You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 NKJV.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Ephesians 1:3-4.

There is something hard to put to words that opens up within us as we hold fast to Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. In our chapter, Colossians 3, Paul helps us understand how good is our seeing when we turn our hearts to Him. Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him – a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

When we reach that point where all we see is the chaos around us born of anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech…which lead to unforgiveness and hardness of hearts and minds, where do we turn? It’s one thing to see clearly where not to turn when that is all around us. We need so much more. Look up. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Jesus the Son, came as one of us to show us the better way He Himself followed, which is faith in God the Father and being led by the Holy Spirit. In Creator God there is no distinction as there is here in this world. He loves us all. But Christ is all, and in all. Walking with Him in trust what do we find beginning to grow within us? The word of Christ dwelling richly within us…with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness…and Love which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful! Impossible? Have you ever tried? How can we know if we have never read God’s word? How can we understand if we haven’t asked Him to come and help us know Him in His word? It takes courage outside of ourselves. Because He is Holy He is all of the things we need and long for. We have trusted ourselves all of our lives. Can we trust all that our life experiences are teaching us about what is our deepest need? The One who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. His own special people. That takes time with Him to understand and when we do, everything changes. We begin to see Him more clearly and it is so good and needed. His own Love softens our hearts. Waiting becomes with Him in trust and hope as we live this life He has given and follow Him to His better way. He is the One speaking to your heart and calling you. Him you can trust. Always.