Colossians 3:1-17
1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Meditation
For the past week, I have been craving the “Balm of Gilead.” This balm is an ancient medicinal cure-all mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 37:25, Jeremiah 8:22) and named after the region in Judea where it was produced. The term “Balm of Gilead” has become a figure of speech for a universal cure, including healing sin and socio-political ills (see Jeremiah 51:8-9). This Colossians text offers us the scriptural “Balm of Gilead” (there are also several hymns that speak about of the balm).
According to Paul, the figurative balm, at its basic strength, is “setting your minds on things that are above” (vs.2), particularly, “Christ who is your life” (vs. 4). In order for our minds to be focused on Christ, we must stop placing our hopes on unhealthy earthly desires and behaviors (especially greed which is idolatry). As we slather ourselves with the basic balm a renewal takes place where we begin to see each other in the image of God. There is no longer Greek and Jew, Republican and Democrat, winner and loser, us and them; “but Christ is all and in all.” And that’s just the basic formula!
Paul goes on to add to that basic formula to enhance life in community with the ingredients of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness. All of which are so obvious that without them one will appear naked (which is embarrassing). Love is then used to bind it all together to create the perfect balm to cure our communities. Where “the peace of Christ [ruling] in your hearts” (vs. 15) is the litmus test that the balm is working. “As God’s chosen ones” (vs. 12), we are meant to be the “Balm of Gilead” by doing everything “in word or deed, . . . in the name of the Lord Jesus”. (vs. 17). In other words, WE are the cure-all balm that heals the world because Jesus is our Lord.