“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).

Isn’t it amazing when we hear someone say something exceptionally profound it makes such an impression on us that it sticks in our minds forever. (Well, maybe that doesn’t happen to you but it happens to normal people like me 😊.) Anyway, I remember way back in 1984 one of my former bible professors, James Bury, said, “In Colossians 3:1-4 the apostle Paul commands Christians to become what they are”. What?! What kind of speech is that anyway? Paradox? Sarcasm? Oxymoron? Misnomer? Surely it’s not a verisimilitude or a bildungsroman? How can we become what we are? What in tarnation does it mean?

These former pagans in Colossae have put on Christ in baptism and were raised up to a new life (Colossians 2:12; 3:1). They are like a young boy who puts on his new ball team’s uniform and seems to play better! When we put on Christ in baptism we see ourselves in a different light. We are different – we’re better. Paul is helping the Colossians keep their focus on Jesus AND grow up to become mature Christians. He instructs them to become what they are. They are disciples of Jesus so they need to imitate their teacher in word, thought and deed. Love like Jesus. Be holy like Jesus. Seek to serve rather than be served like the Suffering Servant Himself.

Submit to Jesus as Lord and the Holy Spirit will help you become more like Jesus. In other words, grow up and become what you are: SAVED SOULS FOR FUTURE GLORY WITH GOD IN HEAVEN.

Read Colossians 3:1-17. Then listen to Become Who You Are by Mainstay. After that be committed to grow like a weed to become what you are.

Colossians 3:1-17

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, rid yourselves of all of them: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, 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 must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.