Respectful Love, Part 2

I loved Rach's post today about how respectful and polite our Heavenly Father is!  He constantly amazes me with the personal acts of love that he blesses each of us with individually.  

I wanted to continue Rach's theme today (those fall trees are dedicated to you, Rach!) with a reflection on Colossians 3:1-4.  I read this  tiny but powerful chapter last night and was instantly blown away by the love and respect that God shows us, his beloved children.  The chapter opens with the following:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, not on earthly things, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Whoa!  Reverse, reverse!  Before we move on, let's reread that first phrase once more - Since then, you have been raised with Christ...  My dear sisters, we, small and fragile humans that we are, we have been raised with Christ!  I don't know about you, but I feel this is absolutely the greatest honor our Father could bestow upon us- to raise us up with Christ, our Savior, who is seated at the right hand of God.  When we are saved through Christ, our God lovingly and respectfully raises us up with His very own beloved son.  Wow.

Let's continue.  Col. 3 goes on:  

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

As I walked home from work today, I was thinking about how neat it would be if the Bible was just a little bit longer, a little bit more detailed, & gave us just a little bit more info about Christ and the way He lived.  Don't get me wrong, I know it's perfect as it is and it is the word of God, but there are times when I wish I could just get some clarification on things.  But that just doesn't apply to this verse, does it?  Check it out-  Colossians repeats that phrase TWICE in the span of just 2 verses- Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  I think the message is pretty clear to us, but I wonder how often we truly apply it.  I know that I'm guilty of memorizing this verse but throwing it out the window when I have a big project due or want new shoes or start planning out every monumental event of the rest of my life- phew!  But the Lord is pretty clear that we are to keep our minds fixed on eternity, not this fleeting life.

Finally, verse 4: 

When Christ, who is  your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Let the full weight of those words hit you.  When Christ returns, we will appear with Him in glory.  I can't even fathom that.  Me, a wreck of a sinner, gets to appear with Christ??!  That is clear evidence of how much God loves each of us and respects us as his children.  

No matter how small we feel in this big world, God loves us individually and looks forward to the day that he will raise each of up with his son, our Lord Jesus Christ!

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.

-John 6:40