5 So put to death the parts of your life that belong to the earth, such as sexual immorality, moral corruption, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 The wrath of God is coming upon disobedient people because of these things. 7 You used to live this way, when you were alive to these things. 8 But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language. 9 Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices 10 and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. 11 In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people.
Reflection
The early church of Colossae was diving deep into the concept of Resurrection as we still do
today. Colossians says we should “put on the new nature.” We are reminded that “Christ is all things and in all people.” That’s fine, but people have often questioned “When did Jesus become the Christ?” The early church in Colossae wondered if Christ “Pre-existed” as Christ (was he always Christ even before he was born?) or did he become Christ at the Resurrection. More relevant to this conversation is how and when do we average human beings put on the new nature and become like Christ? As I reflect on today’s scripture reading, I believe it is a process, (not simply a moment or a flash as it seemed for Saul becoming Paul.) Once we become aware of Christ in all things and in all people, we are called by God to “put on the new nature of Christ.” Each of us can mature as a Christian through the events of our life.
by Kathleen Stolz
For Pondering and Prayer
My pondering of Colossians 3:5-11 has focused my thinking on the date April 7 th. I wonder
how the date April 7 th has impacted the lives of two people I have known. How have each of them matured as a child of God?
April 7th is the birthday of our oldest grandchild. Smart and determined, she is both an
excellent athlete like her father, and a scholar like her mother. She cares deeply for God’s creation. She has an adventurous spirit like several of her ancestors who emigrated to the United States at the turn of the twentieth century. She is truly a product of both of her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and even great-great-grandparents as I reflect on previous generations.
April 7th was also the wedding anniversary of my parents. I learned so much from them and,
for better or worse, they made me who I am today. They were born shortly after World War One (the Great War), lived through the Great Depression, married during World War II, encountered financial challenges as well as countless births and deaths. When I announced to my family that I was going to seminary, my father surprised me with the news that he was active in youth ministry when he was younger and had contemplated going into ministry. He struggled through the challenges of life, always tried to put family first in making decisions. He battled alcoholism throughout his adult life and truly experienced a Resurrection during the last ten years of his life on earth.
As I ponder April 7 th I conclude that I have been changed through the actions of both the Pre-existent Christ and the Resurrected Jesus. I suspect if you reflect on your own life you will come to the same conclusion.
Prayer: Creator God, I give thanks for the amazing possibilities of incarnation and resurrection, for the opportunities to change, to learn, to grow in wisdom with you. I give thanks for your grace intervening in our lives when we least expect it. Thank you for the life of Jesus, the stories and lessons he taught us through word and action, and for the opportunities to become more like Jesus every day. Amen.
