Colossians 3:10 – New Life

“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” (Colossians 3:10)

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become new. I like this verse because of the promise of renewal. Facing the realities of life can be exhausting. Fighting our foes can zap us of our energy. The promised renewal here is music to my ears.

Context (Colossians 3): This chapter gives us great insight into what life in Christ looks like and the freedoms we can enjoy. When we know our new identity in Christ, we can stop worrying whether we are good enough. Our focus is no longer on ourselves but on our identity in Christ. Jesus has done the hard work, now it’s our turn to respond.

It’s exciting to get to know who we are in Christ. This “new nature” that Paul talks about can take some getting used to at first. A lot of people fear that change in their life feeling like they will be limited and unable to do the “fun” things life has to offer. Soon, different things start to bring us joy. It’s a mystery to me how God works all of that out, but he does.

From my personal experience, I’ve found that God increases my joy when I serve him. All of the selfish desires I used to chase after seem like a distant past I’m happy to leave behind. I suppose the more time I spend learning about my Creator the more he allows me to understand his creation.

We can learn some things about our Creator by observing creation. We can marvel at the intricacies of life on this planet and then look to the sky and be wowed by all that we don’t know about this universe God has brought into being.

God reveals himself to us most clearly in Jesus the Messiah. Jesus is God, so looking at the way Jesus lived, what was important to him, and how he counseled others in love are all great ways to see the heart of God. God took on flesh so that we could know him better.

As we become more like Christ, we can make a greater difference in this world. Because of our sinful nature, it’s impossible for us to be exactly like Christ, but the more we learn and grow, the more we can be used by God for his purposes.

If you’ve found your sweet spot in serving God, using your gifts to help others see God, you know the joy and satisfaction that brings. I believe that God hopes all his people will come to a living faith in him and become more Christ-like.

Being seen as a Christian is not always popular. It wasn’t for the early believers either. Yet, because of their faith and perseverance, the Bible has become an annual best seller, and there are pockets of Jesus followers worldwide. We will not be silent. There is so much work yet to accomplish as we wait for Jesus’ promised return.

Let’s pray. Lord Jesus, I thank you for the new life you offer and the ways you make yourself known to me. Help me to always be ready to hear from you. Help me stand firm against the temptations of the world and seek your face in my moments of vulnerability. In my weakness, you make me strong. You are my king, and I adore you. I want to reflect your goodness in my life and be more like you every day.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.