Staircases

Recently in one of our Bible studies we were talking about these verses and how they reflected a staircase.  I thought it an interesting way to view these passages and was reminded that the Beatitudes are often considered a staircase to Christ-like living.  

Colossians 3:1-17  3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.  5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.  8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.  12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Our words, actions and attitudes can be part of a staircase.  They can take us up or down.  When we follow the thoughts, actions, attitudes and words put forth in verses 5-9 they take us down the staircase.  When we follow the directions in verses 12-14, making our words and actions line up with the character of Christ, we go up the staircase, growing and getting closer to our Lord.  

We see another staircase in Matthew 5:3-10, the passage known as the Beatitudes.  Our lives reflect our attitudes.  If we walk up the staircase of the Beatitudes, we grown more Christlike.  Our witness becomes stronger, we attract people to Jesus, we build the kingdom of God and He is glorified.  I know that is my hearts desire.  

Matthew 5:1-11  And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the [a]earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I love the staircase picture God gave.  It's such a great visual for our spiritual lives and something we can look at in our minds to see how we are doing spiritually.  If we look at the world around us in all its glory, it's no wonder our Father gives us visual pictures to help us understand spiritual concepts.  

Lord, I love the way You illustrate Your precepts.  Thank You!  Help us to be continually going up the staircase!  In Jesus's Name, our Savior, example and King.  Amen. 

Another staircase.  2 Peter 1:5-8  In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.  8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.