Here is your Wednesday's Words to Live By for the upcoming week:
Scripture: Colossians 3:1-4 (NKJV)
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died (not going to died but you are already dead-since you accepted Christ) (reference Galatians 2:20), and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Praise be to God for His Word. We are crucified and raised from the dead with Christ and are no longer in bondage to sin, sickness, or any other thing. No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper. We do not have to sit idly by and accept anything that comes our way. We are dead and our lives are hidden in Christ. So, let us keep our focus on God, on things which are above, and not on things going on around us; it is a trick of the devil to get your focus off God. We, as Saints, the called of God, must be obedient to the Word of God. The Word says we are to walk by faith and not by sight. What we see is only temporary but what we cannot see is eternal. Let us keep our focus on God and not on what is happening around us. Don't Panic! God is still in control of your life. He knows exactly what is going on and He is working it out in you and through you. Don't take matters in your own hand; stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Be still and hear the still small voice of the Lord. Be still and know God is God. Be still and put ALL your trust in Him and He will bring you out.
Remember, your trials and tribulations will show you just how much you really trust God. I know, I said for years, "Oh I trust God." But God showed me I did not trust Him, I trusted in the money I was receiving every other month. But after God allowed that to cease, I HAD to trust God for real. Now, I know God is my only source and He is the One who bless me and take care of me. So, I know if He takes care of me, He will take care of you because He said no good thing will He withhold from us. I have found out that the things we think is good for us, God says it is not.
So, now, I say Lord let thy will be done in my life. I do not want anything that God does not want for me. Let God rule and reign in your life and you will not be sorry. We must forget what we want and allow God to rule and reign in our lives. Remember, the old man is dead and we must put off the old man by denying the soul what it wants.
Colossians 3:5-11 says:
5 "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you also ONCE walked when you lived in them (you do not live that way any longer). 8 But now you must also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have PUT OFF the OLD MAN with his deeds (these are the old man's deeds not yours), 10 and have PUT ON the NEW MAN who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him (God), 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all" (this covers EVERYONE)” (www.biblegateway.com – NKJV).
YOU must put to death these old man deeds in your new body. You saw earlier in Colossians 3:1-4 that when you are raised with Christ, you will seek things above and not things on the earth. IT'S A CHOICE! You must choose to let go of the old man and seek after things of God; "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33). Because once you accept Christ as YOUR personal Lord and Savior, you are dead to sin (the old man is dead – the desires from your soul) and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). Then you will be able to appear with Christ in glory (Colossians 3:4).
Make this declaration to God TODAY! Tomorrow is not promised to YOU!
“I Give Myself Away” by William McDowell
Have a blessed week in the Lord!
In His Service,
Dr. Hooks
All Scriptures are from the New King James Version at www.biblegateway.com
