“So if you’re serious
about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ
presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to
the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on
around Christ – that’s where the action is.
See things from his perspective.”
Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG)
An early childhood trauma took place on a vacation with my
parents. We’d been out to dinner after a
day at the beach and we returned to our hotel after dark. Making our way through the parking lot, I was
happily running and skipping about, when a vehicle approached behind us. My parents warned me of the car, and as I
attempted to get out of the way, I tripped, meeting the blacktop fully with my
face.
I’d been so completely engrossed in the magnificence of the
day that any possibility of trouble was off radar. Of course, this is usual behavior for a
child, and I love that about little kids.
But the pain of that event scarred my ability to look up from then on. It kept me continually watching the ground as
I walked, hyper vigilant in where I put my steps. I’ve lived a life wary of getting hurt.
This scripture in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the
Colossians brought this anxious behavior to light. When we get hurt, whether physically,
mentally or spiritually, our human response is to avoid any repeats of that
pain. We scan the earth for anything
resembling a rut, rock or root evading that which might trip us up again. We live afraid of what might happen if we’re
not continually looking out.
Living worried is not a faith-based life.
The message of Christ is not one of pain avoidance but rather
teaches that God is using the pain in our lives to build strength of character,
if we allow Him (see James 1:2-4 & Romans 5:3-5). And here, in Colossians we are encouraged to
look at the world from Jesus’ point of view...resurrected!
So, how do we live a resurrected life?
Paul’s letter says we look up and pursue the things over
which Christ presides. And what is it
that Jesus doesn’t preside over? That worry
that keeps our heads hung low and our eyes averted.
Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior is not about a ticket
to heaven, where we grit our teeth from now until then, but a pathway to peace
we can walk today.
When I raise my head from worldly concerns and look around,
I am often surprised to find beautiful and awesome sights abounding. A bird sings a delightful tune. A snowflake falls softly against the windowpane. A child plays without concern. Like them, I too can behave singing praises
in harsh season, moving gently in icy situations, or observing a Sabbath’s rest. It’s a choice of behavior that resembles that
of Christ.
Where do you find your eyes fixed today? Do you struggle to let go of worrisome
things? Friend, Jesus is inviting you into
a resurrected lifestyle, where actively pursuing peace is prized.
Author
Bio:
Sharon has been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
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