Journey: A New Believer's Guide to Spiritual GrowthSample

Since/Then -- Encouragement From God’s Word

In Colossians 3:12, the Apostle Paul utilizes a since/then statement. He's saying since this is true, then we should do this. The “since” really starts in the first part of verse one of this chapter, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ..."

Our life transformation doesn't come from trying harder or discovering more rules to follow, but from the fact that we have been raised with Christ! It's this event that has changed everything for the Christian. It's this truth that gives us the power to do the “then” statements. 

What motivates us to act like Jesus- is important. Since new believers are becoming new people in Christ, we can have compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 

How are you doing in those areas? Are you being compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient? If you're struggling in those areas, look at what Jesus has done for you. He has given you a new heart, a new mind, a new life! It's from this understanding that we can then launch these acts of obedience. 

Pray: Take each of these characteristics (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience) and assign them to a person in your life. Take this time to pray about how you can be compassionate toward the person assigned to those characteristics, and then for the rest do the same. If you’re struggling in any area, ask for help from a Christian friend you trust.