Follower of the Way

Reading for Today - Colossians 3:18-4:6

Colossians 3:18-4:6 (ESV)
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.   Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.  Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.  Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.  Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.   At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

 

Whatever we do, we serve the lord.  We need to remember in our job, in our home, in our community, in the church . . . we serve the Lord.  As we work, we work as if we are serving God and not for men.  It makes all the difference.  It is why we go the extra mile.  It is why we want to excel at what we do.  It is why we seek to encourage others and to be an example . . . we are serving the Lord.

 

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Colossians 4:6.  I like the reminder that our speech should be gracious and seasoned with salt.  We need to show grace to everyone and what we say should make a difference.  Christ told his followers they were the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  As the salt of the earth we add goodness to all those we come in contact with.  May others see Christ in us as we live our lives.  May we stay constant in God's word that we can always be ready to share the salt and grace of the Gospel with them.

Reading for Today - Colossians 2:16-3:17 - whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus

Colossians 2:16-3:17 (ESV) Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.  Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—  “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings.  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.   Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  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.  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.  Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.   And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Reading for Today - Colossians 2:6-15 - the powerful working of God

Colossians 2:6-15 (ESV) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 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. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Paul emphasize many times in his letters how Christians should follow the example of Christ.  Paul encourages the Colossians to walk in Christ and to abound in Thanksgiving.  Paul also cautions about following after human tradition and the world.  As Christians our challenge is to be in the world, but not to be of the world.  We are to be the salt of the earth, shining our lights that the world can see Christ in us.  We need to be sure we are established in the faith.  We need to be sure we are grounded in God’s word.  We need to be careful in our study of God’s word and ensure we are not following human tradition or the ways of the world.

In this passage to the Colossians we also get a reminder of how we put on Christ.

1. Buried with him in baptism
2. Raised with him through faith
3. In the power working of God
4. God made alive together with him
5. Forgiven us of all our trespasses

We have to access God’s grace by God’s plan.  We can’t follow human tradition to access the grace of God.  We have to follow God’s plan.  May we all seek the knowledge of Christ.  May we all seek to share this great message with others so that they have the opportunity to come to God and access Christ as He has provided.  Truly, God’s love for us is great.  To think that God would give His Son to die on the cross to cancel the debt of sin.  May we be compelled by this great love.  In addition to providing access to forgiveness God has also called us to be His children.  How great is the good news of Christ.  How great is the gospel message.

Reading for Today - Colossians 2:1-5 - being knit together in love

Colossians 2:1-5 (ESV) 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, 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, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 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.

Paul wanted to encourage others, he wanted others to have blessing that are enjoyed by a “full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery”. We too should want to encourage and strengthens others so just as Paul we would be able to rejoice in seeing good order and firmness of faith.

Reading for Today - Colossians 1:24-29 - I rejoice in my sufferings

Colossians 1:24-29 (ESV) 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, 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, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 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.  Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

 

Paul was able to rejoice in his sufferings.  He was glad to minister to the church.  Paul’s wanted to make the word of God fully know.   Paul wrote, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ”.  Just as God wants all men to be saved, Paul was focused on teaching everyone the word of God and not only teaching, but warning so that they could have the opportunity to turn to following after God.

Reading for today - Colossians 1:15-23 - And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together

Colossians 1:15-23 (ESV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

 

Jesus was God in the flesh.  To think that God would send his own son to die to die on a cross for our sins.  We were lost and God has provided a way back that in the last day we can be holy, blameless and above reproach before him.  Let us take hope and courage from these words to stand firm in our faith and to overcome the world through him.  As we read the Bible and examine the life of Christ may we remember that Jesus was God in the flesh and through Christ’s life we can learn about our heavenly Father.

John 14:9-11 (ESV) Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Reading for Today - Colossians - 1:9-14 - What do you pray for?

Colossians 1:9-14 (ESV) 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, 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.  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

What do you pray for?  What do you pray for others? 

Paul prayed that the Colossians would be filled with knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Paul prayed that they would be strengthened with all power.

Why did Paul pray for these things?  He prayed for knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding that they would walk in a worthy manner, to pleasing to God, for bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  He prayed they would be strengthened with all power that they could have endurance and patience with joy and that in endurance and patience they could be able to give thanks to the Father.

Paul also notes in this passage that God has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in light and that he has delivered from darkness to the kingdom of his beloved Son.

What an amazing prayer.  What better things could we ask for and receive in this life than the knowledge of God’s word, spiritual understanding, the power to endure, and the power to have patience with joy.  What better things could we ask for others?  Don't you want others praying this prayer for you?

Reading for Today - Colossians 1:1-8 - Faith, Love, Hope - Things to be thankful for

Colossians 1:1-8 (ESV)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.  We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

 

Paul was thankful for the Colossian brethren.  Paul was thankful for their faith and their love for all the saints.  The Colossian brethren realized they had a great hope in heaven.

We need to strive to have faith and love like the Colossians.  Our hope based on God’s word should be bearing fruit in us and increasing.