Seek the Things Above

Colossians 3

Therefore, since y’all have been raised together with Christ, y’all should seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set y’all’s mind on the things above, not on earthly things. For y’all have died, and your* life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your* life, is revealed, then y’all will also be revealed with him in glory.

Therefore, y’all must put to death the elements of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, passions, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the children of disobedience. Y’all also once walked in these ways, when y’all were living in them, but now y’all must put aside these things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from y’all’s mouth. Y’all must not lie to one another since y’all have laid aside the old humanity with its practices, and have been clothed with the new humanity, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free, but Christ is all, and in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, y’all must clothe yourselves* with compassionate affection, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as Christ forgave y’all, so y’all should also forgive.

Above all these things, be clothed in love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Let the peace of Christ, to which y’all were called into one body, rule in y’all’s hearts. And y’all are to be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in y’all richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in y’all’s heart to God.

Whatever y’all do, in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Instructions for Christian Relationships

Wives, submit to y’all’s husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love y’all’s wives and don’t be embittered against them.

Children, obey y’all’s parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers, don’t provoke y’all’s children, so that they won’t be discouraged.

Slaves, obey y’all’s earthly masters in everything, not just when they are looking, as people pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. Whatever y’all are doing, y’all work heartily, as for the Lord and not for humans, knowing that y’all will receive the reward of the inheritance from the Lord. It is the Lord Christ y’all serve. Anyone who does wrong will receive the consequences of that wrong action, and there is no partiality.