Death Where Is Your Sting – Cory Asbury

I have been challenged by the Kingdom of God for some time now and just recently decided to sell everything I have to buy the field with hidden treasure which means I will have to put to death those things that are stopping me from doing that. Colossians challenges me to do that this morning.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. – Colossians 3:5  ESV

Earthly things need to be let go and Paul lists a few key characteristics just so we know what he is getting at. It is part of my body that I need to let go for it is stopping me from being the disciple I need to be. It is the reflection of how my mind, desires and body all affect my spiritual life.

It does not surprise me that the antidote is love.

 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  – Colossians 3:14  ESV

Unimaginable amounts of love, mercy and kindness for without this all else is nothing. It is only here, in the essence of love can I really exercise true sympathy, real kindness, undisguised humility and submissiveness, patience, self-control and hearty forgiveness. Even as I write these descriptions it would seem easier to die to my body than to love like this. This is what people see when they look at me or at least what they should see. It should not matter what I have died from but rather what I have put on as my outer garment.

Then my inside is what keeps me in harmony with other followers of Christ. This is what unites us, knits and cements us together – with one mind and one heart.

Submissiveness is a word I used earlier – the other word that is used is meekness. Unfortunately, men have messed up this word so much that women resent it more than any other word I know. I am not sure how women handle this verse in Colossians. What I do know is that God has never defined the extent of a wife’s submission, nor does it define the limit. It does however define the motive. 

 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. – Colossians 3:18-19  ESV

I believe both husbands and wives are called to submit because it is a character trait that is part of us making a decision to be a disciple of Jesus. It honours God’s word and His authority and by honouring Him it becomes part of my discipleship.

“If a Stoic disciple asked why he should behave in a particular way, his teacher would no doubt tell him that it was ‘fitting’ because it was in conformity with nature. When a Christian … asked the same question, he was told that such behavior was ‘fitting in the Lord’; members of the believing community should live thus for Christ’s sake.”  – Bruce