Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Colossians 3:5-10

This is the never ending reality of the Christian life. If we are to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus, then we will constantly mortify (put to death) what is earthly in us. Paul provides a list here. It’s not exhaustive though it covers the major categories. Anytime we see a list like this it calls for self-reflection.

Why are these sins so easy for us to fall back into? Because in these you too once walked. (vs. 3) Before Jesus we were a mess. Without even trying we wrecked our lives. And with trying, we wrecked them even more! So the Christian life becomes a putting to death, called mortifying the flesh by the Puritans, and a putting on (we will discuss that tomorrow).

A prayer to help you process this. Don’t be afraid of what God shows you. He’s waiting with open arms for your confession.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24