Healing Rays of Righteousness

New Year Resolutions for God’s Chosen People

I invite you to open your bible to Colossians 3:12-17 and read Paul’s list of resolutions for those who claim to be God’s chosen people. I suggest this list of Christ-like virtues worthy of your serious resolve to be more Jesus-like in the coming months of this new year.

To better understand Paul’s thinking regarding these virtues, I offer my summary of the prior verses 1 through 11.  “Since you have been made alive in Christ, set your hearts and minds on things above, for your life is now with Christ in God.  Put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature, the things you did in the life you once lived. Get rid of these things and put on the new self which is being renewed in the image of your Creator God.”

Having set the stage of past life-events, Paul shouts, “Therefore” to get our attention and addresses us as “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.”  The Scriptures repeatedly affirm that this is really who we are, and how we live and what we do flows out of who we are. The Scriptures also teach that being and doing cannot be separated.

“Holy” has to do with our character, which shapes our attitudes and actions.  That’s why in the previous verses 5 through 9, Paul urges us to put away the sins that flow from our earthly nature. “Holy” also has to do with being set apart and dedicated for special purpose. As Creator of all things, God claims us and calls us to respond to his love. And when we do, we are made alive and given a new pattern and purpose for living in our world.

Both meanings of “holy” help to define our identity.  But most importantly, we are “dearly loved.”  I do not think there is anything more important than knowing that I am loved.   

Paul passionately believes this truth and shouts to us, “Therefore …”

Be Caring (vv.12-13)

“… clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” 

God’s royal garments are graceful, beautiful, and life changing. Each morning, God lovingly invites us into his dressing room to be clothed with garments from his priceless collection.

Compassion –    I will care about my world and do my best to bring it help.

                              I will be moved by your pain and seek to act on your behalf.

Kindness –          I will do useful things to improve your well-being.

Humility –           I will remember who I am in relation to God and other persons.

Gentleness –      I will exercise self-control because I am God-controlled.

Patience –           I will tolerate and bear unpleasant situations, unexpected hurts, and problems.

Forgive –             I will graciously forgive because God has forgiven me.

Be Loving (v.14)

The difference between a nice wardrobe and stylish look is the “tied-together” appearance of the accessories. Love is the garment that brings the parts of our character into a single whole. Love “binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Be At Peace (v.15)

Living with others in family, community, and church, can be difficult and stressful, causing us

to become arenas of conflict and competition. How can these feelings to be arbitrated and harmonized?

The literal meaning of the word “rule” comes from the athletic arena, and Paul is literally saying, “Let the peace of God be the umpire in your heart.”  Paul knew that only within the peace that Christ gives, are we motivated and empowered for having a good relationship with ourselves and with all others.

Be Thankful (v.16)

The body-life of the Christian congregation is described in this verse as teaching, admonishing, and gratefully singing together with all wisdom. The “word of Christ” is a synonym of his living presence within us. We are admonished to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.”  The Lord Christ wants to be “at home” in our hearts and worshipping community.

We are to be a grace-filled, grace-equipped, grace-celebrating people, in whom Christ dwells richly and through whom grace flows to the people around us. Yes, the church is to be the reality of God’s Kingdom today in our world.

Be Purposeful (v.17)

The name of Jesus Christ stands at the center of Christian living, and provides both our identity, “I am a Christian,” and our authority, “I do this in Jesus’ name.”  As a Christian acting in Jesus’ name, I need not cower nor bully, neither whine nor despair, in my conduct and conversations.

I believe being in Christ, filled with his Spirit, and committed to the above resolutions, will assure our being adequately prepared for the new year of 2025. And whatever the year may bring into your life, always remember you are chosen, holy, and dearly loved by God.

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 01/22/25

Arise! Shine! Light Has Come

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”  (Isa. 60:1-2).

The prophet/pastor, Isaiah, was writing to God’s people in a time of deep darkness and despair, most likely gloomier and more desperate than that in our present time.  The return trip to their homeland in Israel, after 70 years of exile in Babylon, was exceedingly difficult and disappointing. 

The back-to-back imperative verbs, “Arise, Shine” constitute a hope-filled “wake-up” call announcing the Lord’s new day, signified by his glorious light. This glorious light is evidenced in God’s majestic, redeeming presence and provision. This glorious light awakens and encourages their prophetic hope for a Messiah/Redeemer whose glorious light will overcome the deadly darkness of Godlessness and evil.

This promised glorious light links us forward to what the apostle John says about Jesus Christ, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  …The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. …The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:4-5,9,14). 

And it also links us to the story of the “Magi from the east” who were looking for a hopeful sign about the future and then seeing it, followed the brilliant light of a star to Bethlehem. The star that appeared in the nighttime sky led them to the place where the young child was with his mother Mary.

In that child, the Magi recognized that God had finally brought light and hope into the world’s darkness.  They believed this child was the beginning fulfillment of God’s promise of a whole new world called the Kingdom of heaven, “and they bowed down and worshipped him.” {Matthew 2:11).

Ponder this glorious truth and make it your personal reality. Because this sovereign, creator God so loved you and me, he clothes himself in human flesh and being born of a woman, comes down to earth as glorious and holy light incarnated in Jesus Christ. And it is this glorious light that “rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”

Unlike the people of Isaiah’s day, we have received more than a promise of light.  As John says, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.”  (Jn.1:14).  The promise is fulfilled.  We now live in the new reality of God’s Kingdom of light and glory shining on us in the here and now.

Should we not be more confident and enthusiastic regarding God’s presence and goodness to us as we daily pray, “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt. 6:10)?

The glorious evidence of a living, loving God in our midst, is made visible over all the world with each sunrise, as people of every nation are inspired and mobilized by the Christ-like spirit of love and compassion to care for and help others in their need; that is, “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8). 

The remarkable truth is that this glorious light of Christ does much more than just make us feel good and confident.  This “Jesus” light changes our attitude toward the world and the people around us.  We see them, all of them, in a new light as human beings created, just like us, in the image and likeness of God, and who are dearly loved by God.

And yes, the glory of God’s new promised Kingdom shines brighter and brighter as the glory of the Lord overcomes and sweeps away the darkness of sin in persons and nations far and near to us.  The apostle Paul says it this way in his second letter to the Corinthians (3:18) – “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”          

HAPPY NEW YEAR – Rise and shine!  God has come down to us in Jesus. The true light of the world and our salvation is here! Let the glory of the Lord shine over you, in you, and through you!  Do not hide it under a bushel. Step into this new year with confident faith, believing Christ’s new kingdom of redeeming light, hope, love, peace, joy, and life has dawned upon us and is moving toward complete and glorious fulfillment as the glorious eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth.

“O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light.” AMEN!

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 01/01/25