自从你认识耶稣基督之后，你的人生有没有任何改变？我们今天选读的经文，正是关乎这个问题。在这短短几节经文里面，保罗提醒歌罗西的信徒，他们既然接受了基督，他们的身份便已经得着改变，因此，他们的人生便应该与从前不同。

信徒在基督里的身份，包含了以下四点事实，请思考它们的含意：

我们已经与基督同死(西二12)

我们已经与基督一同复活(西三1)

我们与基督一同藏在神里面(西三3)

我们将会与基督一同显现(西三4)

让我们仔细研究每一点。第一点指出，我们已经与基督同死(正如洗礼所象征的)。这是甚么意思？我们的肉体虽然没有死，但我们的旧人却在神的眼中被看为是死的，基督的血已经将我们从世界分别出来。

然而，我们在基督里却是活着的。保罗在加拉太书二章20节说过，他已经与基督同钉十字架，如今他是活在基督里面，或是换个说法，基督如今活在他里面，他只是把基督的生命活出来。我们今天也是一样的。

保罗在第2节指出，我们必须思念上面的事。经文中的「要」字，可译为「努力追求」。要生活在一个更高的境界，并不是一蹴而就；除非我们热切渴慕、努力追求，才能够到达那个境地。

上面有甚么事情要我们思念的呢？其中包括：天上是一个充满圣洁和能力的地方，我们的基督此刻正在天上为我们代求。基督、圣洁、能力和代求，岂不是我们该思念的么？这一切都是人世间所找不到的。

然而，当基督进入我们的心中，祂就会在我们的生命中寻找这些素质，而圣灵也会帮助我们得着它们。

当我们转眼仰望基督的时候，便发觉地上的一切，都在祂脸光之下黯然失色。

How different has your life been since you came to know Jesus Christ? That is what our reading is all about today. In these verses Paul reminds the Colossian Christians that there ought to have been a difference in their lives since they came to Christ, because of their position in him.

NOTICE four facts concerning our position in Christ and then think of what they mean:

1. We died with Christ (see Colossians 2:12).

2. We are raised with Christ (see Colossians 3:1).

3. We are hidden in Christ (see Colossians 3:3).

4. We shall appear with Christ (see Colossians 3:4).

Each of these points can be carefully studied. The first point says that we died with Christ (as seen in our baptism). What does that mean? We are not dead physically but our old nature is seen as dead in God's sight. We are separated from the world by the blood of Christ.

But we are very much alive in Christ. Paul says in Galatians 2:20 that he had been crucified with Christ, yet he was also alive in Christ. The life he now lived was really Christ living in him. That is just as true of us today.

Paul also says in verse 2 that we should set our minds on things above. The word seek could be translated 'strive after'. Life on a higher plane is never automatic. It is only experienced as we earnestly desire it.

What are the things which are above? Here are several suggestions. The place called heaven where Christ is today is a place of holiness, intercession and power. Are these the things which we should be seeking after? Those are not the natural characteristics of any man here on earth, unless Christ has come into his life.

But if Christ has come into our hearts, then these are the things he will be looking for in us and which the Holy Spirit will want to reproduce in our lives.

Could we ask Christ today to help us turn our eyes toward him and let the things of earth grow dim in the light of his glorious face?