OzThoughts Monday 4th October 2009

OzThoughts Monday 4th October 2009

One of the real pleasures of life is meeting people from other countries. Sometimes it is obvious by their dress or their looks that they are from somewhere else. Australian men do not wear socks with sandals. So anyone who does marks themselves as being different.

New Zealanders may look like Australians and blend in quite well, but as soon as they open their mouth their different accent gives them away. I guess the same could be said for many South Africans, Canadians and Americans and of course, people from the United Kingdom.

I have had English friends who have gone back to England after many years and their English relatives tell them they have an Australian accent. When they arrive back in Australia after some time enjoying their reunions in England, they have to learn again to speak like an Aussie.

Paul considers the Christian life and says to the Colossians: “if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it”. Paul then goes on to give some teaching on how they should live like Christ. He is saying the difference should be seen and heard.


Colossians 3:1-11 (The Message)
1-2 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.
3-4Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
5-8And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.
9-11Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

[Listen: Tune - Aurelia: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2973.mp3 ]
I'm set apart for Jesus,
To be a king and priest;
His life in me increases,
Upon his love I feast.
From evil separated,
Made holy by his blood,
My all is consecrated
Unto the living God.

I'm set apart for Jesus,
His goodness I have seen,
He makes my heart his altar,
He keeps his temple clean.
Our union none can sever,
Together every hour,
His life is mine for ever
With resurrection power.

I'm set apart for Jesus,
With him to ever stay,
My spirit he releases,
He drives my foes away.
He gives full strength for trial
And shields when darts are hurled;
With him and self-denial
I overcome the world.
Author: William James Pearson (1832-92)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 495
Tunes: My soul is now united, 257; Aurelia, 246

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