The Sign of the CROSS... in our Daily Lives... Part 1

Drawing by the Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+

Who is in Control ?

Message by BYRON  MILLER, 

of Wellspring Mennonite Church,

Athens, TN.  

PART 1

Our mind-set, 

our focus, 

the things that we cherish most, 

determine who we are.

Who is calling the shots on my decisions, on how I live, and really, on who I am?

In other words, within my own heart, who is in control of my life?

COLOSSIANS 3 

 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Our mind-set ... our focus ... the things that we cherish most ... determine who we are.

So... who are we?  

It talks in Colossians about setting our affections,    setting our focus, setting our ambitions elsewhere.

What do we value most ?   We need to set our affections, our focus, our ambitions on Heavenly, Eternal, Christ-centered things.

Notice in verse 1 it says,

 ... "Be ye risen... " not just have risen, not just were risen. We are not going to be risen. 

Note that the verb is  a present active form, BE RISEN.

Verse 3 says, "For ye are dead." 

Aha ! Does Self within me seem dead to those around 

me?  Is Christ living instead ?

Scripture says, "For ye are dead and your life is hid with 

Christ in GOD." 

Let's look at this another way.

 Who is hid in my life? Is it me that is hid... or is it CHRIST ? Who is most prominent ?

When somebody gets to know you very well, can they see what is driving your life ?

Verse 5 says mortify. "Mortify" is to subjugate by abstinence, discipline, or self-inflicted suffering.

"Mortify therefore..."  That  does not sound like something we are naturally going to gravitate towards, does it ? 

There is one Throne within each of our spirits.

Who resides there ? Christ asks for nothing less than to reside there, to reside on that Throne.

Now, Self  grudgingly gives up anything. 

Though, if forced to do so, Self will usually give up 

ANYTHING except the right  for Him+ to reside there as 

King+, as LORD in control.  

That, however, is what HE+ calls His+ own right, His+ 

own place in the human heart. That is HOME to HIM+.

Thoughts  like, "If I become a Christian, do I have to give up this? " or  "Since I am a Christian, can I still do that ?" are really LORD-SHIP questions. 

They are actually avoiding the real issue of LORD-SHIP in my life. 

Who is in control ?

 

Dear Heavenly FATHER, 

I repent of trying to control my life, my spouse's life, my friends' lives.  

Help me to STOP being so controlling of every thing and every body and to re-focus my energies on performing my own submission to Thy SON+, our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. ... for the glory of Thy HOLY Name. 

This I ask in the NAME of JESUS, my Savior...  the only ONE+ Who+ can save me from my Self.  Amen