Releasing the Spirit

Someone tells Jesus to make a demand of his brother.

He wanted him to make a moral argument as a judge.

The Law provided the inheritance to go primarily to the first son; the Father could have divided it as he chose. In this case, the inheritance went to the oldest son, but the younger demanded a portion.

Like Moses, moral men (especially teachers and rabbis) made judgments according to their interpretation of the Law.

Maybe this person saw that Jesus interpreted the Law differently than the Pharisees and saw a possible way to get what he wanted.

Some of the Colossians seemed to be longing for their lives before Christ.

Some were in danger of falling back into familiar patterns.

While these false teachers required a return to some of the old ways.

Paul warned the Colossians to “put to death” “earthly” desires.

Improper Sexual Acts, impure thoughts, habits, and actions,

Evil desires and greed.

Also, anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language.

Paul says they incur God’s wrath in disobedience through all of these.

But, how come I must put off anger while God can sometimes be angry?

Isn’t that a contradiction?

Paul uses the one word (orge) as angry or wrath, while anger and wrath are used to speak about God and humans, so this cannot simply be a matter of interpreting a word.

It is a matter of how we perceive God, whether God is faithful in God’s love toward people, or whether God is angry with people.

The writings of the Prophets, Priests, and the Gospels all affirm God’s response to sin as anger.

Trusting in possessions or our corrupt desires is nothing short of idolatry.

This is the reason that Paul warned, “the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.” (Those who know and have previously committed to God’s instructions, yet still disobey)

They chose to please themselves or others over God, which is idolatry.

As the Prophets wrote, God’s justice is made evident through God’s response to sin and obedience, evil and good, cruelty and mercy, hate and love. So, God’s people must decide how they will live out God’s commands.

Like the Colossians, familiarity and social pressures can drive us to return to familiar patterns.

We may be tempted to rely on things seemingly in our control to feel comforted.

Sometimes, we might want to feel like we did in our youth.

These can easily result in impulsivity, negativity, and poor relationship choices.

When we rely too much on our resources alone, we can easily lose sight of the greater priorities of the kingdom of God.

While the brother’s request may not have seemed unreasonable, Jesus questioned the intent of the man’s demand.

This was a dispute of brothers over the inheritance their father granted.

Jesus would not arbitrate the dispute because the intent of the man’s request pointed to greed.

Again, Jesus told a parable to make his point clear.

Jesus pointed out the difference between what God values versus what this man valued.

While the man valued other men’s possessions, his deceased father and now his brother,

Jesus places value in “treasures” stored up, making one “rich toward God.”

These treasures are the gift of the Spirit and fruit that is grown in a life lived in Christ, and the result of the life being made a treasure of God.

If God’s love was brought to reality fully in Christ, then his disciples are love made real to God and others.

Paul wrote about the values of the kingdom of God in addressing the Colossians

He reminds them:

They have been raised to life with Christ, near to Christ who is near to God. It is Christ who brought them near to God.

Their lives are hidden with Christ in God now, but they will be fully revealed as being near to God when Christ is revealed to the world.

Because of these things:

They were to put earthly (devoid of spiritual) desires and actions to death.

If they were going to look like Christ, the only perfect “the image of” God, they must know who their creator is and what their creator requires of them and persist in living out their renewed life in Christ.

All this requires the empowerment of the Spirit of Christ alive in them as they live out of faith in God.

This is why Paul affirms that “Christ is all and in all!”

Like the Colossians, if we are to look like Christ, who is the perfect image of loving God, we also must put to death any earthly desires and live fully into our renewed life in Christ.

The perfect gift of God’s Spirit is given to us to be reminded of what desires and actions we put to death in our lives and fully live out of love for God and others.

We need not be afraid of the wrath of an ego-maniacal “god” ready to strike us upon first sight of sin.

God who is eminently good would not allow evil to exist forever.

Let us recognize God as the patient, loving, self-giving parent who directs us toward an empowered, justified, and glorified life in the Spirit. God who releases us to love more fully.