Raised With Christ
You are a reflection of Jesus. As you speak, speak the words of Christ. As you think, think like Christ. As you work, work for Christ. As you love, love like Christ.
"When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey...Build there an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones...Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God...You have now become the people of the Lord your God."
As the people arrived at the promised land, they were given instructions as to what it meant to be the people of God. There were specific daily practices and patterns that reflect lives that were connected to God, honored God, and served God. Why do you think this was? What would have happened if their lives looked like the people of other cultures around them? Would others glorify God if they were not living differently? How does your life reflect God through how you live?
God taught the people first to set the word over their lives as a daily reminder. He didn't say small stones, He said large stones. God told the people to make billboards so they would remember that all that they have is a blessing and to hold on to the boundaries that protect the holiness of life with a Holy God. Do you have markers or reminders in your life? How much time are you spending in the word?
God said build an altar, gather together, practice generosity, and rejoice. God did not say one day you will become the people. He said you are. Here are now. This is a very different mindset than what our culture teaches. It has been said that there is a 10,000 hour rule for mastery of any subject. We know we have to put in the work and earn our way to being an expert. God flips the script. He says you are my holy people so walk with lives that reflect the holiness you have already received. We are meant to walk in victory out of a place of wholeness because we are already living connected with God. Is there anywhere in your life where you are walking out of a deficit mindset rather than an abundance mindset? Anywhere you feel like you are not quite there yet or not worthy of the title man or woman of God? God says you have already become His holy, treasured, precious child. Live like it.
“Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning...You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”
Psalms 30:2-6, 11-12
David start and ends with praise. He knows the power of praise. As God's people we were made to praise. Your vocal chords are a gift to be used, as are your hands and feet. There are many ways to praise God. Sometimes through singing and sometimes through serving. How will you praise God as a person of God?
David says God's favor lasts a lifetime. Do you believe this? Do you walk as though someone who is favored by God with the expectation that you will see God's favor come to fruition? Do you ever feel like anxiety of wondering when the other shoe will drop? When things are going well, do you worry about what might go wrong? The world teaches us to be afraid of future failure. The enemy says good times won't last. God says my favor lasts a lifetime. Which will you believe?
David says God changes your very clothes. Do you see how he does not talk about trendy outerwear or apparel. David talks about internal clothing. This seems odd at first glance, but is a much deeper revelation about what people will see externally. How long does it take you to tell if someone is in a good mood or bad mood? Not long typically. Our outward expressions originate on the inside. David says the people of God first receive internal clothing so that their outer clothing is a reflection of the goodness of God. How has God turned your mourning to dancing? Have you let God replace your sackcloth with joy?
“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are human eyes. The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise. Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds”
Solomon reminds his people that there is a difference between those who practice holiness and those who practice worldliness. God's people praise God. Prideful people praise themselves. God's people bless others the way they want to be blessed. Worldly people bless how they feel like it. Solomon says a morning blessing is taken as a curse. Emotional intelligence matters. The people of God need to learn from Jesus and meet people where they are. We are meant to love people graciously in the way they want to receive love. Are you taking the time to understand others before making sure they understand you?
Solomon says iron sharpens iron. He does not say soft cloth sharpens soft cloth. His choice of words matter and reflect that we are made to be precious metal not some other material. You have to understand that God made you and see yourself clearly as God sees you. There are people who live with a false understanding of who God made them to be and in turn are not having the impact they are meant to have. Who are you? How are you being shaped and helping shape others?
Solomon says your life reflects your heart. This is a profound truth. We can say that we are Christians. We can say that we love God, but it is how we live out our lives that tell the truth. How are you spending your most precious, most limited commodity, your time on this planet? What does your life say about what you believe? Solomon says your life is bigger than you. He reminds us to be aware of how our lives are impacting others. He says be aware of the condition of others. As a person of God, you were made to live in community and care about community.
Proverbs 27:1-2, 14, 17, 19-21, 23
“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. “Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame...because of our unfaithfulness to you...The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him...We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy."
Daniel 9:3-9, 11, 15, 18, 20-21, 25
If ever there was a person faithful to God, it was Daniel. His life reflected his heart of devotion to the Lord. He loved the Lord and faithfully practiced obedience to the one he loved. So why would Daniel tear his clothes? Why would he put on sackcloth and fast? At the heart of Daniel is the same heart that moved Jesus to come to bear our sins and pay the price for us. Daniel said if it matters to you then it matters to me.
Daniel could not love God without loving the community around him. Can you? Does your heart break for what breaks the heart of God? How do you not only practice sympathy, but more importantly, practice empathy. Sympathy is feeling for someone. Empathy is feeling with someone. Do you ever get into a rut of isolation or independence where you lose your focus on caring for others? How much time do you spend in prayer for others? Intercessory prayer impacts others and you. As a person of God, Daniel put on the clothes of intercession out of a heart of compassion.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry ...rid yourselves of...anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language...Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish...singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord"
Colossians 3:1-2, 5, 8, 11-17, 23-24
You have been raised with Christ and adopted into the family of God. You have become God's holy person and are part of the people of God. Just like in Deuteronomy you have entered the promised land, a place where God's provision and presence are promises received. You are, not you might be. So how then shall you live? How will you respond to the love of Christ and the new life you have been given?
Like Solomon, Paul says your life reflects your heart. The fruit you produce says everything about which vine your heart is connected. What vine produces greed, lust, evil desires, anger, rage, gossip, slander, and crude language? Is it not the vine of the enemy? How many people are living as though they are people of darkness who prefer darkness over light? The people of God are not perfect, but they do practice holiness out of faithful hearts to Jesus.
Like David said, Paul says you are being clothed on the inside by Christ himself. What new garments will you wear? He says as a person of God you are to dress with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, gratitude and above all love. Which of these is easiest for you? Where would you like to grow the most? Paul says whatever you do, do for Jesus. In a complicated world, Paul is making things simple. He says do what Jesus would do, say what Jesus would say, and love like Jesus would love. Do this and you will reflect Jesus. You might think that is not me. I am just not...but Jesus says you are. You are mine. You are holy and beloved. Live like it. Walk in it. Jesus knows you by name and made you for a purpose to love others as you were made to love. Clothe yourself with Christ and let your life reflect the transformation that has taken place in your heart.