We are turning to Colossians, Chapter 3, verses 1-11, and as we read that or as you look at it on the screen, I want you to notice what theologians call "the already-not yet." We already have what we have in Christ, but we haven't really fully realized all of it yet. And so if you will turn with me to Colossians, Chapter 3, verses 1-11. We will look at it together. It's a very powerful passage.
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge and the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all."
Let's pray. Gracious Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you. Bring forth your word today by your spirit. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
We are halfway through 40 Days of Purpose. Can you believe it? I think that deserves a pop quiz. Okay? So, two weeks ago, our first purpose was to get to know God and love God and the key word in that was? Worship! Good!. Last week we did a sermon by committee, you remember the four of us were up here, and we emphasized that we were formed for God's family. Right? We are to grow and love for others and the key word there was? Fellowship! Good. What a smart congregation. Okay. Now, maybe you don't know what the next word is because you have not been reading ahead. The really smart people, the real book worms, they probably have read the whole book. Maybe you know what's coming up, but you can relax, it is not going to against your grade, okay? Everybody is going to get an A. Just like Harvard, okay, you are all going to get an A. Right? The third purpose in God's great design, we are created to become like Jesus Christ and that's called. Discipleship! That's right there. That's not fair! Well, even the smartest ones among us got that. Okay. A disciple, what is that? A learner. Literally, the word disciple means learner or follower. And we are learning. This is what the purpose is. We are learning to look like, be like, act like, and think like Jesus Christ. That's the third purpose for being on this planet from God's perspective. To form you, to create you in the image of Jesus Christ. You know, its fitting that it coincides with Mothers Day, because any parent, any Mom wants more than anything else for the healthy development of her children.
A little girl was seated between her parents and for the first time she got a look at her parents' wedding album. She was amazed when she saw her Mom in the bride's dress and her Dad in his tux and she turned to her Dad and said, "Daddy, is that the day you got Mom to come and work for us?" That's what Moms do. They work for us, to help us right? To grow, and if that growth is slow in developing then there is cause for alarm. There is cause for concern. In the same way, God wants you to mature and develop, to be shaped into a certain way.