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Artwork reprinted with permission of artist, Magdalena
Schotten.
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| I confess. I borrowed
this title, “Look to the Heavens in Two Thousand and Seven” from a sermon
given in the church my son and his family attend. What better resolution
could we make for this coming year and the rest of our lives?
The Apostle Paul put it this way in his letter to the church in Colossae: So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible.)The book in the Bible that we call “Colossians” is a letter which is full of hope, encouragement, instruction, and even warnings against deception. In it, we are reminded of the importance of Christ Jesus in reconciling us to God, giving us new life now, and a future inheritance. We are reminded of our responsibility to “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10 HCSB) We are warned to “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 HCSB) We are instructed to “put to death whatever in you is worldly: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry” among other sins. (Colossians 3:5 HCSB) We are exhorted to “put on the new man” which has the characteristics of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:10, 12 HCSB) These four short chapters are rich with God’s wisdom, love, and encouragement. If we would all read, meditate on, and practice the exhortations in this letter, our lives could more completely reflect the light of hope in Christ into the dark world around us in 2007 and beyond. LOOK TO THE HEAVENS
By Scarlett Stough Editor's Note: The beautiful artwork
was provided by Magdalena Schotten. More of her artwork can be seen at
www.hausgemeindetreff.de/
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