Sept. 23

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;"
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭

One of the ongoing reminders of our studying of the Word at Oral has been, context of scripture.
The boundless and unfathomable depths of the scripture never ceases to amaze me. We know that we serve the creator of the universe and that He is timeless. We know that He sent His only begotten Son, and John tells us that the Word was make flesh and dwelt among us. The holy scriptures that we have are the words of truth and yet I am blown away at the timelessness of the instructions from the Master of the Universe.

Speaking of context, I went back and reread for the um-teenth time and yet for the first time once again, the 3rd chapter of Colossians.

If ye be risen with Christ, set your affections on things above not on things on the earth.
Mortify your members and put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication.
Lie not one to another
Put on bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness on mind, meekness, and longsuffering.
Forbearing and forgiving one another just as Christ would.
And above all put on charity, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, being thankful.
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 you hearts to the Lord.
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
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Now that's a pretty powerful charge to believers. Set your affections on things above. It's easy to get distracted with all that we have going on in our lives. Sure we are doing the things that must be done. Making a living, teaching our children, cooking, feeding, dressing, correcting, living, and loving, but in the mix of his we let our eyes drift off of the author and finisher of our faith.  I get caught up in making me happy and putting my desires first. It's easy to do in a belief system that says that the man is the head of the house, but thats no excuse. Don't misunderstand the intention of that last statement, because it is not that the structure is wrong, but we are building with human bricks. The structure of the home is Divine and it is the attempt of the culture to undermine that order, to destroy the core of the family. Remember that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph 6:12  It has been my opinion though, that the credit for our sins and missteps are too readily attributed to the Devil and not to our weakness in fighting the good fight or capitulating to lust and selfish desires.  We have an advocate that was tempted in all things like unto us yet without sin. We have a propitiation, a high priest, a Father, whose throne of grace we are told, we should approach boldly to obtain mercy and "grace to help in time of need."
Well that rabbit has been chased...

Ps 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The key to winning this race in keeping my heart and mind full of the Word and my eyes fixed on Him.
 "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" Col 3:3 Also Gal 2:20