The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 20 October 2023 – Abstain From Every Appearance Of Evil

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TOPIC: Abstain From Every Appearance Of Evil

READ: Colossians 3:1-17 (NKJV)

  1. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
  2. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
  3. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
  4. When Christ [who is] our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
  5. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
  6. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
  7. in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
  8. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
  9. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,
  10. and have put on the new [man] who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
  11. where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave [nor] free, but Christ [is] all and in all.
  12. Therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
  13. bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also [must do.]
  14. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
  15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
  16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
  17. And [whatever] you do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

THE MESSAGE:

In this epistle, Apostle Paul, pointed out three basic things about human behaviour and their relationship to God. First, we should consider ourselves dead and unresponsive to evil desires: Sexual sin, impurity, lustful desires and materialism. Christian men and women should be open to true love and to sexual intimacy within the commitment to lifelong fidelity. That is God’s way. The rest is dangerous and futile. Sexual sin and perversion drain our energies and turn our hearts away from God. Second, Paul advises us to lay aside the old self and put on the new. In other words, we are to be done with our old morals and commit ourselves to what Christ teaches. Paul appealed to believers to hold fast their profession in Christ (Hebrews 10:23-24). Thus, lying to one another disrupts unity by destroying trust; it tears down relationships and may lead to serious conflict in Church society.

Third, Christians are to forgive one another, realising how much God forgives them. Is it difficult for you to forgive someone who has wronged you a little when God has forgiven you so much? God’s infinite love and forgiveness can help you love and forgive others. Don’t quench your life with bitter feuding (Hebrews 12:15); live renewed in love and joy. Finally, Apostle Paul asks us to
(1) imitate Christ’s merciful, forgiving attitude (Colossians 3:12-13);
(2) Let love guide our life (Colossians 3:14);
(3) Let the peace of God rule in your heart and always be thankful (Colossians 3:15);
(4) Keep God’s Word in you at all times (Colossians 3:16);
(5) Live as Jesus Christ’s representative (Colossians 3:17).

PRAYER: God please grant me abundant grace to live worthy of Your holy name, Amen.