August 20

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. — Col 3:17 BSB

If we belong to Christ in heaven, our lives here on earth should reflect that heavenly life.

Our prayer is, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” So we must put to death all the things in our lives that are wrong or that don’t belong in heaven. This includes all desires, actions, and attitudes that are not pure and righteous.

We are called to live in this world, surrounded by its evil, yet remain untainted by it. The list of things we are to cast aside is alarming. It may seem like we would never be tempted to do these things, but the danger is always present.

There are also things we are told to “put on,” and these are all beautiful—compassion, kindness, humility, and meekness. We should keep this list close, where we can see it every day.