Not Dead Yet
Baby Girl,
You died with Christ to the basic principles of the world: eat this, don’t eat that; check the scale; create rules then live by them. Why are you still doing that? You know ALL the worldly principles around food and movement and yet, the more attention you give to applying those principles, the tighter your pants are getting.
There’s that facetious, grumpy little face of yours. Go ahead, look it up.
Facetious = treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant.
Flippant = lacking proper respect or seriousness
Why are you reading Colossians this morning? You’re reading because a friend texted Colossians 3:3, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” You asked Me what that means and proceeded to start reading the whole book for context. What has stuck out to you so far?
Colossians 1:23 “…of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
I looked up what minister means:
Strong’s G1249 - One who executes the commands of another; the servant of a king; deacon of the church who cares for the poor and has charge of distributing the money collected for use; a waiter.
You are a minister. All My children are ministers. As ministers, you must first know the commands of the King before you can execute them.
What else stuck out?
Colossians 1:29 “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
You aren’t working - I’m working in you. When you feel frustrated by anything in your life, you’re working; that’s you - not Me. My yoke is easy and My burden is light. I am constantly speaking to you and attempting to speak and work through you.
You seem distracted by the words “labor” and “striving.” Look them up.
Labor = (G2872) to grow weary, tired, exhausted with toil or burdens or grief
Striving = (G75) to enter a contest, to contend with adversaries, fight, to contend or struggle with difficulties and dangers; to endeavor with strenuous zeal or strive to obtain something
I really don’t get Your point. You tell me I’m not working, then point to two words in a verse telling me that Paul is growing weary, tired, exhausted, burdened, and competing with adversaries and contending with difficulties and dangers. I feel like I’m getting two competing messages?
What was the next thing that stuck out to you?
No, I’m not going to answer that yet. What was the next thing that stuck out to you?
Colossians 2:18-19 “…false humility…vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, not holding fast to the Head…”
Look back at 3:3: “For you died.” You’re not there yet. You can’t be hidden in Christ until you are dead. You and I are going to read the rest of this book together. By the time we’re done, you’ll have an answer to your question.
Colossians 3:7 “…in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.”
Keep reading and tell Me what you’re still walking in which is incongruent with dying to self.
Uncleanness = (G167) impure motives
Passion = (G3806) a feeling which the mind suffers; an affliction of the mind, emotion whether it be sad or joyous
Evil desire = (G2556) of a mode of thinking, feeling, or acting which is wrong, troublesome, of a bad nature; not such as it ought to be
Covetousness = (G4124) greedy desire to have more
Anger = (G3709) movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion especially anger; indignation
Indignation = anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment
That one just hit a nerve with you. Don’t get stuck there. Keep going.
Wrath = (G2372) passion boiling up and soon subsiding again
I’m seeing what you mean. This is very convicting and I think I know where you’re going with this.
Nope. Don’t think you know where I’m going, just finish what you’re doing.
Malice = (G2549) ill-will, desire to injure
Blasphemy = (G988) slander, detraction, speech injurious to another’s good name
Colossians 3:9-10 “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”
You knew immediately what you need to do. Now that we’re both acknowledging it, you’re feeling sick to your stomach. Don’t worry about what you are to say, and don’t hesitate in arranging it. If you take Me with you, I will give you what to say. If you say nothing more than what I say, you can leave the conversation emotionally detached from the outcome of it. Prepare your amends.
I have amends to make?
Yes, you have amends to make. By not facing this sooner, you have permitted unfavorable impressions to be formed in the minds of those who LOVE you and those unfavorable impressions are forming divisions you are yet unaware of. Your hurt is also turning into hardness of heart and My children are to have tender hearts. This needs to be resolved for you to move forward under My headship.
Keep reading.
Colossians 3:13-15 “…if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
You can stop. Don’t read anything else today. Go take care of the yard, get dinner ready for your family, and meditate on what this all means. You know what you need to do - and I will help you do it. You can’t give a powerful testimony about how you’ve overcome your emotional dishonesty and people-pleasing and continue behaving in that way with anyone in your life - not even one.
LOVE,
Daddy
Ephesians 4:22-24
