Colossians 2:14-15

Colossians 2:14-15

After wiping out the record of debt against us from the ordinances that were hostile to us, He also carried it out of our midst after nailing it to the cross.  After stripping away the power of the rulers and authorities He put them to shame in a public manner – triumphing over them in Him.   

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Again we have some really neat circumstances surrounding the action of the main verb in the form of circumstantial participles: after wiping out & after nailing.  This takes the context that we started to talk about yesterday and carries it through today.  Yesterday we learned that God made us alive after forgiving us while we were still dead in sin.  Today we learn that God carried our debt away after nailing it to the cross and after wiping it clear.  We reinforce the learning that we heard yesterday.  God dealt with our sinfulness and put it to rest before bringing us into life.  To put it more bluntly: we can be confident that God has dealt with our sin.  He has dealt with it.  That part is over.  It is dealt with and cast aside.

How do you live out this reality that God has dealt with your sinfulness?  What does it mean to you that God has put aside your record of debt?

Second Thought:

We also get a chance to hear how God deals with the world.  He stripped the authorities of their power.  He puts them to shame in a public manner.  Now, let’s make sure that we understand what this is all about.  God is not saying that people who are against God don’t have power in the world.  Our experience tells us that there are plenty of people in the world who are against God and who have power.  What God is actually talking about is spiritual power.  Those religious elite who thought they knew what God was doing were put to shame publically when they condemned Jesus and God raised Him from death into life.  People who think that they control who will be saved and who will be rejected by God are usurping His power and they will be put to shame.  Our job is not to be some mystic gatekeeper to God.  Our job is to glorify God and invite people into God’s presence.  That is the power that God has bestowed upon us.

Do you find yourself wanting to be judge over people or a receptionist inviting people to God?  When is it easy to judge?  When is it easy to extend invitation?

Third Thought:

Paul makes it incredibly clear where the victory comes.  God’s victory is in Christ.  Christ is the one who was rejected.  Christ is the one that the world wanted to get rid of in the worst way.  Christ is the one that God resurrected.  It is in the rejection of Christ that the world finds their own judgment.  It is in the resurrection of Christ that those in Christ find hope.  He and He alone is our triumph.

Is Christ the center of your life?  Do you believe that your triumph is found ultimately in Christ, too?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 2:16-19

Colossians 2:13

Colossians 2:13

And while you all are dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you all alive together with Him after forgiving all of us the trespasses. 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I think that there are three really important states in this verse to which we should pay attention.  The first is a circumstantial participle: while being dead.  The reality is that this is our general status.  We are born into the status of death.  We are not saved by our nature.  We are not even good by our nature!  We are dead to our trespasses without Christ.

Where do you see this lived out in your life?  What evidence does your life have of its trespasses as your human nature is exposed?

Second Thought:

The second state to which we need to pay attention is another circumstantial participle: after forgiving.  God forgives.  God knows that we are dead in our trespasses and yet He still forgives.  In fact, if we look at the timing of these first two circumstances we actually get the teaching that the forgiveness occurs at some point while we are still dead in our trespasses.  In other words, forgiveness comes before any life comes our way.  This shouldn’t surprise us when we think deeply about it, but it does serve to heighten God’s act in salvation.  God acts first.  He sent us Christ.  He forgives us while we are dead and don’t deserve it.  He initiates action prior to us being worthy for it.

How does this understanding affect your view of God?  Do you think our gratitude towards God is easy or difficult to actually live out as we should?  Why do you answer this way?

Third Thought:

Now we get to the third state.  This state is the main verb of the sentence: God made us alive together with Him.  When we put this verb together with the circumstial participles that came before it we get a clear picture.  While we were dead, God forgave us.  After forgiving us, God made us alive.  This inherently means that while we were dead, God made us alive.  But also look at the tense of the verb.  God made us alive.  That is a past tense verb.  The action is done.  The state of us being alive is already granted.  Our salvation is assured.  We are not waiting to die, we are actually already alive in Christ!  This is a really neat continuation of Jesus’ promise that those who believe in Him should never die.  We might die physically, but we are already alive spiritually.

How are you alive spiritually?  Where in your life can you see this playing out?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 2:14-15

Colossians 2:11-12

Colossians 2:11-12

In whom you all were being circumcised by a circumcision not made by hands – in the stripping off of the body of the flesh – in the circumcision of Christ after being buried with Him in baptism, in whom you were also being raised in the working faith of the God who raised Him out of death.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In the Greek, Paul gives us a really unique word: acheiropoietos (ἀχειροποίητος).  It is made up of two words and a prefix.  The noun cheiros means “hands.”  The verb poieo means “to make.”  The prefix a- is the prefix used for negation.  Literally, this word means “to not make by the hands.”  What is neat about this word is that it is a very specific word created for a very specific context.  This is a word used by Paul to explicitly make a point about his Jewish tradition.  In Judaism, circumcision is made by human hands.  Paul is using this word to highlight his point a few verses ago that human traditions are nothing compared to God’s tradition.  It doesn’t matter whether a human being performs some rite over me or you.  What matters is that God the Father performs a spiritual rite over you.  What a human being does over you fades into nothing.  But what God does in you will last forever.

What has God done in you?  What part of your life has God circumcised away?  Why is this more important than anything a human being could have done in your life under their own power?

Second Thought:

Paul now speaks of baptism.  Notice what Paul tells us, though.  We are buried with Christ in baptism.  But look at the thrust of the context of this passage.  The baptism that matters is not the baptism of a human being.  The baptism that matters is God’s act.  If I go through a baptism and God is not a part of it, what meaning does it have?  No, what matters is that God is a part of baptism.  What matters is God the Father’s work in baptism.

When you think about baptism, what do you think of?  How is God a part of what you think?  Is God the center of what you think?

Third Thought:

Paul reminds us why it is that we can trust God’s promise.  He raised Christ.  If we are with Christ, then He can raise us to.

Are you confident in your salvation?  Are you confident that just as God raised Christ out of the dead that He can raise you as well?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 2:13-15

Colossians 2:9-10

Colossians 2:9-10

Because in Him all of the fullness of the divine nature dwells bodily, and having been made complete you all are in Him, who is the head and ruler of every authority.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As we talk about the center of Christ for our life, we need to remember that this models the fact that Christ was the center of God’s plan for salvation.  If Christ was central to God’s plan for us, why wouldn’t He be the center of our life, too?  Human traditions, elemental understanding of the physical world around us, and the pursuit of ideological ideals such as love or justice cannot do for us what Christ has done for us.  We should be devoted to Christ and nothing else.

Have you ever thought about the fact that we center our life on Christ because God centered His plan of salvation on Christ?  Why does this make sense?

Second Thought:

This is how we know that Christ is the center of God’s plan: the fullness of the divine nature dwells in Him.  Jesus was not a man like us; Jesus is God.  Because He is God, He can pay the ultimate price that we cannot.  Because He is the center of God’s plan, He is the head of every authority.

Do you believe that Christ was fully God?  Do you believe that Christ is the head of every authority?  How do you live each of these beliefs out in your life?

Third Thought:

Paul also tells us some very good news.  We are made complete in Him.  This tells us two very important things.  First, we are not originally complete.  We are sinful.  We make mistakes.  We miss opportunities that God sets in front of us.  But in Christ, we can be made complete!  Christ completes us.  He makes us better.  He fixes our mistakes.  He brings us forgiveness.  He gives us the opportunity for eternal life with the Father.

Do you live as though Christ has made you complete?  What does it mean to you to be made complete in Christ?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 2:11-12

Colossians 2:8

Colossians 2:8

See that no one will be the ones who take you all captive through philosophy and empty deception according to the traditions of mankind, according to the elementary nature of the world, and not according to Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul warns the Colossians to not be taken captive.  Paul specifically warns them about the philosophies and elemental nature of the world.  We should really pay attention to this.  For example, it is possible to fall so much in love with science and understanding how the world works around us that we forget about the God who put those things into motion.  It’s not bad to study and love science; we simply need to remember God in the process and give Him the greater honor than we give to science and the underlying principles of the world.  In the same manner, we can get caught up in human philosophy.  There are people who get caught up in the pursuit of love or kindness or justice, or other such things.  Of course, these are great concepts!  There is nothing wrong with living a life that desires to love one another, be kind to one another, or to be just.  But we must do those things under the greater umbrella of God and His ways.  As Paul hints in 1 Corinthians 13, if I have a whole host of great things but they are not rooted in God, are they really good?

Is it easy to have your perspective shift off of God and onto something else?  Why or why not?  Why is it important for Paul to put this reminder in front of us?

Second Thought:

Paul also warns the Colossians about the empty traditions of mankind.  I think this is perhaps one of the most dangerous traps into which a person can fall.  Even in our desire to be faithful we can succumb to the trap of tradition.  I have often found myself doing things because it’s just the way I’ve always done it rather than because God was calling me to it.  I’ve found myself teaching a certain way because that’s just how it has always been done rather than because it is the best for the students.  I’ve found myself worshipping in a certain way because that’s the way we’ve always done it rather than because it is the way that is best for the people or the best approach to introducing others to God.  As human beings, we are very susceptible to falling into our habits and patterns and staying there because we are comfortable.  We should want to listen to God and obey Him more than we should want to be comfortable in our human tradition.

What traditions trap you easily?  When are you least likely to give up your traditions?

Third Thought:

Paul finishes this verse by reminding the Colossian people that it should all be about Christ.  Christ is the focus.  Following Christ’s example is the goal.  Bringing people into a greater understanding of Christ and the Father is what our life should be about.

Is Christ what your life is about?  What does it mean to have Christ truly as the center of your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 2:9-10

Colossians 2:6-7

Colossians 2:6-7

Therefore, as you received the Lord Jesus Christ, walk in Him having been firmly rooted and while being built up in Him and while being increased in strength by faith just as you all were taught and while having an abundance in thanksgiving.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Walking in the Lord is an important concept in the book of Colossians.  Paul refers to this idea in this verse as well and in Colossians 1:10, Colossians 1:10, Colossians 3:7, Colossians 1:10, and Colossians 4:5.  This word can mean many things.  On the simplest level, this would is a synonym for behave.  Paul is telling us to behave as Christ would desire us to behave.  But this word goes deeper than this. This word can also mean “walk around.”  In other words, this word means “a pattern of life.”  Paul is telling us to live our life as though we had a pattern modeled in Christ.  So this word is not just our present actions but also the patterns of our life.  Paul is telling us to have Christ-like rhythms and routines.

Are your routines Christ-like?  Do you have a Christ-centered life?  Are your moment to moment behaviors things that resemble how Christ lived?

Second Thought:

Paul also speaks about being firmly rooted and being built up in Him.  What Paul means by this is essentially the discipleship process.  Everyone in the faith has had some kind of mentor who has shown them the ropes.  Everyone who knows Christ has been taught about Christ.  We are rooted in the story of Christ because He taught disciples who taught disciples who taught disciples who eventually taught us!  Paul’s point is that we can arrive at a godly rhythm when we are discipled and mentored in Christ.

How are you build up in Christ?  When were you rooted in Him?

Third Thought:

Of course, all of this is based upon faith.  We are strengthened by faith.  Remember that this word faith can also mean faithfulness.  God gives us His faith and this builds us up.  But we also hear the story of Christ’s faithfulness and are built up by His example.  Faith is our core.  It sustains us.

What role does faith play in your life?  How does that faith get into you?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 2:8-10

Colossians 2:4-5

Colossians 2:4-5

I say this in order that nobody should deceive you through false reasoning in plausible speech.  For I am also absent in the flesh but I am with you all by the Spirit while rejoicing and while seeing your proper order and the firm position of your faithfulness in Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Today we hear more reasons about why Paul is saying what he says.  He wants the Colossians to be strong in the face of faulty logic.  In fact, the Greek that Paul uses here is nearly redundant.  The verb implies being deceived through false reasoning.  The object of the verb is “plausible speech,” which also inherently assumes the presence of flawed logic.  What we need to pay special attention to is the fact that Paul is not expressing concern of emotional appeals.  Paul is expressing concern over people who come into our life and make very logic and rational arguments.  Paul is talking about people who can come in and justify their faulty reasoning.  Paul wants us to be able to discern faulty reasoning when we hear it so that we can defend ourselves when necessary.

Have you ever heard “plausible speech” that sounded nice at the time but was based on a faulty premise?  Was it easy or difficult for you to see your way through it?  What can make it more difficult to discern?  What can make it easier to discern?

Second Thought:

I love the middle of this passage.  Paul confesses that he isn’t there.  In fact, he’s never been there!  But then Paul reminds us of a very humbling and important fact.  His presence – or my presence – is nothing next to the presence of the Holy Spirit.  The Colossians have the Holy Spirit; they’re in great hands!  We don’t need to be present; God does!  That is humbling to remind ourselves of daily.  We are just the tools in God’s most capable hands.

Do you ever want to be the important part of the plan?  Why is it good that God is always the important part of the plan?  How does it free us to realize that God’s presence is far more important than mine?

Third Thought:

I love how Paul ends this section.  What he is most excited about is the firm position of faith that the Colossians are expressing.  Of course, we must remember that in the Greek the word for faith can also mean faithfulness.  Paul is excited because their belief is where it should be.  He is excited because their faithfulness is where it should be.  But he is also excited about just how firm their position is.  In spite of persecution, they are firm.  In spite of hearing how other people are being persecuted, they are firm.  The true test of faith is not when life is easy and things are going your way.  The true test of faith is adversity.  The Colossians are standing firm.

How firm is your faith?  When have you been given an opportunity to see just how firm your faith is and actually can be?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 2:6-7

Colossians 2:1-3

Colossians 2:1-3

For I desire you all to have known how great a struggle I have for your sake and for the ones in Laodicea and for as many who have not seen my face in the flesh – in order that their hearts should be encouraged while being united in love, in all the richness of complete certainty in understanding, into the knowledge of the mystery of God – Christ – in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and hidden knowledge.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul declares why he wants to talk about his struggle.  It isn’t for his own fame or reputation or glory.  He wants to talk about his struggle so that other people may be encouraged.  Yes, it is true that misery loves company.  But there is more to it than this.  Paul knows that trouble comes in life.  But if trouble comes in life, we can get through trouble by hearing how others have overcome their trouble.  Paul wants other people to believe that they can persevere with God’s protection just as Paul has persevered with God’s protection.

How good are you at dealing with trouble?  How do the experiences of the people around you help you persevere?

Second Thought:

Paul also desires that the people be united in love.  Persecution often begs disunity.  Persecution often breeds competition.  Persecution often breeds backstabbing, gossip, and rumor-mongering.  Paul wants none of this.  Paul wants them to be unites in love, not torn apart by the life around them.

Is it easy for you to love in the midst of your strife?  What can make it easier for us to love and feel unity when our life may actually feel like it is crumbling?

Third Thought:

Finally, Paul talks about wisdom and hidden knowledge.  Again, remember that Paul isn’t talking about the hidden knowledge in the same way that the Gnostics would have spoken.  Paul isn’t talking about the fact that you have to be special or “clued-in” before you can actually understand.  What Paul is talking about is the fact that for so long the means of God’s salvation was anticipated by the Jews.  It was hidden until Christ came.  Now, through the ministry and death of Christ, we can understand God’s wisdom and His hidden plan to save those who receive His grace.  We can be complete indeed!

Do you understand God’s grace?  Do you feel complete knowing that God can redeem you through His grace?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 2:4-5

Colossians 1:27-29

Colossians 1:27-29

To whom God desired to make known the riches of glory of this mystery in the Gentiles that Christ is in you all – the hope of glory.  We proclaim Him while warning every man and while teaching every man in all wisdom in order that we should present every mature man in Christ. Into this I also labor while making every effort according to the focus that He is at work in me in power.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul tells us more about God’s mystery.  The mystery is Christ in us.  You see, God’s plan was a mystery.  The Hebrew people waited patiently for God’ Messiah to reveal how salvation was to come to mankind.  It was a mystery.  But that isn’t the end of the mystery.  God didn’t just save us, He made is possible to have an intimate relationship with Him by His presence within us!  That’s the mystery of God!

What does your forgiveness mean to you?  What does a personal relationship with God mean to you?  Why are both of these unfathomable in a sense?

Second Thought:

Paul preached Christ.  This is perhaps the main fundamental difference between Christianity and other religions.  Some religions teach a philosophy of living.  Some religions teach a person who taught us how to live so that we can be worthwhile in the sight of their deity.  But Christianity teaches Christ.  Christianity teaches that salvation only comes through Christ and His death on the cross.  Christianity teaches that we aren’t saved by what we do or who we are or even how good we can appear to be.  Christianity teaches us that it is all about Christ and His death.

Why is it so important that that Christianity is all about Christ?  Do you ever struggle to make it more than Christ only to miss the mark?

Third Thought:

We then get to Paul’s work.  Paul preached.  Paul warned.  Paul taught.  What was the point of all of these actions?  Paul sought the mature.  Paul sought the development of faith.  This is the point.  God doesn’t call us where we are in order to keep us where we are.  God calls us where we are in order to develop us into something new and better!

Are you more mature than you were a few years back?  Where are you headed in terms of your maturity?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 2:1-5

Colossians 1:24-26

Colossians 1:24-26

I now rejoice in the suffering for your sake and I am filling up the missing essentials in the persecutions of Christ in my body for the sake of His body, which is the church.  Of which I became a servant according to the plan of God that was being given to me into you to fulfill the word of God – the mystery that has been hidden from the ages and the generations but now it was being revealed to His holy ones.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul rejoices in his sufferings.  I believe there are two reasons that he rejoices.  First of all, Christ suffered for the sake of His disciples.  When we suffer for the sake of others, we get to taste the sacrificial love of Christ.  Second, there is the example.  Paul rejoices because as he suffers he is putting a model of faith on display for others to see.  The reality is that suffering will come.  We will all face trials and tribulations.  When we encounter trials and tribulations and persevere, we demonstrate to others that they can persevere in their trials and tribulations, too.

What is your normal attitude to trials and suffering?  When are you likely to be able to sustain a good attitude through it?

Second Thought:

The middle of this passage gives us a fairly complicated way of expressing Paul’s purpose.  He became a servant of the Gospel in order that the Word of God should be fulfilled in the Gentiles.  What does it mean that the Word of God should be fulfilled?  Simply, God’s promise is to be proclaimed.  People need to hear about God’s generous offer of salvation.  People need to be invited into belief.  Of course some will accept and some will reject.  But the fulfillment of the Word is that the Gentiles will hear and have an opportunity to come to God and be in relationship with Him.

Are you are part of this process?  How can you help fulfill the Word of God in your part of the world?

Third Thought:

 The core of Paul’s message is the “mystery.”  We must be careful how we interpret this word.  Mystery can mean “a secret to which only a few people have access.”  Mystery can also mean “something that was unknown but is now revealed.  For example, for most of human history sickness was a mystery because people didn’t understand germs and microscopic organisms.  Today, most people have at least a rudimentary understanding of why people get sick.  That’s why most of us know to wash our hands or use hand sanitizer.  This is also what Paul means when he talks about the mystery of God.  Paul isn’t saying that there is some special hidden knowledge that only the right people can access.  Paul is saying that prior to Christ the manner through which God was going to save the world was a mystery.  But now in Christ we know!  We can spread the truth about what once was a mystery.

Do you understand the mystery of Christ?  Can you tell others about the mystery of Christ?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:27-29

Colossians 1:21-23

Colossians 1:21-23

And at that time – while you all were having been a foreigner and an enemy in attitude in evil works – now He reconciled you in the blood of His flesh through death to make you all holy and blameless and above reproach before Him – if indeed you all remain by faithfulness: having been made a foundation and firmly established and while not being shaken from the hope of the Gospel you all heard, that which was being preached to all creation under heaven and of which I, Paul, became a servant.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul again makes a point that we heard yesterday.  We were in need of reconciliation.  We were God’s enemies.  But God reconciled us through the blood of Jesus Christ.  Paul reiterates himself because this is such a fundamental point.  We cannot save ourselves.  We do not deserve salvation.  We were enemies of God.  But He came and saved us anyways.

Why would God save us when we were His enemies?  What example does this make for your life?

Second Thought:

Paul also makes it clear what the fruit of Christ’s redemptive act is.  We are holy.  Remember that holy means “separate.”  God claims us for His purposes.  We are blameless.  That means that we are forgiven of our sins.  We are beyond reproach.  That means that there is nothing the accuser – that is, Satan – can say against us.  If we remain in Him by our faithfulness, all of these things are ours to claim.

Are you holy?  How are you separate from the world?  Are you blameless?  How do you live out your forgiveness?  Are you beyond reproach?  How do you refute Satan when he accuses you of your humanity?

Third Thought:

Paul then tells us that God has made us a foundation.  We are not to be shaken.  We are to have a confidence in life.  We may not be perfect.  We might sin occasionally.  We won’t always make the right choice.  But in God we are rock steady.  In God we cannot be shaken.  In God, we become like Paul: a servant.  We are holy for the rock solid purposes of God.

Do people see God’s foundation within you?  How?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:24-26

Colossians 1:19-20

Colossians 1:19-20

Because in Him it seemed good for all of the full measure of God to dwell and through Him to reconcile all things into Himself – while making peace through the blood of His cross – whether the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

As Paul writes this passage, we hear a great foundation of theology.  We are told that Crist came to the cross in order to reconcile creation to Himself.  You will notice that God is not reconciling Himself to creation.  We are the ones who are at fault.  We are the ones who sin.  We are the ones who break the relationship with God.  We are the ones in need of reconciliation.  Yet we cannot reconcile ourselves.  God sacrifices Himself in order to reconcile us to Him.

Why is it important to the foundation of our faith to know that we are in need of reconciliation?  Why is it important to understand that God provided the means of reconciliation for us?

Second Thought:

Paul then adds that the medium of reconciliation is the blood of the cross.  We are not saved because of Christ’s miracles – as cool as they were.  We are not saved by the faithful response of Jesus’ disciples – although certainly we hear about salvation because of the faithfulness of Jesus’ disciples.  We are reconciled because of Christ’s blood.

Are you ever tempted to think that salvation comes through any means other than the cross?  Why do we sometimes forget that the blood of Christ is the only foundation of salvation?

Third Thought:

The last phrase of this passage is a phrase that has caused much debate.  Truthfully, we don’t know about that which Paul is referring.  There are many that will argue the point that even the heavens need to be reconciled because of their impurity.  Proponents of this thought use passages such as Job 4:18 and Job 15:15 to make their case.  Other people use this verse to assert that Paul is talking about even the reconciliation of Satan and his demons.  Personally, I believe that Paul is simply using hyperbole here to make a grand point.  God’s reconciliation through Jesus is such an incredibly powerful act that there is nothing that cannot be included in reconciliation.  I believe that through this phrase Paul is making a point about the immense scope of God’s redeeming power.

How great is our God?  Is there anything that is not redeemable?  What does God ask of us when we receive His reconciliation?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:21-23

Colossians 1:18

Colossians 1:18

And He is the head of the body of the assembly.  He is the beginning, firstborn out of the dead in order that He should become prominent in status in all things.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Christ is the head of the body of the assembly.  The Greek word here for assembly is ekklesia (ἐκκλησία).  This is the root word for our English word ecclesiastical.  This is why you will often see this word translated as “church.”  However, it should be known that this word literally means assembly.  What Paul is saying is that whenever Christians are assembled, the body of Christ is present and Christ is the head of that body.

When do you feel the presence of Christ the most?  Do you ever feel the presence of Christ deeply when you are gathered in the midst of other believers?

Second Thought:

Paul reminds us that Christ is the firstborn out of the dead.  Here is another place for refuting the Gnostics.  If Christ died and the good god is purely spiritual, why would Christ be raised back into a physical body for the disciples to see?  The fact that Christ was raised out of the dead illustrates that the Gnostics are wrong.  God is not just the good god over the spiritual.  God is the total God over both the physical and the spiritual.

Where have you seen God have authority over the physical world?  Where have you seen God have authority over the spiritual world?  What does it mean to you that Christ was raised from the dead?

Third Thought:

Christ is prominent.  He is above all.  There is none greater than Him.  Nobody will rise to the level of Christ.  But there is another side to His prominence.  By being prominent, Christ gives us something to which we can look.  Christ was raised from the dead.  That is our prominent example.  We know that if Christ was raised from the dead, we can be raised as well.  He is prominent so that we can look to Him and walk forward in life in confidence.

Do you live as thought Christ is prominent in life?  What does it mean to you that Christ was raised from the dead?  Do you live with the eternal perspective that comes from such a thought?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:19-20

Colossians 1:15-17

Colossians 1:15-17

He is an image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation since in Him all things were being created in heaven and upon the earth – the visible and the invisible, whether earthly thrones or ruling powers or rulers or authorities – all things were being created through Him and in Him.  And He is before all things and all things have held together in Him. 

Thoughts for Today

Theological Background: Knowing what we know about the religious environment of Asia Minor and Greece at the time of the writing of the book of Colossians, it is likely that Colossians 1:15-20 might have been an early creed or some sort of logical argument.  At the time of Paul’s writing Colossians, the Gnostic movement was gaining substantial ground.  The core of the Gnostic movement was that the physical world is purely evil and the spiritual world was purely good.  The direct result of this thought is that the physical world was not the creation of God – who is completely good – but of some other supernatural power that is inherently hostile towards God.  Therefore, there is a dual spiritual nature in the universe.  The Gnostics believed that there was a good god that is purely spiritual and an evil god that created the world. Please keep in mind that this is a very simple discussion of Gnosticism.

First Thought:

Verses 15-20 form a section of scripture that is very poetic.  It nearly reads like a hymn or a poem in the Greek.  As we read through these verses, we hear a very clear refutation of the Gnostic beliefs.  The verses read as though Paul realizes the Colossians are resisting Gnosticism.  Look at how Paul starts.  Jesus is an image of the invisible God.  Jesus is a representation of the true God.  He is not some fake imitation.  He is not some hostile power to the true God.  Jesus is an image of the invisible God.

Why is it important that Jesus is an image of the unseen God?  What would change if Jesus wasn’t actually a part of the true God?

Second Thought:

Second, notice what Paul says about creation.  All of creation – the invisible and the visible – are created in Christ and through Him.  Paul is telling us quite clearly that it is not the case that we have a good god in charge of the spiritual aspects and an evil god in charge of the physical world.  God the Father created the world through Christ.  God the Father intended the world to be righteous.  God put His good imprint upon creation; it is man that messed it up!

Why is it important to understand that God the Father created the world?  What does it mean that creation was made through Christ?  How does it feel to realize the imprint of the Father is upon you?

Third Thought:

Furthermore, Christ is before all things and all things have been held together through Him.  In other words, God is still present in creation.  Not only were the Gnostics wrong in claiming that the good god had nothing to do with the physical world, they were actually missing the true God in creation!  They are not seeing how God’s goodness can be still seen in creation.  Yes, creation is fallen and it has some areas that are less than perfect.  There is sickness and death and violence and things like this.  But that doesn’t mean that God cannot still be seen in creation.  That’s precisely Paul’s point.

Where do you see God in creation?  Have you ever met someone who failed to see God in His creation?  How does it make you feel when people fail to see God when you so plainly see Him?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:18

Colossians 1:13-14

Colossians 1:13-14

He delivered us out of the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son – in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Christ delivered us.  He saved us.  There is no more simpler way to say that.  I cannot save myself.  I am not saved because I know some secret knowledge that other people don’t know.  I am not saved because I’m better, smarter, or more likeable than other people.  I am saved because Christ died.  I am saved because God extended His grace to me.  Yes, I received that salvation.  But I am saved because of Jesus and His sacrifice for my sake.  I am saved because through Jesus Christ my sins are removed.

Why are you saved?  Do you ever find it easy to think that you are saved because of something you have done or because of a way you believe?  If it were not for Christ, could we believe or behave in any manner pleasing to Christ?

Second Thought:

Through Christ, we are transferred out of the kingdom of darkness.  We really need to learn this lesson, too.  When Paul talks about the world of darkness, he’s talking about the world around us.  Paul is talking about our natural sinful human nature.  We are not good by nature.  We are simply not good people!  We are a people born in darkness.  We are born under the authority of darkness!  The only reason we are not currently in darkness is because of Christ.

Do you ever believe that you are inherently a good person?  Why is this dangerous?  How often do you hear the people around you speak about the people around them as being “good?”

Third Thought:

We are transferred into the kingdom of Christ.  We don’t earn it.  We don’t deserve it.  We are transferred.  Another way of saying this is that we are exchanged.  God sent His Son to this earth so that God could exchange His Son for us.  God gave His Son over to the world of darkness as our exchange.  The world killed Him, and God raised Him from the dead and reclaimed Him for Himself.  But we are God’s exchange.  God paid a heavy price for our redemption.

Have you ever thought of yourself as an exchange or a trade?  What does it mean to you to realize that you are worth so much to God that He would send His Son as an exchange?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:15-18

Colossians 1:11-12

Colossians 1:11-12

… while being empowered in every power according to the might of His glory in all continuing endurance and patience with joy, while giving thanks to the Father who makes you all sufficient into the portion of the inheritance of the holy ones in the light.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul continues to expound upon why he prays for spiritual insight for the Colossians.  Once they are focused on pleasing the Lord and doing the will of the Father, Paul also wants them to be empowered to do that will.  Again we have a fundamental truth.  If it is God’s will, we should believe that we will be empowered to accomplish it!  Why would God ask us to do something and not give us the ability to accomplish it?  Of course, we should not confuse having the power to do God’s will with experiencing ultimate success.  It was God’s will for Paul to be an evangelist wherever he went – yet he was persecuted in every city.  It was God’s will for Jesus to come to earth – yet we see Him crucified.  It was God’s will for Moses to lead His people out of Egypt – yet we see that out of that generation only Joshua and Caleb were actually allowed into the Promised Land.  We are empowered to do the will of the Father, but that often implies that in doing so we will experience the rejection of the world.  Just because the world rejects us does not mean that we have not done the will of the Father.  Nor does it mean that the Father is not pleased with us.

Do you ever confuse success with accomplishing God’s will?  Why is this an easy mistake to make?  How does it feel for you to realize that if you are asked by God to accomplish something that you will be empowered to accomplish it?

Second Thought:

As we go about God’s will, Paul gives us a subtle reminder of three qualities that should envelope our work.  

• We should have an attitude of patient endurance.  This is an especially poignant point given my first thought for today.  Paul knows the hard life of following God.  Unceasing endurance and patience is very much a necessary quality when following God in this world.  
• Second, we should have an attitude of joy.  It can be hard to endure.  But the reality is that we are given an opportunity to be in relationship with God that we do not deserve.  Even on our worst day, we know that we are in relationship with God and He can make all things new.  That is reason to have joy.  
• Finally, we should give thanks.  We are in relationship with Him.  He does invite us into His will and gives us the opportunity to be a part of His will.  We should be thankful.

How easy is it for you to endure under the stress of life?  How joyful are you about doing the will of the Father?  How quick are you to remember to give thanks to God – even in the midst of trouble and strife?

Third Thought:

Paul also reminds the Colossians about our inheritance.  This brings perspective.  We have an inheritance that nobody can take away.  We have the promise of eternal life.  We can have our portion of that promise.  It is a promise shared by all of God’s holy ones.  It is ultimately in this eternal perspective that we truly see how we can endure with joy while giving thanks.

When you think about eternal life, what emotions are evoked?  Do you go through the tasks of life with an eternal perspective?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:13-14

Colossians 1:9-10

Colossians 1:9-10

Because of this, from whatever day that we heard we also are not ceasing while praying and asking on your behalf in order that you all should be filled in the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual insight to behave in a manner worthy of Lord in every pleasing way, while bearing fruit in every good work and while growing in the knowledge of God …

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul prays for other people.  This is one of the most consistent themes across all of his letters.  Paul is lifting up the faith of other people.  Paul is asking God to keep their faith strong by increasing it.  I think Paul realizes just how easy it is to let our faith slip into a lower place of priority in our life.  He also knows that he is powerless to actually get other people to take their faith seriously.  Thus, Paul lifts them up in prayer.  Paul gives the faith of others to the only being in the world who can influence the faith of the people around us in any meaningful way.  Paul prays for them, asking God to do what needs to be done in all of our lives.

For whom do you pray?  For what do you pray on their behalf?

Second Thought:

Notice for what Paul prays and asks with respect to the Colossians.  He asks that they be filled with wisdom and knowledge and spiritual insight as it pertains to the will of God.  Paul doesn’t ask that they become prosperous.  He doesn’t ask that they become famous.  He doesn’t ask that they have an easy life.  He asks that God would reveal His will to them so that they would be able to make sound decisions.  This is an important perspective because it highlights the spiritual focus of Paul.  Yesterday we spoke about the fact that Paul saw Epaphras as a coworker because he was submitted to God’s will for his life.  It is this very thing for which he prays with respect to all the Colossian people.

What is your focus in this life?  When you pray for other people, for what do you pray?

Third Thought:

What is the ultimate goal of having insight and knowledge into God’s ways?  It is simple – but very easy to get it wrong.  The goal is to please the Lord with our behavior.  We desire to know God’s will so that we can live in a manner that pleases our Lord.  We must be careful here.  As human beings, it is difficult enough to desire God’s will instead of our own will.  But even when we do desire God’s will instead of our will it is difficult to do it for the right reasons!  So often I want God’s insight or God’s wisdom so that I can be perceived as smart or intelligent or wise or even feel needed by the people around me.  But those are all self-serving reasons!  I should desire to know insight into the will of God so that God the Father should be pleased with my life.  After all, who is it that brings salvation into my life?  It is Him that I should seek to please.

Where in your life do you think that God is pleased?  Where in your life are you seeking to please someone or something else before God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:11-12