Colossians 3:7-8

Colossians 3:7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 

Before you get on your high horse remember, you once walked in these things too. You’ve got to love Paul, because his writing keeps you humble or should keep you humble.

He’s saying in prior verses before this one that we should put to death whatever in us is worldly, because God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient—those who are practicing these ungodly things. However, before you point your finger at how bad off someone else is, remember you once walked in these things too. Not only that, but you walked in these things when you were living in them. In other words, you didn’t just dabble here and there, you were in it.

Colossians 3:8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 

Now you must put away those worldly desires and ways of life. It won’t be easy because we’re so used to being surrounded by these things. Yet, we can be encouraged. If Paul is telling us to put them away, that’s because they can be put away. But how? The Power of the Holy Spirit will enable you to put away worldly desires and replace them with godly desires. It will take some work. It will take saying no to familiar things. It will require discomfort. But it can be done and it will be worth it.

Samson’s Biggest Loss

Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him. – Judges 16:20 NLT

I can’t imagine a more horrendous feeling than realizing the Lord has left you. Samson, albeit a bit of mess, like us, still had God’s blessing and favor. He made a lot of poor choices, but it wasn’t until his hair was cut that he truly experienced what it was like to not have the Lord’s presence anymore.

He thought he’d rescue himself like he always had. He’d defeat the Philistines yet again and live life, but not this last time. After Delilah’s nagging him, he was so annoyed that he told her his secret. And with that, he gave her the key to his strength, leading to his demise.

What I can’t shake is the moment he did realize God wasn’t with him. To have had God’s blessing all his life and assume he can perform the simplest task, the defeat of some Philistine soldiers, but can’t. Not just the physical weakness he now had, but the spiritual, mental, and emotional toll of not having the Lord had to be devastating.

Thank the Lord for grace though. While we wouldn’t call it a happy ending, the Lord allows Samson to regain his strength as his hair grows in captivity, and He grants him one more defeat of the Philistines.

he prayed, “Let me die with the Philistines.” And the temple crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people. So he killed more people when he died than he had during his entire lifetime. – Judges 16:30 NLT

Why do you think the Lord allowed him one more victory?

Lust

Matthew 5:28-29 (NLT) 

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 

The mind is where it starts. How do people end up in adultery? They think about lust. Our mind is powerful, therefore, our thoughts are powerful. “As a Man Thinketh,” wasn’t written just for the heck of it. It was written because of how true the power of our thoughts is.

Look it up. Many have said thoughts become actions. Actions become habits. Habits become character and so forth.

Thus, entertaining the thought of lust is the beginning of adultery. The Bible says if your eye causes you to lust, gouge it out AND throw it away. Be completely done with it. Why? Because sometimes all it takes is a thought…

God knows that. He knows where it begins and how it ends. Steer clear of adultery by steering clear of lust. And the best way to not lust, is to never start thinking about it. Don’t let your thoughts send you where you don’t want to go, doing something you didn’t want to do, feeling bad about something that didn’t have to be.

Colossians 3:2 (AMP) 

Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value]. 

Philippians 4:8 (NLT) 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.