What's the opposite of love? Most people would say hate. But the opposite of love can also be arrogance. An arrogant person is one who stands above others and keeps his distance. A Christian is one who stands shoulder to shoulder with the least and the lost, the down and the out.
Paul suggests an "alternative" lifestyle for the believer. In that day there was a tendency toward ritual and religion. But when we are truly transformed by faith our lives are evidenced by "virtues"--compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience--not religious practices. Paul singles out "love" as the one that stands above all the rest.
The recovery of God in our lives means the recovery of the experience of depth, richness, that comes in the awareness of life as a precious gift to be approached in awe and reverence. But look at the landscape. How do we see life treated? Is it not more often as just another commodity to do with as individuals will?
Richard Osgood has faithfully kept a New Year's resolution that he made in 1936. He resolved not to spend pennies but to save them. Today, he has $33,057.11, directly traceable to his penny savings. He believes that he might be the only person in history to keep a New Year's resolution for sixty years.
The operative word is "if" … if then you were raised together with Christ …" If is one of the most daunting words in the English language. The implication is this: If you have been raised with Christ, what follows is for you; if not, nothing others say will make a difference. Ask yourself: Have I been raised with Christ?
"I've never seen such a crowd in church," a woman exclaimed. Then she added, "Do you suppose it will make any difference?" The pastor asked, "What do you mean? Will what make any difference?" "Easter!" she shot back. Will Easter make any difference for all these people, or will life tomorrow be the same as it was yesterday?"
One of the great heresies of our day is Secular Humanism. Humanists believe that we have within us all that we need, that it's just a matter of thinking positively and developing your God-given potential. It suggests that we have within us such innate goodness and potential that we need not rely on any power greater than ourselves.
The Colossians thought they had to escape this world to be reconciled with God. This belief grew out of the Greek philosophy, which said that the material world and the spiritual world do not mix. Like oil and water, you can shake them up but they always separate again. Well, Paul wrote them a letter to straighten them out.
In case you didn't know it, this is Rule Number One of the Reformed Faith: "Christ alone is head of the Church." All of the members of the body take their direction from him.
In a popular story, a king dresses as a peasant and lives with peasants in the local village. But Jesus doesn't just dress to be like us. He is one of us. He takes on our human nature and lives among ordinary people especially sinners and outcasts. What happened to him could hardly be regarded as being kingly.