Hey babes! I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to start a segment on this blog where we dive deeper into the Word together. Sometimes, reading the Bible can be challenging to understand, and it helps to have someone break it down with you. Just to clarify, I am not the “perfect Christian” nor am I a pastor. I’m simply a girl doing my best to grow closer to the Lord. I’m learning every day, just like you, which is why I wanted to initiate this. It helps me learn, too! So whether you’re a new believer or have been in the faith for a while, I invite you to join me on this journey. I pray that this will be a blessing for us all. Please feel free to comment and engage in this conversation!
In 2023, my goal was to read the entire Bible from beginning to end by the end of the year. I struggled significantly for various reasons. I tried again in 2024, and as of December 27th, I’m nearly done! I fell short many times this year; I got lazy and distracted by life on several days. However, I picked it back up. This will happen in your journey too—don’t let it discourage you! Keep going, even if you have to start over again and again. The Lord sees you!
Now let’s get into this Word, shall we? I am currently in Colossians 3. Here are some of my favorite verses from this chapter that really stood out to me, and I want to discuss:
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Let’s begin by examining these three verses. First of all, wow! I loved reading this chapter. In verse 2, it emphasizes that we should focus on things above rather than on earthly matters. I feel like our world is very materialistic, where everything revolves around financial gain, money, and possessions. It often becomes a competition of who has the most of this or that—focusing heavily on these earthly things.
As Christians, our focus should be on heavenly matters, such as gaining knowledge of God, pursuing true righteousness, and valuing spiritual goods. Personally, I have struggled with getting caught up in worldly things instead of keeping my eyes on what truly matters: heavenly things. Especially in today’s society, if we don’t maintain our focus on heaven, we risk giving the enemy a foothold. We need to stay vigilant and concentrate on what truly counts, and that is our focus on heaven.
Now, I know that verses 5 and 8 made many of us feel a sense of conviction. These are all battles we face because of our human nature. Verse 8 particularly struck me. There was a time when I used to curse quite frequently; my language was terrible. What’s surprising is that I didn’t consciously decide to change my language. After I rededicated my life to Christ and grew closer to Him over the past couple of years, I simply stopped cursing without realizing. I began to notice more and more that I was avoiding that language, which used to be a part of my everyday speech.
While I have slipped up a few times, I am now more intentional about watching what I say, especially in the heat of the moment. The Lord has done significant work in me in that area and in others as well. I want you to understand that God is not calling us to be perfect; none of us will ever achieve perfection. Only Jesus is perfect. Instead, what we can do is fall in love with Jesus. The more you love Him and learn about who He is, the more you will naturally want to stop doing things that don’t honor Him, simply out of love.
It won’t be easy, and for some of us, it may not happen overnight. However, over time, you will start to see the work that the Holy Spirit is doing within you.
Take a moment to reflect on the areas where you struggle the most. Pray over those challenges and ask God to help deliver you from them. Keep praying and actively engage in the work! I will be praying for you as well!
Let’s move to the next few verses:
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
17 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.
I really love these verses. In the earlier verses, it talks about things we should avoid, such as anger and malice. In verse 12, it emphasizes what we should cultivate in our lives: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Let’s take a look at the definitions of these words:
- Compassion: Having or showing mercy, sympathy, empathy, or pity.
- Kindness: A compassionate, selfless, and merciful act—essentially, compassion put into action.
- Humility: An attitude characterized by lowliness, meekness, and a lack of self-importance.
- Gentleness: A disposition of sensitivity and kindness that stems from strength and is prompted by love.
- Patience: The ability to endure challenges, delays, and difficult people without becoming frustrated or angry.
Which of these qualities could you work on developing further? I encourage you to ask the Lord to fill you with these traits. For me, I know that I need to focus on my patience a lot. It’s a significant area of struggle for me, and I constantly seek God’s help to improve in this regard.
In verse 13, the topic of forgiveness is addressed. I recognize that we have all struggled with this at some point. You might be finding it difficult to forgive someone who hurt you in childhood, a friend who betrayed you, or a spouse who was disloyal. Forgiveness is challenging; the Bible never claims that it would be easy. I, too, have had to learn how to forgive many people and situations throughout my life. You may be tired of hearing that forgiveness is for your own benefit, but it is true. Holding onto unforgiveness will only burden your heart. Clinging to grudges and anger might seem like the easier option, but it is not the better one. My friend, please forgive others as the Lord has forgiven you.
Let’s say this prayer together:
Dear Heavenly Father, I am struggling with forgiveness. I have shed many tears and held onto this burden for too long. Lord, this weighs heavily on me and hardens my heart. Please free me. Help me to forgive as You have forgiven me so many times. I cannot do this without You; I cry out to You, O Lord. Amen.
Now to verses 14 and 15. Verse 14 is so beautiful. We must put on love, the ultimate virtue. What is love according scripture? Let’s take a look.
Love – a selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial commitment to others.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
The world has a vastly different understanding of love. When I read 1 Corinthians, it offered me a profound perspective on what love means according to God. Once you comprehend this concept, it can truly change you. We should love others as God loves us. Did you have a different definition of love before reading the scriptures? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
In Verse 15, the emphasis is on peace and thankfulness. You will never experience true peace until you know Jesus. Many of us search for peace—or what we believe will bring us peace—in various things. However, there is nothing quite like the peace that Jesus offers; it is an unmatched feeling. Accept the peace that the Lord is offering you. We must also cultivate an attitude of thankfulness. I believe it should be easy to be grateful. If you take a moment to reflect on all the Lord has done for you, even the small things, how could you not feel thankful? The gift of Jesus alone is more than enough to be grateful for. What are you thankful for today? Start each day by listing the things you are grateful for and expressing your appreciation.
Now, let’s discuss the last verses we’ll touch on today—verses 16 and 17. I particularly like how verse 16 states, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…” Personally, the more I learn about Jesus, the more I want to share that knowledge with others. In fact, that’s how I began this segment. I could talk about Him for hours; my sister and I often do! Don’t keep that knowledge to yourself—spread it! Also, get creative with your worship. In verse 16, it mentions hymns and songs. I absolutely love worship music. Every single day, I play worship songs while getting ready, which really sets a positive tone for the day. Worship Him as much as you can, in whatever ways you can. What are some of your favorite gospel songs?
Lastly, do everything in the name of Jesus. Seek to engage in actions that honor Him, and do everything in His name. Live your life for Jesus, my brothers and sisters! All praise and glory to the Most High!
Wow, you guys, Colossians 3 is by far one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It touches on principles we should implement in our everyday lives. I truly enjoyed going through it with you and hope you did too. What was your favorite verse? What did you learn? Please let me know! I encourage you to read the entire book of Colossians; it’s short but sweet! I pray this Bible study has blessed you, and I hope you will join me again! May God be with you until then! Muah!
Leave a Reply