Thoughts for the Day

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

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed. On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I left school at fifteen with no exams behind me. My father was unwell and none of us were sure if he would work again. As it happened he went back to work with a body plaster-cast on, and life continued as normal. But in the meantime I found a job to help the family income, and so I didn't take my O level and A level exams until my mid-twenties, long after I had married. Perhaps doing this as an adult, and going to university much later than others, has been why I have always wanted to work with adults who've had little education, whether it was teaching them shorthand or theology. One of my mantras when working with those doing exams or assignments is "Check what the question says" (and underline important words). We can all get carried away, writing amazing essays only to discover that we have totally strayed from the original subject.

Our reading from Paul's letter to Colossians reminds me of this mantra. We should look back at our roots and ask "What is it that Christ demands of us?" Paul says Jesus calls us to the 'things that are above', and 'not things on earth' However, before looking at the lovely things from above he immediately dives into the negative problems below, with ten things we are to give up: 'fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed', followed by 'anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth', and one final one: 'do not lie'.

If you're like me you have broken some of these! Unfortunately, though, sometimes it feels as though 'we clothe ourselves' with our new self as Christians but leave the old self underneath. It's a bit like putting on clean clothes over dirty ones. So today lets acknowledge the things that we haven't given up and ask God's forgiveness, and tomorrow, well we'll look at the things we are to take up.

Lord God,
teach us to go back to first principles
and to give up all that defiles us: -
the times our thoughts have been unworthy;
or when we have skated close to the truth;
or the occasions we have spread misinformation;
or lost our temper;
or taken God's name in vain;
or allowed greed to overcome us;
and lastly, those sins we dare not even name.
Forgive us, and strengthen us to start afresh this day,
we pray.
Amen.