His Life, Our Life
Easter Day: Epistle Reading, Colossians 3:1-4
Whenever I get to this passage I think, “Wow there is just so much here.” And there is. These four verses are just packed with great stuff. But just a moment to point us back to chapter two and verse twenty. Chapter three begins assuming our resurrection with Jesus. But the dying comes first. And what an AWESOME thing to realize that in our baptism we have both. What an amazing gift. So death ushers in resurrection by the power of the Spirit and the joy of this special week comes racing to us in these words of Paul. Spend some time here.
The “if” in verse one should be read as “since,” and therefore all that comes after that is now our available reality. Jesus is in the place of all authority and raising our mind to that truth should re-craft our entire thinking process. Every day. Do you find it a challenge to think on a heavenly level? I’ve heard all my life the quip,”He’s so heavenly-minded that he’s no earthly good.” Funny, I’ve never met anyone like that. In fact, I think we need more heavenly-mindedness and Paul thinks so too. Thinking the way Paul desires for us reveals that we’re not on our own, but that we are “hidden with Christ in God” (v. 3). What mystery! What security! What joy! His life has become ours. And that will never end.
- Read our Epistle reading for the week. But do rewind a bit and begin at Colossians 2:20. It will give the intended “sweep” that we need for the right understanding of what God has done.
- Think about and practice Luther’s instruction to say daily (and more than once a day), “I am baptized.” Not past tense, but present. You and I have the present reality of an ongoing, powerful and grace-filled baptism at work for us every single moment we have breath. And beyond. That’s the power of Christ’s life in us. Rejoice!
