2019-10-11
Good Morning Dear Ones,
As commanded by the Holy Spirit, I continue to supply supporting Scriptures to the book of Colossians. The length of this segment of messages is due to our need to examine our vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationships with other people. Moreover, today we cover the subjects-submission, bitterness, and love. We should stand in amazement that this little, 4-chapter book can delve so deeply into Christ’s relationship with mankind.
When translated from the Greek, the word “submit” is a verb meaning to place myself into God’s arrangement, while accepting a subordinate position to God. In Greek, it is “hupotasso” [pronounced “hoop-ot-as-so”]. The word, “bitter” or “embittered” means “to grow angry, harsh, sharp in a malignant way.” This implies a kind of long-standing bitterness. In Greek, the word is “pikrainesthe” [pronounced “pik-rah-ee-no”]. It’s from “pikros,” which means “to grow acrid, malignant, sharp, or bitter.” The words “to love” in Greek are “agapate” [“prounounced ag-ap-ah-o”], which mean “to wish well, take pleasure in, to long for, to devote oneself to, or esteem.” (I found this information with the help of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and biblos.com). These sources are valuable in studying the Bible.
It’s appropriate for me to share some cross-references to COL 3: 19, which deals with these topics. EPH 4: 31, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.” EPH 5: 25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” 1 PET 3: 7, “Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” The very nature of the language in these verses indicates that God is speaking to believers, using Paul to convey His will. This places Him in the superior position in His relationship with the believer. It makes clear the submission of human believers to Him. We can also see God’s will that anyone who believes in Him should rid himself of the sins that lead to bitterness and that propagates this attitude. Bitterness is destructive to the kind of relationships God wants us to have with other people, as well as our relationship with Him. God judges everyone on the same standard, and thus, we should treat others as equals. Bitterness is also very difficult to break through. Lastly, bitterness interferes with effective communication with God through prayer. It’s God’s will that believers are faithfully obedient, and bitterness also interferes with that effort. He wants us to be self-disciplined in the pursuit of closeness with Him through obedience to His teaching.
GN 2: 18, 22-25 reveals the patriarchal nature of both the pagan and Jewish cultures. “The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him… And from the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him. And the man said: ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man she was taken.’ That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”
I can relate from first-hand experience how important to each person it is that we have companionship. These are the reasons most people choose to get married. Sadly, people get married much too often for the wrong reasons. In addition, the sinfulness of many men (and some women) intervenes causing one partner in a marriage to subjugate the other partner for cultural and behavioral reasons. Just this week, women in the intensely patriarchal society of Muslim Saudi Arabia were finally allowed to travel without the permission of the men in their lives. For long years beforehand, they were not allowed to even get driver’s licenses! As time elapses, women are achieving more equality and are heard more by the male population in power in our own country. The so-called “Me Too” movement wouldn’t have been possible in the past, when women reported sexual harassment and misbehavior and weren’t believed. In past times, the women who weren’t believed were bitter and often left these abusive marriages-some to preserve the very life of themselves and their children. There is more to write on this subject, and that will appear next week.
PRAYER: O Lord, we pledge that we are doing all we can to eliminate the series of sins that lead to bitterness in our lives. Taking this important message to Your mighty throne is intended to remind You of our efforts to submit freely to Your teaching. We feel Your presence with us all the time, and that is a privilege for us that arises out of Your amazing love for us. Before You were in our lives and leading them, we didn’t know what love is. Once we submitted to Your teaching and You became the Centerpiece of our lives, we had no capacity to behave with real love in our relationships. It is Your Son, Jesus, Who taught us by His example, what love is. Through the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul defined love in Your word. We are sinners in need of Your direction and presence in our lives. It is our intension to delve deeply and unearth the sin that is in us, so that we might stop the behavior and confess it openly and honestly to You. We ask that You help us in these endeavors and enable us to love You and one another with wisdom, strength, and resolve. These things we ask of You, as we offer You our love, praise, glory, and thanks, for Who You are and What You do--in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I’m led to continue writing on these essential aspects of our relationships next week. As always in this present “Christ and Believers” segment of the “Knowing God” devotions, I will be giving supporting Scriptures to the book of Colossians. Because it is inappropriate for me to share personal stories that are better left private from others, once again I will share from my own life. I’ve shared in past devotions that the first 33 years of my life were miserable. I was saddled with self-loathing and feelings of worthlessness. The religion in which I was raised wasn’t reaching my soul, and I didn’t believe that God either existed or loved me. My plan for a career was nebulous and without needed direction. From the time that Christ knocked on the door of my consciousness at the age of 25, those problems began to disappear, and God slowly made His will for my life clearer and clearer to me. It took a long time to recognize which messages of my childhood were bogus and which had value. Some of them were outright negative lies! With the help of faith in Christ gradually given to me, I began to study God’s word [Bible] and see the truth. God knew I was in an abusive first marriage and gave me the strength to end it. Then, He placed my present husband of 42 years (and counting) in my life. Along the way, many friends came into it too (at His hand). My bitterness has vanished, I submit fully and faithfully to God’s teaching, and I have fallen deeply in love with Him. Praise, honor, glory, and thanks to our Lord, Jesus Christ!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2019. All Rights Reserved.
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