Look Up | Colossians 3:1-11

Takeaway Verse: Colossians 3:2

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Story: “One morning, all the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. There was no food in the larder and no money to buy food. The children were standing, waiting for their morning meal, when Müller said, “Children, you know we must be in time for school.” Then lifting up his hands he prayed, “Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.” There was a knock at the door. The baker stood there, and said, “Mr. Müller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast, and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.” Mr. Müller thanked the baker, and no sooner had he left, when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it.”

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Transcription:

Welcome to The Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica Parkerson. This is the place where we meet up to read half a chapter of God’s word together, and remember how loved we are. Jesus extends an amazing invitation to us in the Bible. He says, come to me and I WILL give you rest. This is us RSVPing: Yes!! to that invitation. So take a deep breath and let’s get started.

Today’s episode is called, “Look Up!” Again, you and I return to the jail cell with apostle Paul, who is writing probably with some fancy pen thing that he’s dipping in ink, but really it’s like a text that he’s sending us from 2000 years ago because God’s word is alive and active. Today we’re gonna dive back into his letter to the Colossians, people he didn’t know. Just like, he didn’t know us. 

Chapter three, we’re gonna cover the first half today, but first join me in a word of prayer. Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus. We thank you for your word, which is the bread of life. Please open our hearts and our eyes to what you want us to understand and see in your word today. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray, amen. 

All right, let’s dive right in Colossians chapter three. “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven” it’s real “where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” That’s our takeaway verse right here at the beginning today: “think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

“So put to death the sinful earthly things lurking within you.” Lurking, isn’t that a good word? “Have nothing to do with sexual imorality, impurity, lust and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolator, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world, but now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other for you have stripped off your old sinful nature in all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature and be renewed, as you learn to know your creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised, or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.”

Oh boy, this is some encouragement to look up, isn’t it? I wanna tell you a story about a pastor who was very famous in England in the 1800’s. His name was George Mueller and he ran an orphanage, several actually. But one morning he woke up in this one orphanage and there was no food and there was no money to buy food. And so before the children went to school, they all gathered at the empty table and George prayed a prayer. He said, “Father, we thank you for the food that you are going to provide.” There was a knock on the door, and it was a baker. He said, “George, I woke up at 2:00 AM, I couldn’t sleep. I felt that I was supposed to make bread for the children, and I did.” And he brought fresh loaves of bread, not even day old bread, not for God’s kids. And as soon as the baker left, there was another knock at the door, and it was the milkman, remember this was the 1800’s. The milk cart had broken down in front of the orphanage and the milkman said, “I want the children to have this fresh milk.” God provides. 

I don’t know what problem you have today, and I understand, I sometimes, my mind can be a magnet to my problems. But you and I can look up, let’s read our takeaway verse again. “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” And if you and I do that, we’re gonna remember, that’s right, heaven is real, Christ is there sitting beside God at his right hand, he is going to take care of us. Let’s look up today. I can’t wait to dive into Colossians chapter three, second half tomorrow with you. Already looking forward to it.

Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.