Testament for God forgiving us. So, this forgiveness that we are to show is all about God – it is the same forgiveness we were shown by God, and we are to show it because we have been shown it by God. 

At number 1 of Paul’s top tips for living is ‘love’. This is most important because everything else we are to do will flow out of love. If you love someone, you will forgive them. We are told in 1 John 4:8 that “God is love”. This is the one thing that completely characterises God - Love is God, God is love, love comes from God. Therefore, let us love to be like Him, to show we are His, to be like Him in character. Love, love some more, and when that has run out, love even more. 
Paul is not talking about love as a slushy, romantic feeling, but love as a choice, a decision to meet other’s needs. 

Paul ends this section by saying everything we do or say should be done to obey Jesus. As a believer, you represent Jesus at all times. So, why not take this as a direct challenge to obey Jesus so that everyone you meet will notice. 

Action Point
When you’ve spoken to someone, or done something, instead of thinking “What will people think of me?” why not think, ”what will people think of Jesus?”. 

Colossians 3 v 18-21
Wives, yield to the authority of your husbands, because this is the right thing to do in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and be gentle with them.
Children, obey your parents in all things, because this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, do not nag your children. If you are too hard to please, they may want to stop trying.

Notes 
Wives here are told to yield to the authority of their husbands. God’s desire for marriage relationships is for the good of both husband and wife. 
This instruction means that a wife should honour and affirm her husband’s leadership and help him carry out his role in the family. This is not a call to completely surrender her will to her husband - Jesus is her absolute authority. 

What about husbands? Love your wives. Make a decision of your will to have an unceasing, care and loving service for her entire well being. Follow the example of Jesus and lead by serving. A friend of mine who’s soon to get married said that if her husband loves as he is instructed to here, she will have no problem yielding to his authority, because he will only want things which are for her good anyway! Isn’t it cool how God works these things out?

Children are asked to obey their parents. It may be hard, but it is a direct command of God. Rather than moaning about obeying your parents, look on it as a privileged opportunity to obey a direct command of God Himself!

Parents are told not to nag their children. The parent and child relationship is give and take. If children obey their parents, parents will have no need to nag. If parents don’t nag, then children will want to obey their parents. 

Action Point
Whichever of these commands applies to you, why not write your instruction on paper, stick it by your bed and determine that you are going to obey God’s direct command to you in that particular relationship. So many times we wonder what God wants for us. Here it is plain and simple…now go and live it!

Colossians 3 v 22 – 4 v 1
Slaves, obey your masters in all things. Do not obey just when they are watching you, to gain their favor, but serve them honestly, because you respect the Lord. In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, which he promised to his people. You are serving the Lord Christ. But remember that anyone who does wrong will be punished for that wrong, and the Lord treats everyone the same.
Masters, give what is good and fair to your slaves. Remember that you have a Master in heaven.

Notes
Although this is specifically aimed at ‘slaves and masters’, the principles are the same for employees and employers, pupils and teachers, students and tutors. 

We should obey those in authority over us, not just when they are watching , not so they will like you more, but accepting our position, being content. In other words, your motivation and standards of work should be the best they possibly can be, because you are working for Jesus. In the work you do for your earthly master, you are serving your heavenly Lord. 

I had a Saturday job in a clothes shop and occasionally I would take a break in the stock room when I thought no one was looking. I dreaded the day when security cameras would be installed! It was a real shocker when I read this and I accepted that I was to work my best not just when my boss was looking, but even in the secret stock room – Jesus could see me there too! 

God promises here that we will receive a reward for what we do. The first century Christians reading this, would have been all too aware that slaves could often expect punishment at the end of the day. Paul here contrasts this with what a Christian receives from their heavenly master – the gracious reward of eternal life. 

Masters are told to be fair for the same reason slaves are told to obey their earthly masters - because both have a heavenly master in heaven. 

Action Point
Take a moment to think about whatever work it is you have to. Now, let that be your worship and service to God. This way, even a 9-5 job or homework can be a little taster of heaven! 

Colossians 4 v 2-4
Continue praying, keeping alert, and always thanking God. Also pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. Pray that we can preach the secret that God has made known about Christ. This is why I am in prison. Pray that I can speak in a way that will make it clear, as I should.

Notes 
Prayer – talking to God, chatting with the Father, breathing in heaven, discovering God’s heart, taking in the Spirit – whatever you call it, in today’s Bible bit, Paul gives encouragement and ideas for prayer. 

‘Continue praying’ – prayer is not a one off event. Continue, keep on, be persistent. Faith shouldn’t die if the answers to prayer come slowly. Take comfort in the fact that God is always there, always listening, always watching, knowing what you’re going to say before you’ve said it, but longing for you to share it with Him. 

‘Always thanking God’ – Prayers should always include thanks. If we think of what He’s done – how can we not thank Him? A mature Christian I know always starts all his prayers, ”Father, we thank you for your goodness to us”. Every time, without fail! It has taught me that even when we feel like we’ve got nothing to say, we should thank God for His grace, goodness, mercy, love and patience. So, next time you talk with God, why not start with a great big, chunky THANK YOU!

We should take note of what Paul asks prayer for here – opportunities to share the gospel and an ability to share the gospel clearly. We should be praying these things for those evangelists, church leaders, CU speakers we know, but also for ourselves. Imagine what an impact your generation could have on this world if every day before we went out of the house in the morning we all prayed, “God, give me an opportunity to share the gospel today, and allow me to share it clearly”. WOW! 

Action Point
Write a list of all the things you can thank God for, and determine that every prayer you pray from now on will start with the words ‘THANK YOU’. 

Colossians 4 v 5-6
Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should.

Notes 
Today’s Bible chunk gives us God inspired advice for how to live with those who are not yet Christians. We all have family members, friends, colleagues, or school mates who do not yet know Jesus as we do. It is essential that we live and work with them in a way that gives them an opportunity to come to know Him for themselves. 

‘Be wise in the way you act, making the most of every opportunity’ –Anything you say or any action can influence for good or bad someone who doesn’t know God. You may be a tool God is using for them to get to know Him. 

‘Be kind and pleasant’ – You may be sure that you know the truth, but nothing will be gained by getting annoyed or speaking rudely to someone who disagrees with you. 

This passage reminds me of a school friend. I was very open about my Christian faith, she was equally open that she didn’t agree with me. I clearly remember the day we made an agreement that we would respect each other’s views, and not force our opinions on each other. We had a great friendship, and remembering these words, “Be kind and pleasant” was a great help to me. 

Remember Paul’s words in Colossians 3:13-17, most importantly LOVE! If we love our friends and our families, we will long for them to know Jesus and will take seriously Paul’s words in this passage so they may come to know Him too!

Action Point
Think of someone you are close to who doesn’t yet know Jesus and you may find difficult getting on with. Memorise Paul’s words here, ask God to always bring them to your mind when you’re with this person. You may be the one God uses to bring them to Himself!


word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes