Colossians 3

He Is Your Life

3So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides.G1487G4891G3767G4891G5547G2212G507G3757G5547G2076G2521G1722G1188G23162Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.G5426G507G3361G1909G10933Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life.G1063G599G2532G5216G2222G2928G4862G5547G1722G23164When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.G3752G5547G2257G2222G5319G5119G5319G5210G2532G5319G4862G846G1722G13915And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God.G3499G3767G5216G3196G3588G1909G1093G4202G167G3806G2556G1939G2532G4124G3748G2076G14956It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger.G1223G3739G3709G2316G2064G1909G5207G5437It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better.G1722G3739G5210G2532G4043G4218G3753G2198G1722G8468But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.G1161G3570G5210G2532G659G3956G3709G2372G2549G988G148G1537G5216G47509Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire.G5574G3361G1519G240G554G3820G444G4862G846G423410Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.G2532G1746G3501G3588G341G1519G1922G2596G1504G2936G84611Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.G3699G1762G3756G1672G2532G2453G4061G2532G203G915G4658G1401G1658G235G5547G3956G2532G1722G395612So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.G1746G3767G5613G1588G2316G40G2532G25G4698G3628G5544G5012G4236G311513Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.G430G240G2532G5483G1438G1437G5100G2192G3437G4314G5100G2531G2532G5547G5483G5213G3779G2532G521014And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.G1161G1909G3956G5125G26G3748G2076G4886G504715Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.G2532G1018G1515G2316G1018G1722G5216G2588G1519G3739G2532G2564G1722G1520G4983G2532G1096G217016Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God!G1774G3056G5547G1774G1722G5213G4146G1722G3956G4678G1321G2532G3560G1438G5568G2532G5215G2532G4152G5603G103G1722G5485G1722G5216G2588G296217Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.G2532G3748G3956G302G4160G1722G3056G2228G1722G2041G3956G1722G3686G2962G2424G2168G2316G2532G3962G1223G84618Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.G1135G5293G2398G435G5613G433G1722G296219Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don't take advantage of them.G435G25G1135G2532G4087G3361G4087G4314G84620Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end.G5043G5219G1118G2596G3956G1063G5124G2076G2101G296221Parents, don't come down too hard on your children or you'll crush their spirits.G3962G2042G3361G5216G5043G3363G12022Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best.G1401G5219G2596G3956G2962G2596G4561G3361G1722G3787G5613G441G235G1722G572G2588G5399G231623Work from the heart for your real Master, for God,G2532G3956G3748G1437G4160G2038G1537G5590G5613G2962G2532G3756G44424confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ.G1492G3754G575G2962G618G469G2817G1063G1398G2962G554725The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work.G1161G91G2865G91G3739G91G2532G2076G3756G4382