“Mortify Therefore Your Members” – Sunday Thought For The Day

Saturday morning I was reading Colossians 3:5 (KJV).  I specifically wanted to read and ruminate on the beginning portion of the verse: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth…”  But, as I sat down to write this Sunday Thought, I realized that the word “therefore” was no less important to this passage, because of its relationship to verse 4: When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.

The word Mortify translated from the Greek literally means: I put to death, make as dead; I render weak, impotent. From nekros; to deaden, i.e. to subdue.

The word therefore translated from the Greek literally means: and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.  The word “therefore” notes the reason we mortify our members or components, i.e., our bodily organ, limb, member. Of uncertain affinity; a limb or part of the body; which are upon earth.

We cannot do this in our own strength.  We need the power of the Holy Spirit in us to even begin to desire to seek such a life with Christ before we “appear with Him in glory.”

Use the verses marked “Read” as a kind of spiritual checklist to examine yourself.  I did, and I can tell you tell you that I still fall short, even though my heart’s desire is to live my life for Christ better.  I understand the words of the Apostle Paul found in Romans 7:19 (KJV): For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  As long as we are in our earthly bodies we will experience this struggle; thus we must purpose daily to walk in the Spirit as our defense against succumbing to the flesh.

Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you through the following verses as an examination to see if you are growing and overcoming the life lived before you excepted Christ as your Savior.  If you haven’t accepted Christ as your Savior use these verses to see how out of step we are if one isn’t born again and then read Romans 10:1-13 (KJV)

READ:

Colossians 3:5-21 (KJV)

King James Version

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.