OCT 21

Colossians 1:21
Memorise Romans 8:7
“…you, that were sometime alienated…”

Paul now applies the salvific work of Jesus Christ to the Colossians themselves: “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled” (Colossians 1:21). Before coming to Christ, men are all estranged (alienated) from God, for no man will seek God by himself. This may be a strange thing to say, seeing that there are so many people in the world who seem to believe in some form of god. However, these people seek a god which only fits their concept of what god should be. Without the Holy Spirit’s intervention, none of us will seek God on His terms alone. We are not only estranged from Him but are also God’s enemies, for our carnal minds have sinned against God (Romans 8:7), and the carnal thoughts then lead us to commit wicked deeds. That is how odious sin is to God; how depraved our minds are, that we not only delight in sin but seek after any religion that allows us to continue in sin. How marvellous then is His love for us, that while we were still lost in sin, Christ died for you and me, and reconciled us to God! Through the virtue of Christ, God was able to forgive us for all our wicked works, and draw us unto Himself.

Recently I was speaking to a teenager who professed he believed in Christ as his personal Saviour, but wanted to lead his own life free from rules. For example, he wanted to be able to use foul language as a form of self-expression. He was essentially redefining what is acceptable to God! This is such a travesty because he is turning his back on the One who saved him, if he is really saved in the first place. We too must also examine ourselves to see if we are ungrateful in a similar way. For example, we might rationalise and say that since we have done so much for Christ, then this loving and gracious God should allow us to indulge in certain sins! We who have been reconciled to God by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, ought not to return to the same sin that alienated us in the first place, and grieve Him who has saved us. Instead, let us be thankful and grateful for what Christ has done for us in His life and death, and thus strive to please Him instead of pleasing ourselves. Do make sure our minds do not fit God into our concept of who He is, but instead strive to be more like the Son of God each day.

Thought: Do you give excuses for continuing to sin?
Prayer: May I seek God on His terms alone!