We talked about last week about the fact that through Christ’s sacrifice for us – His redeeming blood – we have been not only been freed from our slavery to sin, but we have been brought into the family of God. (Col 1:12-14) Imagine once again – a prisoner of war, sold into slavery, put up at auction, then bought by the heir to the throne of a kingdom. You think automatically that you are at the very least going to be put to work in this kingdom, but instead, the son brings you to the castle, takes you before the king, and says to him, “Father, I have paid this persons’ debts. They were in slavery but now they are free. I now would like for you to accept them as your son/daughter.” Talk about going the extra mile. You would think it was enough to just set you free. How awesome is that? And that is exactly what Christ has done for us. Once we recognize our sin state, and accept Christ’s free gift of grace, we are made co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17).
Becoming part of a new family will change you – marrying into a family for example. The family you marry into will impact who you are even if you don’t realize it. Sometimes it may be something as simple as trying new foods that you never thought you would, or it could be something much bigger. Me, for example. I never thought that I would really ever shoot a gun, much less actually like it. (Now, I’m actually decent at it.) My family was never that much into guns, but my husband’s family is. Over the years being a part of their family I’ve learned about gun safety, how to stand, how to hold a gun, how to aim and shoot, and more recently Selby has taught me how to clean a gun properly. Becoming part of the family of God SHOULD affect you. “ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”(2 Cor 5:17). The Apostle Paul points out in many different places how becoming a Christian should affect our behavior. One example is Colossians 3:12-17 “ So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 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. 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.”
Letting Christ rule in our hearts is the pathway to allowing Him to reign in our lives. Will you “let the word of Christ richly dwell within you”? This is key to the right person being the supreme authority (King) of your life. Hint: that’s not you.