September 1, 2013 It's About Jesus

Read Colossians 2:16-17

It’s About Jesus

16 Therefore do not let what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

WHEN you read the title of this devotion, “It’s About Jesus” I hope you said to yourself, “I know that.” Sadly, though, Jesus has gotten lost amid preferences, traditions, and mankind’s consuming passion in the church to say, “We need something else.” Here’s a quote from the Teacher’s Commentary © 1997 on this scripture:

     “Many in the ancient world struggled against the idea of ‘new’. They were attracted to the church but tried to adjust Christ to fit their old categories. They tried to define Christianity in terms of their human philosophies rather than letting Christ define them as a new humanity.

     “We have the same problem. God designed the church to be a living organism. Yet today we still persist in diagramming its structure as a business rather than a body. The leadership is called to equip members of the body. Yet all too many Christians view the pastoral staff as ones hired to do the teaching and evangelism that is the body’s ministry.”

     In the new church, false teachers tried to legalize the church. We still work hard to legalize worship, God’s Word, God’s grace and Jesus. We judge others who do not fit our view. We look for ways to criticize and separate instead of joining as one in Jesus.

      Paul adamantly tells the Colossians, “It’s about Jesus.” Paul reminds them that the Old Testament laws, holidays, and festivals pointed toward Christ. But they were “shadows” of Jesus, who came to bring his light to the shadows. If we have Christ, we have what we need to know and please God.

A Moment’s Thought: What’s between you and Jesus?

August 31, 2013 Jesus Paid it All

Colossians 2:13-15

Jesus Paid it All

13 And you, who were dead in your sin and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our debts, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

WHAT would happen if your dad died and left you a large debt to pay? You mortgaged your house to pay it, but as hard as you worked, there was no way you could pay that debt. You realized you needed someone to pay the mortgage to redeem your debt and save your home. But no one was willing. One day the bank put a judgment on your house. Suddenly, you were homeless.  

     That’s the way it is for you as you are born into Adam’s sin. Adam left you a “sin-bill” payable to God. In sin, you are destined for an eternal homeless life apart from God.

     To get you home, God established first his Law to say, “Here is your debt to me.” The Law teaches you God’s ways to lead you to his home. But the Law requires your perfect work. Try as you might, you cannot perfectly work, and you need someone perfect to pay your sin debt to God.  

     Thanks be to God, he sent perfect Jesus to nail your unpayable “sin-bill” to the cross with his flesh. When you pray, “Forgive my debts, Lord.” you can trust Jesus’ bleeding body has fully paid your sin-debt to the Father. God’s heavenly home will then be yours.

A Moment’s Thought: Do you need to cancel someone’s sin bill against you?

August 30, 2013 Good in Jesus

Read Colossians 2:6-8

Good in Jesus

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.  

BOOKS labeled “Christian” abound in the bookstores, don’t they?  I use the quotes because you really do have to have a discerning mind to know if the “Christian” author truly presents Christ.

     Most of them do, but there are dangerous books in the market place that tell people what people want to believe about Jesus and not what Jesus wants them to know about Jesus.

     Be alert! You must be aware of the truth and know the lies so that “no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

     The solution to knowing the truth is, of course, to know the Christ. Paul gives you some wonderful images of what it looks like to know Jesus more--“walk in him…rooted and built up in him…and established in the faith”. These phrases describe a relational, natural progression of coming to personally and securely know Jesus. Walking in him describes a daily step-by-step journey with Jesus. Plants rooted in good soil grow and flourish. An established faith is secure against destructive cultural forces.

     Rooted in the world, you will wither and die. Rooted in the Word, you will strong, sure and alive.

A Moment’s Thought: Liars may look good, but only Jesus is.

August 29, 2013 Blessed Assurance

Read Colossians 2:1-5

Blessed Assurance

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

ONE of the most pleasant realities for someone who has lead people in various endeavors, whether it be an athletic team, a business, a church or countless other organizations, is to know that people have changed for the better because they led that organization.

     Paul’s letters that form much of the New Testament are to churches he has planted and people he has taught the “knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ”. He reminds them how he still strives for them as he continues to teach Christ, and he assures them they are still firm in their faith for Jesus.

     Repeatedly, Paul’s letters remind the churches that circumstances may have changed, people may have changed, his relationship with them may have changed, liars may try to change them, but Jesus has not changed! As Paul has led them in their participation in the church they have not only become better people, “the mystery and wisdom of Jesus Christ” has saved them.

     Paul has left a remarkable legacy.

    

A Moment’s Thought: What is your legacy?  

August 28, 2013 Work Hard

Colossians 1:28-29

Work Hard

28 Jesus we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

TO BE Jesus’ disciple, that is one who truly lives in the discipline of Jesus’ teaching, can be very unattractive to the nominal and non-Christian, can’t it? Think about yesterday’s focus on suffering. Consider Paul’s words today, “For this (teaching people Christ) I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” Typically in evangelism messages, we don’t say, “Come to Jesus and suffer. Believe in Jesus and toil.” Or we don’t promote our church as “The Church Who Works Hard.” That’s way too unattractive and unappealing to the unsaved. And it’s way to unattractive to those who say, “I follow Christ.”

     But, dear Christian, you must know that faithfully following Jesus is hard work. After all, what is ever accomplished in the absence of hard work and even some suffering for the cause? As a child must be disciplined to learn in school to mature in knowledge, Christians must know that only true discipleship comes with intentional toil. Some labor in school to teach to others various subjects. In a like manner, Jesus’ disciples must toil to learn of Jesus and teach him to the world.  

     Yes, hard working disciples change the world. They tell of Jesus power to save lives. Their words of Jesus bring eternal life to untold thousands each day. That doesn’t “just happen”.  

     You must suffer, labor and strive to tell of Jesus. It is his commands. It is your mission as you call him, “Lord.”

A Moment’s Thought: Jesus came to earth to work.