Time to change clothes
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all of these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:5, 8-8, 12-17 ESV
http://bible.com/59/col.3.5-17.ESV
“And above all of these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Our natural, sinful nature is to love ourselves – but this puts us in a position contrary to the will of God and usually puts us in a position in opposition to others as we battle to claim pleasures and possessions for ourselves.
But love binds us together.
We need more love. Actual love.
Not a feeling alone that doesn’t result in sacrificing for others. That isn’t love at all but is just lust. We need real love love like Christ, who knew no enemy of flesh and blood, but just saw hurt and lost people under the influence of sin.
He even prayed publicly for those torturing and killing Him to be forgiven. Because He didn’t see a sinner – He saw a Child of God caught in the trap of sin. He saw a precious and valuable life that was infected and influenced by sin and death.
How much would it change our world to have the spiritual eyes of Jesus Christ? To see what is happening in the people around us as either the evidence of Christ alive and shining through them, or to see the visible work of that disease that need to be healed. How much would it change or world if we offered them the healing that is needed in their lives by loving them and sharing Christ with them?
How often we set our eyes upon the physical world and are blind to the movements of those things spiritual and eternal. How often we see enemies instead of brothers and sisters who are hurting and need salvation and deliverance from the ties that bind them to death. How often can we participate in bringing harmony by sharing love, giving them an opportunity to be bound instead to Christ in love.
As I put on these things in my life. As I set my eyes upon the higher things, those things imperishable and eternal, let the world see less of me and more of Christ. Let them see past me and set their eyes upon Christ. Let them be bound to love, and let us find the unity and harmony that truly changes the world, one surrender at a time.
Holy, holy, holy,
Wonderful and mighty,
Faithful and True.
Hallelujah,
The Lamb is worthy to open the scroll,
And to reconcile this world to God’s will.
We lift our voices in praise
We sing a new song of life
Of a sacrifice paid in blood
That washed us white as snow.
We put on our new garments
Of Christ who lives in us
As we serve as a vessel of His Holy Spirit
Sitting as a humble and eager student at His feet
And sitting as a servant washing the feet of our brothers and sisters.
And the whole world will know Him,
Either His love or His just wrath,
When every head bows and every knee bends at the name of the Lord.
Let the yielding come now,
Oh, Lord,
While there is time for salvation.
Have mercy on your people,
Lead us into righteousness,
Not into death,
For your glory and honor.
Demonstrate your love
to the ends of the earth
that they might know you
And claim you as their own.
We are a stiff necked people,
Oh, Lord.
Discipline us sufficiently to correct our paths,
Let us be upon the narrow path that demonstrates our love and faith in you, Lord.
Have mercy upon your servants,
Oh, Lord,
For our enemies are great in number
And they fire their attacks at us daily.
Equip us with your armor,
Oh, Lord,
Determine our steps,
Oh, Lord,
Lead us not into temptation or evil,
So that your will is done in earth,
In our lives as the body of Christ alive and operating today.
Teach us to love like you,
Oh, Lord.
Guide us to our final destination in your presence as a faithful servant and a living child of the most high.
Praise the Lord,
Your name is worthy of praise,
Oh, Lord.
Hear our praise daily,
May we never cease singing of your glory,
May we sit in the presence of the Lord,
Never to leave the Holy of Holies,
But to walk with you,
to talk with you,
Too share in life with you,
Claim us and hold us close to you,
Oh, Lord,
We long for your breath,
We long for your touch,
We long for your face.
Cast away this world from our thoughts,
And set them upon you, Lord.
Oh, that we might be blessed
with the answered prayer
of a life lived as a sacrifice
to your honor and glory,
Oh, Lord.
Hear us crying out in the darkness,
Hear is singing your praises,
We love you as we best know how,
Even though it falls so short of the love you have shown us.
Teach us to love.
We are yours.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ as your Word teaches us,
And we have faith that our prayer is answered, Father.
Thank you,
Father.
Harold J. Ballinger 