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What God Sees...
My Heart
By Peggy Wunschel

Take a few moments to reflect on who you are in life and in your relationships. (Close your eyes if it helps you concentrate.)
Now that you have had some time to ponder the you in your life, let’s respond honestly…

What do people see when they are with me?

My Family • My Friends
My Coworkers • A Stranger • God

Does everyone see me the same?

Am I the same to everyone, or do I respond to people in different ways?

Prayer: Father, God, You have wonderfully created us in Your image. Renew us in the knowledge of Your Word by the power of Your Holy Spirit, so that daily we can become more like Jesus. As we study Your Word, reveal our shortcomings where we fail to be the children You have called us to be, and reveal the forgiveness Christ won for us. In Jesus, Our Savior’s blessed Name, Amen.

What does God want to see in me? While reading God’s
Word in Colossians 3:1-17, consider the life God would like
you to lead.

Now go back over your list and compare it to what you read
in Colossians 3. How many virtues from Colossians 3 do you
display in your life? Are there any changes to your list that you
might want to happen in your life?

Now reread verse 3 in Colossians 3. God tells us that we died
and our life is now hidden with Christ in God. What does it mean that we “died”? Read Colossians 1:22, 2:12, 2:20 and Romans 6:1-11.

What does it mean that our lives are “hidden with Christ in
God”? Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 and 2 Corinthians 4:4-6.

Since our lives are hidden with Christ in God, one thing God
sees when he looks at us is the perfect life Jesus lived for us.
Romans 5:19 reveals that the obedience of Jesus during his
life has made us righteous in the sight of God. [The Small
Catechism notes this “active obedience” of Jesus is one reason
it was necessary for Jesus to be a true man. Small Catechism,
CPH 1991, p. 122.] For what other reason did Jesus become
true man? Read Colossians 1:22 and Hebrews 2:14.

Reread Colossians 3:9-10. We have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. God has already done it for us through the life of Christ Jesus and His renewing work on the cross. Check this out in Philippians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 9:8 and 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

If all this has already been done for us, then what is our part?
Enjoy the new life God has given to you! Life is an adventure.
Don’t sit on the sidelines because you have made mistakes in
the past, but get out and play the game! Let all the people you
meet see Jesus in you and your actions so that God will be glorified. Listen to the Holy Spirit who is changing your attitude
and your heart through the message of reconciliation in Christ so that God’s image will shine brightly in your life!

Prayer: God, our Creator, thank You for Your Word and its
relevancy yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Thank You for renewing our hearts and restoring our lives through Your Word and the means of grace. By Your Holy Spirit, show us the attitudes in our hearts that need to change and forgive us for our stubbornness in not wanting to change. With each new day Lord, renew our likeness to You, through Your mercy and grace. In the precious Name of Jesus, Amen.