These tumultuous times are pushing many believers toward a necessary redefinition of the meaning of life.  Things we counted on in previous years (a home, a job, a vacation, a retirement) are threatened by a very uncertain economy.  Others may be skating thorough these storms of financial insecurity but might be facing a battle with terminal illness or family breakup.  Whatever the nature of life’s problems, they clearly provide an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the nature of the Christian life.

In part one of this devotion (which you can read below), we considered the meaning of Colossians 3:4, where we read of “Christ, who is our life.”  In an effort to embrace this truth, we looked at two key commitments:

Remember Your Status - We are “raised with Christ” (Colossians 3:1) and must fully embrace the implications of this truth.

Refocus Your Pursuit - We must “seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

Three additional commitments, found in Colossians chapter three, are vital to a core redefinition of our life.

Recalibrate Your Thoughts - When a computer fails to function properly, the user is commonly instructed to reboot, or restart, the computer.  Our cluttered and distracted minds often need a similar intervention – usually many times throughout each day.

Colossians 3:2 states, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”  Literally, this is the idea of a continual commitment to “fix the attention” or “give serious consideration” to something.  “Things above” speaks of matters of eternal significance.  These should become the dominating focus of our mind and its considerations.

Our thoughts determine our behavior and future.  In light of the constant bombardment of needless information, tempting images, and carnal input from people around us, we must re-engage our disciplines of thought on a daily basis.

Our minds naturally drift to temporal and worldly concerns.  They become polluted by the influence of the media and culture.  We must embrace a proactive and purposeful pursuit of things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).

Reaffirm Your Death - Dead people do not respond to any external stimuli, no matter how enticing it may be.  Colossians 3:3 tells us, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  As Galatians 2:20 says, “I am crucified with Christ.”  In writing to the Christians in Rome Paul reiterates that believers are dead to sin (6:2, 7 & 11).  Previously in Colossians, Paul has told these Christians that they are not subject to religious regulations because they died to the power of rules and legalisms (2:20).

Every day, because Christ is my life, I must reaffirm that I do not have to respond to the values, demands, and expectations of a fallen world.  I can live as one “dead” to these allurements and one fully alive and defined by Christ.

Relish Your Destiny - Ultimately, we must keep our hearts fixed on the hope that “Christ who is our life” will appear, and that we will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4).  Eternity, along with its reward and ultimate worship, is just around the corner.  Any definition of life, other than Christ, is going to evaporate into irrelevance.  All that we currently see with our physical eyes will be gone.  The real scoreboard of life will triumph and we will receive everlasting reward for a life dedicated to the Lordship and centrality of Christ.  It will be worth it all – and that will be glory for us.

Copyright © 2010 Daniel Henderson. All rights reserved.