2017-04-07
Good Morning Dear Ones,
After our investigation of the book of Colossians so far, we must look into what its messages mean to us in our daily lives. We can already see that living “in Christ” means making changes in our ways of thinking, the decisions we make, and the actions we take. For us imperfect humans, this is no easy task. However, when we consider the eternal consequences, these changes are life-saving. In COL 1: 15-17, The Lord enables us to see what God is like, as much as we can. A somewhat physical description of God, as seen in EZK 10, leaves us struggling to imagine such a Being. But we must remember that God is not only supernatural, but His power, knowledge, and presence can’t be matched in any human being. Dwelling on His physical description is a waste of time; having reverence and awe for His attributes and deeds is where our focus should be. It’s interesting to note that the stylized, human-crafted pictures we see of the Son are also culturally biased. Having the Lord Jesus in our hearts is far more important. Christ’s comments to Philip are of key importance. JN 14: 9, 11, “…Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father…Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me…”
We all know the story of the original sin [GN 3: 1-6]. Its consequences were serious enough, but we have added to it with our own individual sinfulness. Throwing up one’s hands and taking the attitude that we’re sinful by nature and that won’t change is foolish indeed. God was kind and told us what pleases Him and what doesn’t in the Ten Commandments [EX 20: 1-17]. But He knew there needed to be a way we could be saved, eternally forgiven, and justified in His sight. That’s why He sent the Lord Jesus to do His ministry and then unselfishly sacrificed Christ’s physical life on the cross. With our genuine confession of sin and expression of faith in Him, the blessing of salvation that God intended would be complete.
No conversation about the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross can be completed without mentioning the directive in COL 3: 9-10, “Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge of the image of its Creator.” For a fuller understanding, look back at God’s words in GN 1: 26, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth…” It would be illogical for God to hate a being made in His own image. We must understand that the use of the plural pronouns in this passage refers to the Trinity (three personalities of the One God). The truth is that God loves all His human creation, but we often disappoint Him. God not only loves us, but He wants us to know Him better. This speaks directly to the use of the active tense “which is being renewed …” It refers to the on-going work God is doing on believers in maturing our faith in Him and knowledge of Him. That’s God’s part of the Covenant of Grace. We don’t have to worry that He isn’t keeping up His part of it. So, now we must examine our part, which is also active and on-going. The questions for each of us loom: How well are we keeping up our part of the Covenant of Grace? Are we prepared to give an account of ourselves before the Lord?
PRAYER: O Lord, we come before Your throne as sinners always in need of Your wisdom and intervention in our lives. We acknowledge our imperfection, but growing awareness of our need to learn to think in eternal, rather than only earthly, terms. This is not natural to us, and it doesn’t always come easily to us. You have told us, in IS 55: 8-9, “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” You always tell us truth and never lies. We accept that there is no time like the present to abandon our sinful thoughts, decisions, and deeds. That is why we approach You with freedom and reverence to ask for Your help. We know the great sacrifice that was made for us and understand how profound was Christ’s suffering on our behalf. That is not something we want to waste. We must take responsibility for our past behavior and must develop a conscience that leads us to make improvements. That is not all we must do, because we need to also lead others to where the Holy Spirit can give them faith. 2 COR 5: 20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.” There is never a time that we should not offer You our loyalty, honor, praise, and thanks. We do so in offering up these prayers today in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’ve been commanded to continue today’s devotion with comments on what is meant by Firstborn in the Scriptures. In the course of the teaching I’ve done of Bible classes for adults, I’ve often done research on key words, and have made an effort to look below the obvious level of the narrative story lines. I see the Bible as God’s love letter to His human creation. In addition, it’s basic instruction before leaving earth or BIBLE. Often in Bible studies and classes, I’ve used the metaphor of a sweet onion. The latter has many layers to both understand and in which to take joy. Didactics principles taught), ethics, poetry, history, ancient culture, and spiritual adventures are just some of these layers to which I refer. I’m not afraid to say that the Bible has a supernatural effect unlike any ordinary book one might read. For over 50 years, I have studied it and returned countless times to the same verses and passages, always learning something new each time. It’s the only book I have never tired of repeatedly reading. Its lessons, even the more emotionally painful ones, have made me a more loving and less self-centered person than I was before. Still, I’m a sinner and I must make many more improvements, but the quality of life I have after coming to faith in Christ is far better than the life I had before. Ask yourself about that issue. How about your life before and after Christ entered it? Take pleasure in PS 9: 9-10, “The Lord is a Refuge for the oppressed, a Stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.” Praise and thanks be to the Lord!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
© Lynn Johnson 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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