The Daily Devotional Podcast

Abide | Philippians Subseries - 20 | Colossians 3:1–11

• Waypoint Church

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This reflection focuses on the believer’s new identity as one whose life is hidden with Christ. Because followers of Jesus belong to Him, they are invited to live from the security of that relationship, allowing Christ to reshape their priorities, character, and way of life.

The Daily Devotional Podcast

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“May the Lord bless you and keep you — and may His presence guide you this week.”


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Today I'm reading Colossians three, verses one through eleven. Since you've been raised to new life with Christ, set your eyes on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you've died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful and earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you've stripped off your old sinful nature and its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. This is the new life. It doesn't matter if you're a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Every once in a while, we encounter a moment in life that changes the way we see ourselves. It may come through a new responsibility, a meaningful relationship, or an experience that reshapes our understanding of who we are. The circumstances around us may look largely the same, yet something fundamental has shifted. We begin making decisions, setting priorities, and viewing the future through a different lens because our identity has changed. Paul writes Colossians three from that perspective. Paul doesn't start with behavior, he starts with identity. Before he tells believers what to do, he reminds them of what God has already done. Through Christ's death and resurrection, they've been given a new life. Their story is no longer defined solely by who they once were. He writes, For you died when Christ died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. To be hidden with Christ means our deepest identity is secure in him. The world may assign labels, success and failure may come and go. Seasons of strength and weakness will certainly arrive. Yet beneath all of those changing realities rests a truth that remains unchanged. We belong to Christ. That truth has been the through line of this entire series. In week one, we saw Christ as worth more than comfort or security. In week two, we looked at the humility and character of Christ. In week three, we followed Paul's call to know Christ and press on towards him. In this final week, we considered what it means to live from the peace, trust, and contentment that grow in a life rooted in him. Paul brings all these themes together here. Because we belong to Christ, we no longer need to live according to the patterns that once defined us. Old habits, old identities, and old allegiances begin to lose their hold. The Christian life is not merely about becoming a better version of ourselves, it's about being transformed by the life of Christ within us. The passage ends with a beautiful reminder that this new life is available to all who belong to Him. Earthly distinctions that once divided people lose their power because something greater has taken their place. Christ is all that matters and is in all of us. As this series comes to a close, this is the simplest summary of abiding. Not striving harder to reach Christ, not proving ourselves worthy of Christ, but learning day by day to live from the reality that our lives are already held securely in him. Before I close in prayer, here's a question to wrestle with. Continue shaping my thoughts, desires, and actions so that more of your character is reflected in my life each day.