We live in Christ, in the Word of God.
We have a life but it is not in this world: in fame, or in money, or in our worldly possessions, or in our physical appearance.
So for most of us, we don't appear to other people to have a life.
But our life is hidden in Christ, in the Word.
When Christ appears, our life will appear with HIM !
Colossians 3
* In reading the Bible. In seeking daily the will of God as we live on this earth. In prayer and giving of thanks to God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, WHO is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of HIM that created him:
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, WHO is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory.
💥💥💥
A woman sent me a birthday card. She enclosed a note telling me all the things she and her husband and daughter and granddaughter had done over the holidays and also telling me all they had planned for Christmas.
(People are so often very busy!)
I had nothing planned for Christmas. And I had no husband, no children, no grandchildren.
The Holy Spirit said to me: You are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, WHO is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory. (Col. 3:4-5)
I said: "That's right!" (and I began rejoicing in my salvation and in all the unseen things God has given me.)
I have a life. They just can't see it!
(I might have been a little depressed at the note in the Birthday card except for that which the Holy Spirit spoke to me. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit, "The Comforter." )
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
When we see ourselves as God sees us, we rejoice in HIM.
💥💥💥
Since we, as born again Christians, are dead and our life is now hid in Christ let us "mortify" the works of the flesh.
Colossians 3
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
(When we feel ourselves beginning to get angry or about to tell some clever worldly story which we should not tell, we can turn to God in prayer and say: "Please help me, God. Don't let me say that! Don't let me do that!"
And we can pray over ourselves Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.)
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of HIM that created him:
(Renewed in knowledge as we read the Bible and as God shows us something by HIS Spirit)
💥💥💥
Colossians 3
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
(Forgiving is not wanting the person to go through penalty for what that person did to you.)
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
(Charity is the ability to emphasise with the other person in the situation that person is going through, as if you, yourself were in the suffering or trial.)
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
(There are several things listed "to do" in these scriptures. As you think on each thing to be able to do that instruction, you grow in strength to be able to actually perform the Word, doing the specific instruction... living in Christ, the Word.)
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
💥💥💥💥💥