3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is,seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
~ Colossians 3:1-4
I have been stuck in Colossians all year so far, have read it and reread it and read it again, and the Lord just keeps showing me more and more. Last year I was in Philippians most of the year, so I guess that this year I will be camping out in Colossians. But something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about is a verse in chapter 3. I love chapter three, really all of Colossians is so full and great, but chapter 3 starts out talking about the new life we have in Christ as believers, and how in this new life we are to set our minds on Him and the things that are above. For our old self has died and we are now alive in Him, so we are to think on Him and not on things that are on the earth. Then verse 5, the verse I’ve been stuck on, Paul takes it a step farther:
5 Put to DEATH therefore what is earthly in you:…
~ Colossians 3:5(a)
All things in you that are earthly, Paul says to kill them! This goes beyond, simply not thinking of earthly things, or trying to avoid earthly things that are in us, Paul says go ahead and kill it!
This has been my thought as I have chewed on this over the past few weeks:
Our pursuit of Holiness must be violent!
In order to pursue Holiness, and to pursue Him as we should we must be willing to kill the earthly things that are in us, not simply, hide, put away, avoid, but kill. To rid our selves of! Since we have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, and kill the rest.
Pursuit of Holiness is a war!
Nick Elizondo 
I agree wholeheartedly. When I try to just hide something, it sneaks back in undetected ever so slowly. And then, one day, I realize it’s back. But, this pursuit of holiness is a full time job. We must stay on guard constantly. Vigilant and alert. At times, honestly, it seems overwhelming. Thank God for His Holy Spirit who equips and makes us ready. 🙂
This post woke me up a bit. Not necessarily about what you were talking about, but with how I read the word of God. Let me explain a little bit: when I read it, I come across a verse that stands out to me…and I think about it for a minute or two and then…move on. I have never spent an extended period of time reading one book, or even one chapter. That’s meditating on the word…so, thank you for writing this. I know it may not have been what you wanted me to get out of this post, but that’s what I got. That’s a hunger for His word that I haven’t quite experienced yet. I hunger for it…but not quite like that, and I want to hunger in that fashion. You have emboldened me to read the word in a different way…
Thats awesome man, glad it ministered to you. Its always amazing to me that no matter how many times we may read a certain passage, that in a certain moment God can show you something that you have never seen before. Always exciting, and keeps you hungry.