Something to Read Daily

Colossians 2 taught us that man-made rules do not work, and the following passage from Colossians 3 teaches us what God’s rules are and then backs up how quickly we can choose to stop indulging. I recommend—and I have seen it work wonders—to read this chapter every day until you have it memorized in your heart:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the 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 de- sires 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 knowledge in 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. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and for- give whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:1-13

Colossians 3 is filled with action verbs… set your hearts, set your minds, put to death, clothe yourself. Overeating is a misplaced de- sire, and it is sensual indulgence in that it stimulates your senses. You could see how someone who is delighted with a taste, using misdirected thinking, might say, “If one serving was good, then more is better.” The way to reverse this sensual desire is to ignore it and then redirect your desires onto things above—on being with Jesus Christ in Heaven, thinking of forever and ever with God and the Angels and the Saints.

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