Week 38
Practice His Presence
Colossians 3:1–17
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Colossians 3:1–17 (NKJV)
Paul begins Christian practice with a completed reality: you have been raised with Christ. Attention turns heavenward because our life is already joined to the enthroned Son.
Setting the mind above is not escaping earthly responsibility. It means seeing every earthly thing beneath Christ’s authority and within the horizon of His appearing.
The hidden life produces visible repentance. Sexual sin, greed, rage, slander, and falsehood cannot be cherished as harmless habits when Christ is our life.
Putting off the old self is joined to putting on the new. Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love become the clothing appropriate to people renewed in Christ’s image.
The peace of Christ is to rule not merely isolated hearts but one body. Practicing God’s presence includes receiving other believers as members called into shared peace.
The word of Christ is to dwell richly among us through teaching, admonition, and grateful song. Awareness of God is nourished by Scripture and voiced in community.
Then Paul gathers everything: whatever you do in word or deed, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. No faithful task is spiritually empty when offered beneath His lordship with thanksgiving.
Practice His presence by returning attention to Christ within the next ordinary act. Wash, write, listen, plan, repair, or rest in His name, and let gratitude make the commonplace holy.
In Conversation with A. W. Tozer
Tozer challenged the division between sacred and secular living. When offered to God, ordinary work may become worship without pretending that every activity is morally equal.
Colossians supplies the distinctly Christian shape: union with the risen Christ, repentance from sin, renewed character, Scripture-filled community, and every deed performed in Jesus’ name.
A Prayer
Holy God,
Risen Christ, set my mind upon You and teach me to see this day beneath Your reign.
Put to death what belongs to the old life. Clothe me with compassion, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love.
Let Your word dwell richly in me, Your peace rule among us, and every faithful task become thanksgiving in Your name. Amen.
Dwell This Week with God
Awaken to His presence.
Return often to Colossians 3:1–17. Read without hurry, and allow the truth of who God is to become larger than every lesser concern.