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 Romans 1:1-2:29.

I feel like I’ve been kicked in the teeth by today’s reading. Paul said, “You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?” (Romans 2:21). In the previous verse he talked about how some want to be seen as teachers of children. 

I guess today gets to be confession time. I’ve made a realization. Over the past years I’ve been trying to teach my children how to get along. I’m always stopping them from yelling at each other, being sarcastic with each other, picking at each other. I rebuke them for making demands, instead of asking nicely. I discipline them for acting like they don’t want the others around or acting like their friends are better than their siblings.

I finally figured out where all that came from. I wish I could say, “Their mother.” Regrettably, that isn’t the case. Or if she’s involved in it too, that is for their mother to confess on her own. The truth of the matter is, they have seen all those things in me. They have heard me talk to them in those ways when I’m angry. I justify it with, “I’m the father, I’m supposed to be like this.” But the reality is these attitudes aren’t healthy in any relationship whatsoever. They have heard me talk like this to their mother. That is really sad. 

How can I do that? It’s easy. I can spend most of my time thinking my job is to teach everyone else. My job is to teach you. My job is to teach my kids. My job is to teach my wife. When I spend most of my time thinking my job is to teach everyone else, I can ignore me and think I’m doing pretty well. What I need to remember is that first and foremost my job is not to teach you. My job is to teach me.

So, here goes. “Edwin, quit yelling so much. Ask, don’t demand. Be pleasant. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Stop being sarcastic and making fun of people.” I hope I can learn my lesson.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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