September 13 – Being Salt

“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.”  Colossians 4:5-6  (ESV)

The “outsiders” mentioned in today’s passage are the people who have chosen to not believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  All have the opportunity and all who seek will find but not all choose to seek. They do not enter into the family of God through a new spiritual birth into Jesus Christ’s work of salvation.  Yet we are called to be careful how we live and speak in respect to non-believers (outsiders).  God still calls them to come by the only way, Jesus Christ.  What are we ready to say when answering questions about our faith? Does it turn others off or, does our speech, draw outsiders to know more.  We are called to be gracious while also potent with truth of God. As salt makes some things taste better, our behavior around outsiders should make our life and faith more appealing if possible. If someone stumbles over what we say, may it be stumbling over our gracious offer of Jesus Christ.  Let’s consider today, how our testimony is made positive or not by what we say when we're anonymous as we are on social media.  God always knows so let’s say everything for Him to hear.

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May 14 – Now Complete In Him

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,  and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;” Colossians 2:9-10 (NASB)

The promise we find in the selected verse for today should give us encouragement in our relationship with Jesus Christ.  He is our Savior and in order to be our Savior he had to be more than what we are;  He had to be perfect.  We’re thankful that Jesus, the Son of God came to earth so long ago and lived his life in the form of a human being like you and me.  Jesus was fully a human and he was also fully God.  We are reminded today that when Jesus returned to heaven after his ministry on this earth and after his death and resurrection, that His work here on earth continues, but in a different way.  He is present working through those who trust and obey so that is happens.  It happens when we believe in Him and allow Jesus to work through us.  Our mission is to tell others by word and by life example what Jesus has accomplished for all people.  Anyone who believes receives Jesus into their life.  The promise is that those who choose to believe and receive forgiveness and eternal life are made complete by the rule and authority of God.  

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February 10 – What To Wear

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” – Colossians 12-13 (NASB)

 

So, in view of what God has done through Jesus Christ for the faith believer, Paul is describing the behavior and attitude God expects from us in response. Seven characteristics and habits are listed in our verses. We can add twelve more through verse 17.  Paul identifies us as “chosen of God.” This specifies true Christians as those who have been chosen by God. No person is converted solely by their own choice or works, but only in response to God’s effectual, free, uninfluenced, and sovereign grace. “Beloved.” Election means believers are the objects of God’s incomprehensible special love. Some of the characteristics we are to adopt and practice are stated by Paul as “putting on.” heart of compassion - the seat of the emotions;  kindness – a goodness that pervades the entire person softening all harsh aspects;  humility - is the perfect antidote to the self-love that poisons human relationships; gentleness - sometimes translated “meekness,” it is the willingness to suffer injury or insult rather than to inflict such hurts;  patience - is also translated “longsuffering,” or "forbearance" the opposite of quick anger. This a process of renewal promised by God and made ours ours by His grace.

 

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January 26 – No Distinctions In Peace

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 (NASB)

In the larger context of this passage we find that the Apostle Paul is writing to Christians in the church in Colossae. Paul is addressing the truth that in Jesus Christ there were no distinctions made between Greeks and Jews. Paul presses this truth to include the circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarians (those who spoke neither Greek or Latin), Scythian (the lowest class of people), slave and freeman. Because all who believe in Jesus Christ belong to Him. All racial bigotry, chauvinism, and snobbery is condemned here. Here the truth that before God “all men are equal” receives its best infallible, inspired expression.  So, what we find in our selected verse is that we should allow the peace of Christ to be our referee in our differences. We should use His peace to rule in our hearts and when there is a disturbing question about something, we should let God's peace make the decision. Instead of worrying about something we cannot control, we can let God's peace control our thinking. That's what God called us to and it is our promise from Him that He will rule correctly on our behalf.

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June 08 – Faith Firmly Founded

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard” – Colossians 1:21-23 (NASB)

Being on the ‘outs’ of Christian fellowship was our circumstance before we received faith that made it possible to believe that Jesus, the Son of God is our Savior. We are converted from being ‘out’ to being ‘in’ God’s family when we are born of God – a work that God does for us according to his will and promise. It is a real transformation of our lives because before, or as our verse says, formerly we were alienated and had a hostile attitude. We were engaged in what is evil. Yet even in that state, doing nothing ourselves God reconciled us. When did this reconciliation happen? It happened on the cross, at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. That is when the work of reconciling our sinful selves with our perfect God happened. Here is our promise: He did this so we can appear before Him holy and blameless (forgiven) and beyond reproach. We are to continue in the faith firmly founded and unwavering, not moved away from the hope of the gospel.

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May 4 – Ransom Paid Remission Secured

“ 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.” – Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)

In our previous verse (Colossians 1:12) we read the promise of a share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. That is why we must today look at the promise that springs from that one.  This inheritance is in the … light. “We” have been transplanted, and this not from liberty into slavery but from slavery into liberty. This  light is the spiritual sphere to which believers have been transferred from the dominion of darkness. From this dominion, power, or authority of darkness We as believers have been rescued, and therefore delivered. Through Christ they were brought from a rebel kingdom and placed under the sovereignty of their rightful King. The sovereign Christ is here called his beloved Son. Through Christ, God’s “Loved One,” Christians have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Let’s emphasize that “redemption” means “to rescue by ransom.” Christ paid that ransom for us on the cross and in His resurrection. And, “forgiveness” means “remission” by the Redeemer. This is our joyful emancipation from darkness which we possess in the Light of our Savior only because of the tremendous cost Christ paid on the cross. 

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May 3 – Qualified By God

“…strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light” – Colossians 1:11-12 (NASB)

Again we look at this passage from the letter Paul the Apostle wrote to the church in Colossae. He cared much for the people in all the churches he had a part in establishing. Praying for them every day, he sought God’s very best for them and for them to recognize the promises and blessings they received.  These are promises for us as well. In our passage today is a third factor, spiritual strength, that results from knowing God’s will and pleasing Him. Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, a promise for overcoming uses three words for strength: “being strengthened” ⸺enable; make strong;¹ “power” ⸺be able, can;² and “might” ⸺power that overcomes resistance;³ This God-given strength produces great endurance and patience. This endurance or perseverance (James 1:3), we saw characterized by Job (James 5:11). To this endurance Paul added “patience,” a word generally associated with gentleness and calmness. When patience-producing power is manifested it is often accompanied with a joyful spirit of thanksgiving to the Father from whom comes every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). Our promise is we are made qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints. 

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¹[dynamoumenoi]
²[dynamei]
³[kratos]

 

May 2 – Walking A Worthy Walk

“…so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;…” – Colossians 1:10 (NASB)

In the letters written by the Apostle Paul, he often uses long compound sentences. Verses 9 through 12 is one sentence so continuing from yesterday’s consideration of verse 9 we now find the aim of Paul’s petition in his daily prayers. His prayer request was practical: in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord. A genuine knowledge of Christ reveals itself in transformed character, in Christlikeness. In Ephesians, Philippians, and both letters to the Thessalonians this exhortation is used. We are called to live our lives and walk in a manner worthy of God, of his calling us, and of other believers. How we live each day, what we think, say and do is observed by others and it reflects our dedication and conviction of God. Christ Jesus has saved us and called us to be a testimony to His Word. If we are walking worthy of the Lord, the promise is that we will please the Lord in all respects.  We will bear fruit in all our good efforts at the work He gives us; our knowledge of God will be increasing daily which also pleases the Lord. 

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May 1 – Knowledge and Understanding

“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,…” - Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

Paul the Apostle was a man of prayer and filled with love for those who had come to know the saving faith of Jesus through his ministry. One of the servant messengers had brought to Paul a good report from the church in Colossae. This is Epaphras (Epaphroditus), Likely the same one who carried messages and support to Paul from the believers in Philippi (Philippians 4:18). Because of this good report from and of them, Paul continued to pray for them. Paul’s ceaseless prayer does not mean that he prayed without ever stopping but that he never forgot to pray for them when he regularly prayed each day. Paul’s primary petition was that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will. There are two key words, “fill” and “knowledge” which Paul used. The first suggests a filling out to entirety, and the latter is a full, deep understanding. Knowledge of this kind, and of God’s will, does not come from a natural or fleshly mind, but from the Word of God through the Holy Spirit who, dwelling in us enlightens our spirit. That is our promise ⸺spiritual wisdom from the Holy Spirit.

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March 12 – Fulfilled Promises

“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.” – Colossians 1:15-16 (ESV)

The promises found in our passage today might remind us of the verse in Genesis 1:26-27 where we find God decided and created male and female in His image. One of the meanings of the phrase “image of God” means that people are created as God’s image—or, as His imagers. This passage speaks of the incarnation of Christ—the eternal God becoming a human being and becoming visible for us. The Son of God, Jesus the Anointed One has existed from eternity past. He is the One who created everything that we can see and what we cannot see, and all things on earth and above the earth in heaven. All were created by Him and for Him, the Son of God.  He came to live among us on earth, He lived a perfect life as a man without sin, all to complete and satisfy the promise made in Genesis 3. It was necessary for Him with His divine nature to take on a human nature to fulfill the promise of redemption for all human kind. We can embrace this promise because it is the way God made for us to know Him.

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March 11 – From Darkness to Light.

“For He rescued 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.” – Colossians 1:13-14  (NASB)

Recently many thousands of people in the United States were in darkness because of no electricity. Don’t we all prefer being in the light to being in darkness?  Being filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding of God, transforms our lives and rescues us from darkness. We are promised wonderful results by following God’s will.  Two outcomes from a God-pleasing life are bearing fruit and increasing in knowledge (Col 1:10). Spiritual strength can be considered a third factor that results from knowing God’s will and pleasing Him (Col 1:11). Thankfulness, a keynote in our spiritual life, is a fourth result (Col 1:12). Plus, the promises in today’s passage. God transfers us out of the dominion of darkness, which is the domain of Satan. It happens to us the moment we receive redemption and forgiveness from our life of sin and the stubborn rebellion which is sin itself.  We now possess inheritance reserved for us in the kingdom of light which is Jesus Christ. We like particularly this word in verse 13, ‘rescued,’ which gives us the picture of being snatched out of danger and assurance that we are out of peril and are now safe and secure in God’s family. 

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March 10 – The Wisdom Needed

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” – Colossians 1:9 (NASB)

The believers in the assembly of the church in Colossae were up against false teachers who were co-opting the truth of the Gospel with fabricated rules about eating, drinking and religious traditions. This false teaching developed into the heresy called Gnosticism*. The Colossians, like us, needed to know and understand the deity and superiority of Christ. Paul writes that he prayed for them without ceasing. It means that in his prayer times, they were always included in his prayers. He writes this letter from his prison in Rome and stressed two primary requests.  That they, and us, would know fully and be filled with the knowledge of God’s will; that they would be enjoined with spiritual wisdom and understanding of who Jesus Christ truly was. This perverse heresy taught that Christ was not God. It takes believers with spiritual maturity in faith to overcome false teaching and fully embrace the truth of Christ’s deity as taught in the Bible. Paul wrote this for us as well so that we too will learn to hold fast to the truth of Jesus Christ who is, the Son of God, our Savior. And acknowledge Christ as sovereign head of the Church.

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* Understanding What Gnosticism Is

September 12 – Salty Words

“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.”  Colossians 4:5-6  (ESV)

The “outsiders” mentioned in today’s passage are the people who have chosen to not believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  All have the opportunity and all who seek will find but not all choose to seek. They do not enter into the family of God through a new spiritual birth into Jesus Christ’s work of salvation.  Yet we are called to be careful how we live and speak in respect to non-believers (outsiders).  God still calls them to come by the only way, Jesus Christ.  What are we ready to say when answering questions about our faith? Does it turn others off or, does our speech, draw outsiders to know more.  We are called to be gracious while also potent with truth of God. As salt makes some things taste better, our behavior around outsiders should make our life and faith more appealing if possible. If someone stumbles over what we say, may it be stumbling over our gracious offer of Jesus Christ.  Let’s consider today, how our testimony is made positive or not by what we say when we're anonymous as we are on social media.  God always knows so let’s say everything for Him to hear.

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September 11 – Qualified by God Alone

“giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”  Colossians 1:12 (NASB)

In the writings of Paul which were inspired by the Holy Spirit and became part of our complete Bible today, Paul often wrote long sentences filled doctrine and truth.  The larger passage from where our verse comes today, Colossians 1:9-12 is a compound sentence 100 or more words. Paul promises to pray for for the Colossians and thus for us, to: 

• be filled with knowledge of God’s will, 
• for spiritual wisdom and understanding, 
• walk worthy of our Lord, 
• be pleasing our Lord in everything, 
• be bearing fruit, 
• be doing good work, 
• be increasing in knowledge of God, 
• be strengthened with all power equal to His glorious might, 
• which produces steadfastness and patience, 
• be joyously giving thanks, 
• for being qualified by the Father to share in the inheritance. 

In fact all of these requests are given to us by God. We do nothing that will qualify us to inherit what saints (believers) possess by being transferred from darkness to God’s Eternal Light. That is our promise –our Father God, who we joyfully give thanks to, did all the work of qualifying us to have a share of Jesus Christ’s inheritance. 

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September 10 – Deeper Understanding

“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,”  Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

These words are from the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the believer’s assembly in the city of Colosse.  We know Paul may not have visited this church in person* (Colossians 2:1), but we do know that he knew of it through Epaphras who likely planted that church. Paul was well acquainted with their progress and love in the Holy Spirit. Twice in  the first few verses of the first chapter, Paul mentions his acts of praying for them in Colossians 1:3 and in today’s verse. It is a regular practice for Paul to pray for this church and to petition for their fullness of knowledge – a work of the Holy Spirit.  This asking that they “be filled with the knowledge of His will,” is for us as well.  Paul’s request for their filling of knowledge is a filling that is complete, lacking nothing.  The ‘knowledge’ is a deep understanding of God’s will for and in our lives. We are promised a clear analysis and decision-making through applying this knowledge to the challenges we face in our Christian life.  The next verse informs us of Paul’s aim in praying this way (Colossians 1:10). 

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* The question of whether Paul the Apostle ever visited the city of Colosse or ever visited the church that Epaphras planted there is an ongoing debate.  Most believe that Paul passed through Colossae on his way to Laodicea but no church had been planted there yet. This was on his third missionary journey. 

July 14 – A Mystery Revealed

“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” - Colossians 1:27   (ESV)

A common misconception about God is that He is separate from us, up in Heaven while we are here on earth. It is common for people who have not believed in Jesus and who are therefore separate from God, to refer to Him as “the man upstairs.” But those who have believed, trust the Word of God so, we know differently. God is with us and in us, and it is natural that we are looking forward to the glories of Heaven.  Our promise is the basis for our hope of experiencing the glories of heaven. For when we believe in Jesus, He becomes a part of our life. We are no longer separate from Him. It is not as if we are here on earth living our lives by ourselves and Christ is in heaven performing His ministry. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is a part of our lives, not just for now but for always. This is called a mystery in this verse and it really is hard to understand. It is a mystery because it was a revelation of something new. Jesus Christ indwells believers. We believe it because the Bible says so!

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July 10 - His Joyful Servants

“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. - Colossians 3:23–24 (ESV)

If we remember the story where we found our promise yesterday, we can see that it is and example of today’s passage. Jeremiah did all things as service and in obedience to God.  We are promised an inheritance from our Lord in today’s passage. In the times that the apostle Paul lived, slavery was being practiced. Some who were slaves had believed in Jesus Christ. That made them equal to all other believers (Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 7:22). The word used for ‘serving’ has the meaning “I serve as a slave”  Because slavery is such an ugly word the translation is softened. But the principles here are for us today. Whether we are employed or helping as a volunteer, we serve as children of God. We are serving Him as His slave or bond-servant out of love. He is faithful and promises to reward those who live for His glory. Our motivation is love and not to earn and inheritance – it is already our possession. Knowing that we will receive our inheritance, we look forward to when we will possess it fully. It is for His glory and our joy that we are motivated to serving Jesus today. 

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The matter of original words for slaves, servants, and serving. 

May 18 – Whom Do We Serve

“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.”  -  Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

In the time when the Apostle Paul wrote his letters to the churches while in prison chained to a guard, it was common for some to serve masters as slaves or indentured slaves.  Some of these slaves came to believe in Jesus and their lives were changed.  Paul is speaking directly to slaves in these verses and he encourages all to rethink their purpose.  All work and all actions of a Christ follower, a true believer is viewed in the light of their confession.  As slaves, they were in a situation they could not escape from but Paul knew that they could serve their masters in a way that would honor their God.  We today have this same promise and call to work for our employers as if we are working for our Lord.  We have an inheritance promised as a reward.  Paul affirms that all our actions should be acts of service to the Lord Christ – He is whom we serve.  There is also a warning promise.  Those who do wrong receive not the inheritance but the consequences of doing wrong. That, we do not want so we strive to serve all as if we are serving Christ. 

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May 17 – The Value is Above

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  - Colossians 3:2-4 (ESV)

There is a much greater value in spending our time thinking about and making use of the eternal “things above” than becoming busy with the many temporal “things on earth.” We do not have to consider this for very long for us to understand that temporal things have no lasting value. They fade away and are gone like a wisp of smoke when compared to things of heaven that are eternal and come from God.  Before we were born again by the Holy Spirit and became one of God’s adopted children, we had no concept of anything that was better than what we knew. Now we learn this truth from our promise today, since we have died to sin through faith in God, our lives have been hidden with Christ in God.  If one has difficulty understanding that, it may be because they have not yet agreed with God and sought the salvation He freely gives to all who believe on Him. One day, it will become obvious to all the world, we will no longer be hidden but we will be revealed with Christ, who is our life source, in all His glory.

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May 16 – Since, Therefore Do

“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.”  - Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)

It is good to know that the “If” in verse 3:1 actually means “Since” and the recipients of this letter are those in Christ because they have been raised with Christ. This letter written by the Apostle Paul to the assembly of believers in Colossae was written in prison, like the letter to the Philippians. But it has a very different message for us.  An important purpose Paul has in writing this letter, among others, was to refute the false teaching that was threatening this congregation of Christ followers. Also Paul was setting forth the absolute supremacy and sole sufficiency of Jesus Christ.  To encourage the members of the Colossae church to turn away from the false teachers in their midst.  Paul reminds them of their union with Christ. He also urged them to continue living in keeping with their position in Christ.  It is the promise in this verse that should motivate them and us to seek the better things where Christ is – in heaven at God the Father’s right hand.  Those better things are promised to all who believe the Gospel.  

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