Colossians 3-4 (ESV) by Wordle

Today’s reading is Colossians 3:1-4:18.

“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).

I often go to Ephesians 5:15-16 to talk about making the best use of my time. Somehow, I’ve overlooked this parallel passage. Paul’s point is a little more…well…pointed. In Ephesians, the point is more general. Just be a better time manager. Here, Paul points me to an area in which I need to make better use of my time. How do I walk toward outsiders? That is, how do I walk toward those who are outside of Christ?

I’m humbled by this. I’ve read this book dozens of times and slid right through this passage. So now I have to ask how I’m walking? When I relate to outsiders, am I being wise about it? Or am I essentially ignoring their souls? When I am paying attention to their souls, am I walking in wisdom? Or am I being reckless and careless? Am I acting in ways that will let them know that Jesus is with me? Or am I caustic, harsh, devilish? When I talk to outsiders, is my speech always gracious? Or am I sometimes sarcastic, cynical, mocking? Do I seek to understand them so I can learn from them and help them? Or do I listen only for their intake of breath so I can jump in with my “greater wisdom”?

My aunt once cautioned me not mock others beliefs. I recklessly responded, “But some people believe stupid stuff (chuckle, chuckle, mischievous grin).” Next time I say something stupid like that Mary, smite me with this passage.

Today, I have something to really think about. Am I making the best use of my time when it comes to outsiders? How about you?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Colossians 1-2 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Colossians 1:1-2:23.

“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” (Colossians 2:11-12).

In baptism we are circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands. In baptism, the body of the flesh is put off, the old man is crucified. According to Colossians 2:13-14, we are forgiven in baptism and made alive through baptism (not before). When we are baptized the record of debt that stood against us is canceled. Amazing.

Sadly, not many today recognize the very clear teaching of this passage. Why? Because too many people who do recognize it have put their faith in the wrong thing and taught this passage incorrectly. Too many people who recognize the wonderful things that happen in baptism have put their faith in the wrong place. They have put their faith in baptism.

Seeker: “Why are you saved?”

Christian: “Because I got baptized.”

Do you see the problem? When I put my faith in baptism, I’m actually putting my faith in my work. But notice what Paul said. He didn’t say we were “raised with him through faith in the powerful working of our obedience.” He said we were “raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God.” Where is your faith? In your baptism? In your praying? In your experiences? Or in God? When our faith is in the powerful working of God, we’ll get baptized because we know that is when God does His powerful work of circumcising the old body of the flesh, forgiving us, canceling our debt, and making us a live with Christ. We didn’t do that by baptism; God did.

Where is your faith?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Today’s reading is Colossians 3:1-4:18.

“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…Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:17, 23).

Whatever I do. That doesn’t mean half of what I do, some of what I do, what I do on Sundays, what I do when people are watching. It means whatever I do. I know that second statement was written specifically to slaves, but I can’t help but see the connection between the two verses. Further, I can’t help but think the second statement doesn’t only apply to those ancient slaves.

Whatever I do, I must do it in the Lord’s name. I must do it by His authority. I must do it by His power and empowerment. I must be confident that I can look at Jesus and claim, “Lord, I’m doing this because you have granted that I can and should. I know you are happy that I’m doing this.”

Whatever I do, I must do it heartily, as for God and not men. I’m walking through life. I do things for family, friends, neighbors, brethren, employers, the government. Who am I really working for? Who am I really serving as I live. I’m serving God. I can’t help but think of Daniel who did his work well, without any neglect. Why? Because he knew he was working for God.

Whatever I do, I’m serving God.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Colossians 1:1-2:23.

“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. Tis he set aside, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:11-14).

Thank you, God, for putting me to death. Thank you, God, for bringing me to life. But the greatness of this is seen in the verses to come. Because of God’s powerful working through my baptism, I know longer have to submit to the judgments of others who would weigh me down with shoulds and oughts. I simply live for God. I can let Him direct my paths without concern for what others think about how I live. I don’t have to belittle and berate myself. I don’t have to ascetically deprive myself. I don’t have to listen to every Tom, Dick, and Harry who claim to have some kind of spiritual insight or vision. I have been set free from the burdens others would place on me. I only have to live to God.

Boy, that makes today so much easier. Thank you, God.

Keep the faith and keep reading.

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

PPS. Here is something that is a little fun. Thanks to Jason Hardin for bringing this to my attention.

Today’s reading is Colossians 3:1-4:18.

Motivation. That’s what hit me the most in today’s reading.

Paul offers great motivation for all the changes he directs in our lives. He taught us to focus on heavenly things, not earthly. He said to put to death what is earthly in us. He said we should stop lying, get rid of wrath and anger, put away slander and malice. He said we should put on compassionate hearts, humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness and love.

But why?

Should we do this so we can be raised with Christ? Should we do this so we can die with Christ and our life be hidden in His? Should we do this so Christ can become our life? Should we do this so we can put off the old self?

No.

Paul says we should do these things because we have already been raised with Christ, because we have already died and our lives are already hidden in Christ, because Christ is already our life, because we have already put off the old self. We are God’s children. These things have already happened, now we need to live like it.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that if we continue to live in sin we won’t be reconciled to God (Colossians 1:23). However, once again I am reminded that a motivation of me trying to be good enough to get all these promises from Christ always ends in failure for me. If I’m trying to get into Christ by stopping my sin and being good enough, I won’t make it. But Paul is saying, I’m in Christ. I have Christ’s life. I’m not trying to get it. Today I simply need to live like it. I can focus on heaven. I can focus on Christ. I can draw near to Him and overcome. That helps me. I hope it helps you.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Colossians 1:1-2:23.

Colossians 2:18-19 caught my attention today: “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.”

I’m thankful for the focus reminder again today. If I let go of the Head, I’ll be disqualified. I can come up with all kinds of great rules for how I should be religious. I can establish a daily regimen of Bible reading and prayer time. I can make a decision to deprive myself of all kinds of things in an attempt to show God how great I am. No doubt, study, prayer, fasting, looking to the spiritual instead of the physical are all good things when done properly. However, when my asceticism is me in my strength trying to prove I’m spiritual, it never works. 

I have to hold fast to the Head, that is Jesus Christ. My number one goal today must be to connect with Him, to know Him, to be in Him, to let Him guide and direct me. When I’m doing that, the rest will take care of itself. Actually, He will take care of the rest.

God, please let me know Jesus better today and give me the strength to carry out His will.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Colossians 1:1-2:23.

Once again, reading the Bible tells me I have gotten things exactly backwards. No wonder I’ve had so many struggles.

Colossians 1:11-12 says, “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. Then Colossians 1:29 says, “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

The concept I have unwittingly had for years is if I endure, if I am patient, if I maintain joy, God will then be with me. But that is not what these passages say at all. Rather, they say that if I am with God, He will empower me to endure, He will empower me to be patient. He will empower me to have joy. If I am with God, He will empower me to toil and struggle and overcome. If I am with God, He will empower me to accomplish His work.

No I don’t believe this is saying God has marked out before time those whom He will empower arbitrarily. I must definitely choose to be with God. I must choose to trust Jesus. However, my power will accomplish nothing. If I’m waiting on me to be powerful enough for God to come be with me, I won’t make it. Rather, I must recognize how powerless I am and abandon myself to God. Then the God of power will be with me and empower me.

I need to get rid of this concept of, “God, I’m trying really, really hard to serve you.” Instead, I need to have the concept of, “God, when I try hard, I mess it up. I’m just going to surrender to you and you empower me to struggle, endure, and overcome. Thank you for qualifying me.”

Today’s reading is Colossians 3:1-4:18.

What a great study in opposites we get from the closing verses of Colossians. As Paul concludes his letter, he mentions two interesting men–Barnabas’ cousin Mark and Demas.

In this letter, both are mentioned as fellow workers who are greeting the Colossian brethren through Paul’s letter. The study in contrasts is what we see in these men elsewhere.

John Mark has gone down in history as the quitter. In Acts 13:13, John Mark left Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey. Paul was so upset about that and so frustrated with Mark that in Acts 15:36-41 Paul and Barnabas split up over him. Paul had no use for him. However, clearly Mark grew. I’m sure it was through Barnabas’s help and encouragement. Yet, we see a disciple who grew. By Colossians 4:10-11, Mark has become a comfort to Paul. John Mark gives us encouragement to grow. Perhaps we’ve not always stood up to the tests we’ve faced. Maybe sometimes we’ve quit. We don’t have to give up. Let’s just find someone who can encourage us and be a Barnabas to us. We’ll grow. We’ll become useful.

However, there is also a warning. Demas sent greetings to the Colossians along with all of Paul’s other fellow workers. There is no indication of trouble. We don’t see any chink in his armor. However, in II Timothy 4:10, Demas is the one who left Paul. Not only did he leave, but Paul says it was because he loved the present world. I don’t care how you cut that, Paul wasn’t paying Demas a compliment. Where John Mark had grown, Demas lost ground. While John Mark serves as encouragement to us, Demas stands as a warning. We must not rest on our past work, but keep growing in Christ.

As someone once told me, as Christians, we are like trees. We’re either growing or we’re dead. Today, let’s emulate John Mark and follow his encouraging example.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Colossians 1:1-2:23.

Colossians 2:7 says, “…rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

I don’t have any trouble with trying to be rooted and built up in Christ and being established in the faith. My struggle is with that bit about abounding in thanksgiving. I have a sad tendency to look on the pessimistic side of things. I spend too much time complaining about the blessings I have yet to receive. I spend too much time whining about what hasn’t gone my way. 

However, instead of whining, moaning, complaining, I need to remember that Jesus has done so much more for me than I ever deserve. Even when everything isn’t working out exactly the way I like, I should be covered up with thanksgiving. I need to take some time every day writing a thanksgiving list to remind me of the blessings I really have received. Here are some things that need to be on that list every day.

1. Forgiveness in Jesus
2. Strength in Jesus to overcome temptations
3. A church family
4. Brothers and sisters the world over
5. Parents who taught me about Jesus
6. A wife who also serves Jesus
7. Healthy children who are learning to serve Jesus
8. Shepherds who support me even when I mess up
9. Friends who also preach that provide a lot of help
10. An ability to work in Christ’s kingdom

No doubt, this just scratches the surface. It doesn’t even get into the material blessings almost too numerous to count. I really should abound with thanksgiving.

Thank you, God, for this opportunity to study Your word with people all over the world.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

I needed this reminder today. 

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6, ESV).

I don’t have much to say about this verse. I just needed to remind myself regarding the relationships to which I need to personally apply this verse.

• Marita (my wife)
• Tessa (my daughter)
• Ethan (my son)
• Ryan (my son)
• Trina (yes, I even have to apply this to my relationship with a 9-month-old)
• Brad and Christopher (my brothers)
• Linda (my step-mom)
• My friends (I won’t list them all by name)
• My elders
• My brethren
• My neighbors
• The check out clerk at Wal-Mart
• The snotty check out clerk at whatever store
• The guy who cut me off in traffic
• My enemies