Back to School

Pause

For lots of students, going back to school means trying on new or hand-me-down clothes, finding shoes that fit growing feet, or getting that required uniform for the dance or sports team.

In addition to the outfit you put on this morning, consider what it might look like to “put on” something else today — to clothe yourself with Christ.

Listen

Therefore, if you were raised with Christ, look for the things that are above where Christ is sitting at God’s right side. Think about the things above and not things on earth. You died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4

Think

If we’re being honest, we’ve all probably taken part in the phenomenon known as “walking while texting.” While you’re walking down the sidewalk, thumbing away on your phone, you start to veer to the side and almost run into a stop sign. I read recently that in London, England, they’ve started padding the lamp posts to protect texting pedestrians.

Sometimes we also walk through life this way — not literally walking while texting, but keeping our eyes down, concentrating on the “stuff” of our everyday lives and missing out on what’s happening around us.

Paul reminds his readers to “look for the things that are above.” Maybe the Colossians were walking through life distracted. Paul says: “Look up! Raise your eyes!” What does he want them — and us — to see? This is about seeking Christ amidst all that’s going on in our world and discovering our identity in Christ.

Take a moment at the start of this new school year to raise your eyes and become aware of how Christ is at work to bring you new life.

Meredith Forssman

Pray

Gracious God, I don’t want to miss a thing that you are doing in my life. So, I raise my eyes to you and ask that you would tune my vision to see. Help me to perceive what new life you want to bring to me in this new school year. Amen.

Go

You are always in God’s sight pleasing,
always in God’s sight lovely,
always in God’s sight as though you were perfect.

For you are complete in Christ Jesus, and perfect in Christ Jesus.

You stand fully clothed in Christ.

Always.

Based on words by the great 19th-century preacher, Charles Spurgeon