Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

I woke with this thought on my heart and I have tons to say on the topic, dozens of verses come to mind and a thousand personal life parables.

Bottom line….

When you say NO to selfish pursuits and pleasures, you are saying YES to God

Therefore…

Colossians 3:12 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.

Colossians3:15 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.

Lord, I thank you for this simple yet profoundly important message today. You expressed the highest most selfless form of love in sending your Son Jesus to be born of a Virgin, live and die for the sins of all, and offer forgiveness and eternal salvation through His resurrection; that free gift is our choice to make, by saying NO MORE to the lives we used to live and say YES to a new eternal life in You. 

Merry Christmas to all my blogmates!