This week, I would like to continue sharing some reflections on what I experienced with nine High School students and staff as we traveled to New Orleans for the EFCA Challenge Conference. The theme of the conference was "Everything is New" and focused on the fact the Jesus life, death, and resurrection changes everything.
Thursday, I shared what Eric Mason challenged us with from the third chapter of a letter that is recorded for us in our Bibles called the book of Colossians. Today, I would like to share with you a message that Craig Gross shared with us, as he unpacked the reality that there is a new "you" and a new "we" as a result of our relationship with Jesus. Craig pointed us to reality beginning in Colossians 3:5:
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
Craig explained that as a result of our new life with Christ, that Jesus is our life. Jesus wants to help us become like Him, so instead of hiding stuff from God, we are to run to God. Jesus is our life and our life is with Jesus. Craig then explained that a new "we" requires being honest with one another. Craig pointed us to reality in the first part of Colossians 3:9:
Do not lie to one another,
Instead of lying and avoiding others, Craig explained that, as followers of Jesus, we are to get connected with others who care for us. And as we get connected with others, we are to seek loving accountability that keeps us focused on following Jesus and getting rid of the old self that is opposed to Jesus. We see this beginning in the second half of verse 9:
since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Craig explained that we are to get rid of the old, because the old holds us back from what God wants to do. And until we clean up the old, we are going to continue to go back to the old way of living life before we came to know Jesus.
Craig concluded that you cannot manage the old self because it does not get easier over time. Instead, we are to get rid of the old and put on the new "you" as part of the new "we" called the community of faith.
So, where do you need to get rid of the old so that you can experience the new "you" as a part of a new "we"?
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