August 27, 2013 For You

Colossians 1:24-27

For You

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

ONE constant theme in the New Testament lattes, particularly in Paul’s and Peter’s writings, is the great sense of responsibility as Paul writes, “to make the word of God fully known”. Both Apostles write often of suffering to make God’s name known. Both men suffered unbelievable atrocities. The Apostle James died by a sword, and the Apostle John was exiled on Patmos, a desolate island, when he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

      The unpleasant truth is that suffering is necessary to advance the Gospel. Jesus’ suffering on the cross unleashed a torrent of demonic activity that strives to destroy the Mission of God on earth. The devil is in a death struggle, and he knows he will lose. He’s the wounded, raging bull who strives to kill before he is killed.

      What every Apostle knew and what every person who has suffers today for Jesus Christ knows is this: the Gospel “reveals the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

      Eternity is worth the suffering.

A Moment’s Thought: Suffering brought the Gospel to you.

August 25, 2013 Ful

Read Colossians 1:19-20 & 2:9-13

Full

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

As Jesus came to fill the world once again with the glory of God’s holiness and salvation, it was critical Jesus carried with him the fullness of God as the means to fill mankind with the image of God lost in Eden. Paul is defending Jesus’ deity and his ability to offer mankind salvation, and he continues this teaching in Col 2:9-13 Everything of God gets expressed in Jesus, so you can see and hear Jesus clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. 10 When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything. 11 Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you're already in — insiders — not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. 12 If it's an initiation ritual you're after, you've already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. 13 When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive — right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins are forgiven. (from THE MESSAGE)

A Moment’s Thought: Get full of Jesus and get saved.

August 24, 2013 Bound to Jesus

Read Colossians 1:14-18

Bound in Jesus

14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

WHAT do you think of being bound? Likely you hate the thought, don’t you? “Bound” is being all tied up, unable to do what you want. If you are bound to the mortgage, you are forced to be bound to work you might not like. Sadly, too many people feel bound to circumstances out of their control. And even worse, the world has an aversion to being bound to Jesus.

     But what happens if you are bound to Jesus? Wonderful things happen, that’s what. Bound to Jesus, you have “redemption through the forgiveness of your sins”. Bound to Jesus you are safe in the power of the God, who created the heavens and the earth. Bound to Jesus, you live in the authority of the one who holds “all things together”.

     Those are amazing statements aren’t they? With worshipful words, Paul always elevates Jesus to the heights of your mind as he describes the everlasting truths of the eternal God. He constantly declares Jesus’ majesty to say to the world, “Jesus has the power and the authority to save you to eternal life. See Jesus, and you will see God.”

     Do you believe that great, eternal truth? I pray so. Because when you are bound to Jesus, you are bound for your eternal heavenly home!

A Moment’s Thought: Bound in Jesus, you are bound to truly enjoy life.  

August 23, 2013 Qualified

Colossians 1:11-13

Qualified

11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son

I’M sitting here in awe of these words. I’ve read the Bible every day for the past 29 years, and ever more and more I am stunned by the power of God’s Word. Our sovereign Lord speaks so clearly of his love, compassion, grace, strength and salvation. He overwhelms us with wonder as we pause to consider, “How could I ever deserve even a tiny gram of what the eternal God has for me?”

     On this day, if you know someone who is hurting for any reason, would you take this scripture to them? Read it to them, or perhaps you could pray for them in this manner: “Father God, may you strengthen my friend with all power, according to your glorious might, that my friend would endure this hard time with patience and even joy, giving thanks to you, Father, because you have qualified my friend to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Father, you have delivered my friend from the domain of darkness and transferred my friend to the kingdom of your beloved Son, who has redeemed my friend from sin as you have opened your heart to my friend. In Jesus’ name I gratefully pray, Amen.

     You and I are born unqualified to be with God. But graciously God acted. Lovingly Jesus died. Eternally his resurrection raises you from the pit of darkness into his light. Confess. Believe. Get qualified in Jesus. Pray for others to do the same. Live in joy.

A Moment’s Thought: Awesome God.

August 22, 2013 Purposeful Living

Read Colossians 1:8-10

Purposeful Living

8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

WHAT is the purpose of your life? I know. That’s a big question. To answer that could take you weeks, even months of study—or would it?

     Let’s consider the reason God created mankind. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26)

     God made mankind to bear the image of God on earth to rule the earth as God ruled over the Kingdom of Heaven.

     You may be thinking, “That’s impossible.” But no, it’s not. In fact it is possible for you to bear the image of God. And it is your faithful response to God to rule your life and to rule (or guide) the lives of others in God’s power. That is Paul’s prayer for the Colossians.

     He prays they know God’s will to live in spiritual wisdom and understanding. When they do so, they will fully please God to “bear fruit”, bringing honor to his name throughout the earth.

     There now. That didn’t take so long, did it? As a Jesus follower, this must be your life’s purpose, too.

A Moment’s Thought: Be in awe God allows you to bear his image.