Chosen to Be Transformed

CLICK TO EDIT MASTER TEXT STYLES 1 AS THE SOCCER GAME BEGAN ONE LITTLE BOY WANDERED FROM THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT OVER TO THE SIDELINES OF THE GAME. HE WATCHED. HE WAITED. MOMENTS LATER, HE WAS GONE FROM THE SIDELINES. 2 THEN IT WAS NOTICED THERE WAS AN EXTRA PLAYER RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE FIELD. THE BOY, PERFECTLY CAMOUFLAGED IN BLUE SHORTS AND A WHITE T-SHIRT, WHICH MATCHED ONE OF THE TEAMS. 3 HE RAN, HE PASSED, HE KICKED. HE SMILED. NO ONE SEEMED AWARE THAT HE WASN'T A PART OF THE TEAM. 4 NO ONE SAID, "HE HASN'T PAID THE FEES! THE PROPER FORMS AND RELEASES HAVE NOT BEEN SIGNED!" 5 SOON, HOWEVER, A BALL ROLLED INTO A MOTHER'S LAP. THE NEW BOY RAN TO FETCH IT, THE MOM INNOCENTLY SAID TO THE COACH, "HE'S NOT ON THE TEAM." 6 THE KIDS, WHO HAD NOT EVEN NOTICED THAT A NEW FRIEND WAS ON THE FIELD, STOPPED. THE COACH LOOKED DOWN AT THE NOW VERY DIRTY BOY, SAYING, "HE'S NOT? HMM." THERE WAS A PAUSE AS THE BOY LOOKED UP AT THE COACH. 7 THIS MAN WHO HELD HIS SOCCER FATE IN HIS HANDS. FINALLY THE COACH MADE HIS JUDGMENT. HE PUT HIS HAND ON THE BOY'S BACK AND SAID, "COME ON! LET'S PLAY SOCCER!" 8 AND OFF ALL OF THE PLAYERS WENT BACK ON THE FIELD. NONE OF US DESERVE TO BE ON GOD'S TEAM. WE HAVEN'T EARNED IT. NOR HAVE WE HAVE WE PAID THE FEE OURSELVES. 9 YET, IN HIS GRACE, GOD CHOOSES US TO BE ON THE BEST TEAM IN THE UNIVERSE. HOW WE LIVE LIFE SHOULD BE BASED ON BEING CHOSEN BY GOD. IT IS VITAL THAT WE STRIVE TO LIVE LIFE THE WAY GOD CALLS US TO LIVE IT. 10 AS CHILDREN OF GOD THERE ARE CERTAIN WAYS WE SHOULD BEHAVE. TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT AN INSTRUCTION FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL. TO TRANSFORM OUR LIVES BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST. 11 TURN WITH ME IF YOU WILL IN YOUR BIBLES TO COLOSSIANS 3:12. PAUL HAD JUST TOLD THE COLOSSIANS THEY SHOULD CHANGE HOW THEY LIVE. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WHO THEY WERE. 12 THEY ARE BEING TRANSFORMED BY GOD TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST. HE WILL NOW GIVE THE DETAILS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MORE LIKE CHRIST. 13 COLOSSIANS 3:12–13 SO, AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED, PUT ON A HEART OF COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE; 14 BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND FORGIVING EACH OTHER, WHOEVER HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST ANYONE; JUST AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU, SO ALSO SHOULD YOU. 15 TRANSFORM BECAUSE YOU’RE CHOSEN PAUL CALLS THEM CHOSEN OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED. THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL WORDS. BUT PAUL DID NOT CHOOSE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL. 16 HE USED THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PROPER ACCURATE TERMS TO DESCRIBE BELIEVERS. “CHOSEN OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED” THESE TERMS WERE USED TO DESCRIBE ISRAEL BACK IN EXODUS. 17 NOW THEY DESCRIBE THE CHURCH. THE FALSE TEACHERS DID NOT CONSIDER THE COLOSSIAN CHRISTIANS TO BE “ELECT OF GOD”. 18 ACCORDING TO THE FALSE TEACHERS THE COLOSSIAN CHRISTIANS HAD NO SUCH STANDING. THEY HAD NO STANDING BECAUSE THEY DID NOT OBSERVE THE DECREES OF THE FALSE TEACHERS. 19 PAUL CORRECTS THIS FALSE TEACHING AND GIVES THEM AN INSTRUCTION. 20 TRANSFORM YOUR HEART “PUT ON A HEART” THIS IS THE INSTRUCTION. THE GRAMMAR OF THIS COMMAND IMPLIES IT IS TO BE OBEYED AT ONCE. 21 THIS PHRASE MEANS TO PUT ON AN ITEM OF CLOTHING. HE HAD TOLD THEM TO PUT OFF THE CLOTHING OF ANGER, WRATH, MALICE AND SLANDER. 22 THEY WERE TO PUT ON THE NEW SELF. NOW HE GIVE THEM DETAILS ABOUT WHAT THIS NEW SELF IS LIKE. 23 THIS NEW SELF HAS A HEART OF COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE. 24 “COMPASSION” TO SHOW MERCY AND CONCERN, A DEEP AWARENESS OF AND SYMPATHY FOR ANOTHER’S SUFFERING. 25 “KINDNESS” THE WORD SPEAKS OF A GENTLE, GRACIOUS DISPOSITION. THE QUALITY OF BEING WARMHEARTED, CONSIDERATE, HUMANE, GENTLE, AND SYMPATHETIC. 26 “HUMILITY” ASSESSING ONESELF APPROPRIATELY, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF ONE’S SINFULNESS. CONSIDERING OTHERS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURSELF. 27 “GENTLENESS” ACTING IN A MANNER THAT IS MILD, AND EVEN-TEMPERED. THE OPPOSITE OF HARSHNESS 28 “PATIENCE” SPEAKS OF SOMEONE WHO IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED BY THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED HIM. THE WORD EXPRESSES PATIENCE UNDER THE ILL-TREATMENT OF OTHERS. 29 THIS IS THE HEART WE ARE TO PUT ON. THESE WORDS DESCRIBE THE ATTITUDE WE SHOULD HAVE AS CHOSEN, HOLY, BELOVED OF GOD. WHEN WE DO THIS IT WILL TRANSFORM HOW WE INTERACT WITH PEOPLE. 30 TRANSFORM YOUR ACTIONS “BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND FORGIVING EACH OTHER” THESE ARE TWO CHANGES IN OUR ACTIONS. “BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER” MEANS HOLDING UP WHEN BURDENS ARE HEAPED ON US. 31 THESE BURDENS MIGHT BE INSULTS AND INJURIES. OR THEY MAY BE WORK WE MUST DO BECAUSE OF THE THOUGHTLESSNESS OF OTHERS. “BEARING WITH” IS PUTTING UP WITH OTHERS EVEN WHEN THEY FAIL. 32 “FORGIVING” IS SAME ROOT WORD AS “GRACE.” IT CARRIES THE IDEA OF A FREE FORGIVENESS, PERHAPS BECAUSE OF GRACE. THESE TWO QUALITIES WERE LINKED IN PAUL’S MIND AS THEY OFTEN ARE IN PRACTICE. 33 PAUL FOCUSED ON THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS TO HAVE PATIENCE. NOT ON THE ONE WHO CAUSED A PROBLEM. 34 PAUL GIVES THE REASON WE SHOULD BEAR WITH AND FORGIVE. “JUST AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU, SO ALSO SHOULD YOU.” 35 EPHESIANS 4:32 BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, TENDER-HEARTED, FORGIVING EACH OTHER, JUST AS GOD IN CHRIST ALSO HAS FORGIVEN YOU. 36 DOING THIS IS HARD. TO BE ABLE TO FORGIVE WE HAVE TO YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. ONLY WHEN WE YIELD TO HIM CAN WE MOVE FORWARD. 37 BETWEEN AN AIRPLANE AND EVERY OTHER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION THERE IS ONE GREAT CONTRAST. THE HORSE, BICYCLE, CAR, TRAIN, GREAT BATTLESHIP—ALL CAN COME TO A STANDSTILL WITHOUT DANGER. 38 BUT THERE IS NO STANDING STILL IN AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT. IF IT LOSES ITS MOMENTUM THEN IT CRASHES. THE ONLY SAFETY FOR THE AIRPLANE IS IN ITS FORWARD AND UPWARD MOTION. 39 THE ONLY SAFE DIRECTION FOR THE CHRISTIAN TO TAKE IS FORWARD AND UPWARD. IF HE STOPS, GROWING AT THAT MOMENT HE IS IN DANGER. THANKFULLY WE ARE NOT CALLED TO MAKE THESE CHANGES BY OUR OWN POWER. 40 COLOSSIANS 3:14–16 BEYOND ALL THESE THINGS PUT ON LOVE, WHICH IS THE PERFECT BOND OF UNITY. LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO WHICH INDEED YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY; AND BE THANKFUL. 41 LET THE WORD OF CHRIST RICHLY DWELL WITHIN YOU, WITH ALL WISDOM TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER WITH PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH THANKFULNESS IN YOUR HEARTS TO GOD. 42 TRANSFORM BY LOVING PAUL NOW BEGINS TO TELL THEM HOW TO PUT ON A HEART. “LOVE EMBRACES AND KNITS TOGETHER ALL THE VIRTUES TOGETHER.” 43 “LOVE IS THE OUTER GARMENT WHICH HOLDS THE HEART OF COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE; IN PLACE THIS IS NOT JUST ANY KIND OF LOVE. 44 WE ARE TO LOVE LIKE GOD LOVED US. GOD LOVED A WORLD THAT WAS FULL OF SIN. HE SAW IT HAD NO VALUE, BUT HE LOVED IT ANYWAY. 45 THIS IS AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE A LOVE NOT BASED ON THE VALUE THE OBJECT LOVED BUT ON THE GRACE AND MERCY OF THE ONE LOVING 46 THIS LOVE PAUL CALLS US TO IS THE BOND OF UNITY IT BRINGS US TOGETHER TO SERVE GOD SO HOW DO WE HAVE THIS LOVE? 47 TRANSFORM BY CHRIST RULING “LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN YOUR HEARTS” THIS IS NOT ANOTHER INSTRUCTION. THE INSTRUCTION IS ALL THE WAY BACK AT “PUT ON.” 48 THIS TELLS US HOW TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION. THE PEACE OF CHRIST IS THE CALM ASSURANCE WE HAVE BASED ON OUR ETERNAL DESTINY. 49 THE WORD WE SEE HERE “RULE” LITERALLY MEANS TO UMPIRE, OR JUDGE. THIS PEACE SHOULD RULE IN OUR INDIVIDUAL HEARTS. 50 BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT HERE. THE WORD “YOUR” IS PLURAL IN THE GREEK TEXT. 51 THE PEACE IS TO “RULE” IN THE CONGREGATION. THE REASON FOR SUCH PEACE IS THAT THE BELIEVERS WERE CALLED INTO ONE BODY. PAUL POINTS THIS OUT WHEN HE SAYS; “TO WHICH INDEED YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY” 52 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 NOW I EXHORT YOU, BRETHREN, BY THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT YOU ALL AGREE AND THAT THERE BE NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU, BUT THAT YOU BE MADE COMPLETE IN THE SAME MIND AND IN THE SAME JUDGMENT. 53 ONLY BY LETTING THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN OUR HEARTS AS A CHURCH, AS THE BODY OF CHRIST ARE WE ABLE TO BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER, ARE WE ABLE TO FORGIVE EACH OTHER. 54 THIS MEANS ALLOWING THIS PEACE OF CHRIST TO BE THE UMPIRE OR JUDGE OVER ALL THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AS A CHURCH. 55 ALLOWING THE CALM SECURITY AND ASSURANCE OF OUR ETERNAL DESTINY GUIDE OUR CHOICES AS A CONGREGATION. THIS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY STAYING FOCUSED ON GOD’S WORD. 56 TRANSFORM BY GOD’S WORD “LET THE WORD OF CHRIST RICHLY DWELL WITHIN YOU,” THIS TELLS US FURTHER HOW WE CAN “PUT ON A HEART” THE CHRISTIAN MUST YIELD HIMSELF TO THE WORD 57 SO THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN AT-HOMENESS OF THE WORD IN HIM. BY STUDY, MEDITATION, AND APPLICATION OF THE WORD, IT BECOMES A PERMANENT ABIDING PART OF ONE’S LIFE. 58 INSTEAD OF PAYING ATTENTION TO THE FALSE TEACHERS THE COLOSSIANS ARE TOLD TO ABIDE BY THE WORD. THE WORD OF CHRIST INCLUDES ALL THAT IS IN OUR BIBLE. THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHICH TOLD OF HIS COMING. 59 THE GOSPELS THAT TELLS HIS WORDS AND LIFE. THE LETTERS WRITTEN TO HELP US LIVE AS HE WOULD HAVE US LIVE. 60 AND REVELATION WHICH TELLS US OF HIS RETURN. LETTING THE WORD OF CHRIST RICHLY DWELL IN US IS REALLY A MATTER OF PRIORITIES. 61 SOMETHING IS GOING TO DWELL IN YOUR HEART. NO MATTER HOW IT FEELS YOUR HEART IS NEVER EMPTY. 62 IT MIGHT HAVE MONEY OR POWER OR FEAR IN IT, BUT IT IS NEVER EMPTY. ONLY IF OUR PRIORITIES ARE ON GOD CAN THE WORD OF GOD RICHLY DWELL IN US. 63 A FELLA WAS AT THE SUPER BOWL HE NOTICED AN EMPTY SEAT HE THE LADY SEAT BY IT WHY IT WAS EMPTY. "IT WAS MY HUSBAND'S," THE WOMAN EXPLAINED, "BUT HE DIED." 64 "I'M VERY SORRY," SAID THE MAN. "I'M REALLY SURPRISED THAT ANOTHER RELATIVE, OR FRIEND, DIDN'T JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO TAKE THE SEAT RESERVED FOR HIM." "BEATS ME," SHE SAID. 65 "THEY ALL INSISTED ON GOING TO THE FUNERAL." PUTTING OTHER THINGS FIRST DRIVES GOD’S WORD OUT OF US. 66 PAUL GIVES AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE MIGHT BETTER LET THE WORD DWELL IN US. HE DIRECTS THE COLOSSIANS TO WORSHIP. 67 “TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER WITH PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS,” ONE OF THE GREATEST WAYS THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELLS IN US IS IN WORSHIP. 68 THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE CONNECT WITH OUR HEARTS WHEN WE SING THEM. WHEN WE SING OUR PSALMS AND OUR HYMNS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WORSHIP, ALL OF US SING TOGETHER. 69 WE ARE TO SING THESE SONGS WITH THANKFULNESS IN OUR HEARTS. AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE CONTRIBUTES TO UNITY THROUGH THE PEACE OF GOD. 70 WHEREAS GRUMBLING MAKES FOR INNER AGITATION AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE. THANKFULNESS IS FOUND THROUGHOUT GOD’S WORD. HAVING GOD’S WORD DWELL IN YOUR HEART SHOULD AFFECT EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE. 71 COLOSSIANS 3:17 WHATEVER YOU DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS THROUGH HIM TO GOD THE FATHER. 72 TRANSFORM EVERYTHING OUR WORLD TRIES TO TELL US SOME THINGS SERVE GOD AND OTHERS DO NOT. THERE IS NO SACRED-SECULAR SPLIT IN GOD’S EYES; HE IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL. 73 THIS IS A MAJOR SPIRITUAL TRUTH. EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES IS “IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.” 74 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 WHETHER, THEN, YOU EAT OR DRINK OR WHATEVER YOU DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD. 75 BELIEVERS ARE TO LIVE AND ACT AS THOSE WHO BEAR HIS NAME. WE MUST DO NOTHING THAT WOULD MAKE US ASHAMED TO SAY THAT WE ARE CHRISTIANS. 76 TRANSFORMATION LEADS TO GRATITUDE THREE TIMES IN THREE CONSECUTIVE VERSES PAUL MENTIONED THANKFULNESS. “BE THANKFUL” (V15) “SINGING WITH THANKFULNESS IN YOUR HEARTS TO GOD. (V. 16) 77 “GIVING THANKS THROUGH HIM TO GOD THE FATHER.” FROM THIS I THINK WE CAN UNDERSTAND JUST HOW IMPORTANT THANKFULNESS IS. GRATITUDE TO GOD IS HOW WE PUT ON A HEART COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE. 78 AND HOW WE BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER. SINCE WE ARE TO DO WHATEVER WE DO IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS 79 OUR GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER SHOULD BE THROUGH THE CHRIST AS WELL. GIVING THANKS CAN BE QUITE A CHALLENGE. 80 SOMETIMES WE FEEL WE HAVE DON’T HAVE MUCH TO GIVE THANKS FOR. 81 IN A SMALL VILLAGE, A MAN GOES TO THE RABBI AND COMPLAINS. "LIFE IS UNBEARABLE. THERE ARE NINE OF US LIVING IN ONE ROOM. WHAT CAN I DO?" 82 THE RABBI ANSWERS, "TAKE YOUR GOAT INTO THE ROOM WITH YOU." THE MAN IN IS STUNNED, BUT THE RABBI INSISTS. "DO AS I SAY AND COME BACK IN A WEEK." 83 A WEEK LATER THE MAN COMES BACK LOOKING MORE DISTRAUGHT THAN BEFORE. "WE CANNOT STAND IT," HE TELLS THE RABBI. "THE GOAT IS FILTHY." 84 THE RABBI THEN TELLS HIM, "GO HOME AND LET THE GOAT OUT. AND COME BACK IN A WEEK." A RADIANT MAN RETURNS TO THE RABBI A WEEK LATER, EXCLAIMING, "LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. 85 WE ENJOY EVERY MINUTE OF IT NOW THAT THERE'S NO GOAT -- ONLY THE NINE OF US." SOMETIMES IT TAKES SEEING THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY TO BE THANKFUL. 86 IT MAY TAKE NOTICING THE ABSENCE OF A PROBLEM. TO HELP US SEE WHAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GRATEFUL FOR ALL ALONG. 87 LIKE THE LITTLE BOY THAT WANDERED ONTO THE SOCCER FIELD WE HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE TEAM. NOT BASED ON ANYTHING ABOUT US. NOT BECAUSE OF ANY PRICE WE PAID. 88 BUT SIMPLY CHOSEN BY GOD. THIS MEANS WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY. THIS MEANS WE ARE CALLED TO PUT ON A HEART OF COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE. . 89 IF WE DO THIS, IT WILL TRANSFORM HOW WE INTERACT WITH OTHERS. WE WILL BEAR UP WITH THEM AND FORGIVE THOSE WHO WRONG US. WE SHOULD DO THIS BECAUSE GOD HAS FORGIVEN US. 90 BUT WE CAN ONLY DO THIS BY TRULY LOVING ONE ANOTHER. TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER WE MUST LET PEACE OF CHRIST RULE OUR HEARTS. 91 WHEN SECURITY OF OUR ETERNAL DESTINY GUIDES OUR CHOICES WE CAN SACRIFICIALLY LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 92 TO DO THIS WE MUST HAVE THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELLING IN US. WHEN THIS HAPPENS WE CAN DO EVERYTHING WE DO IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. 93 WE CAN GIVE THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH CHRIST. AND WE WILL HAVE PUT ON THE HEART GOD DESIRES US TO HAVE. 94 THE GOD THAT CHOSE US WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERYONE. BUT WE ALL SIN…. 95 96