IT’S ABOUT RELATIONSHIP NOT RULES Paul warned the believers in Colossae that asceticism, while it gives the appearance of wisdom, offers no help in conquering evil desires. In fact, following a list of rules might cause a deeper longing for the thing denied. At the very least, it can lead to a kind of spiritual
THE GOAL OF DISCIPLESHIP IS CHRISTLIKENESS Paul’s goal for the Colossians and for everyone to whom he preached is here revealed: that he might present them to God as “perfect” (fully mature, finished, complete) in Christ. He did not stop at just introducing people to Christ. No, Paul used every faculty available to him, “warning
LIFE’S MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION ANSWERED Most philosophers would say that the most important question is an existential one: “What is the meaning of existence?” More specifically, “Who am I and what is my purpose?” Or as the French would say, what is the “raison d’être?” (“reason for being”). In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, this
WHAT THOUGHTS FILL YOUR MIND TODAY? As the apostle Paul closed his letter to the Philippians, he urged them to always rejoice in the Lord. He gave them a couple of spiritual practices to help them to always experience the joy of the Lord. One practice was that they should turn their worries into prayers,
A GLORIOUS BODY FIT FOR ETERNITY This is what we believe, that the Resurrected One will return and our bodies will be transformed to be like His. Christ is the “firstborn” (Col. 1:18) from among the dead, the prototype for the glorified bodies that we will receive at His return. Those who believe will have
NEARER MY GOD TO THEE The psalmist wrote on the goodness of being near to God and finding shelter under His sovereign care. He declared his desire to “tell everyone” about the “wonderful” deeds of the Lord. Do you know the goodness of being near the Lord? Why not take a moment right now to
ARE YOU WORKING OUT WHAT GOD IS WORKING IN? Physically, we are born with the muscles that God gave us. Yet, it is up to us to work them out. As we learn to crawl, then walk, and ultimately to run, we work out the physical strength that God is “working in” us. If we
LEARNING TO FOCUS ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS Paul prayed that the Philippians would learn to understand “what really matters.” He prayed that they would begin to view everything from the perspective of Christ’s return and that they would focus on becoming more and more like Jesus until that Day. What are you focused on today?
ARE YOU SPENDING FOR THINGS THAT DO NOT SATISFY? The Lord questioned Israel as to why they labored so hard for things that did not satisfy. Why not come to the Lord and freely receive His food and drink? But Israel had fallen into idolatry. They pursued the blessings of God, rather than God Himself.
GOD HAS LAID OUR SINS UPON CHRIST JESUS Seven hundred years before Christ Jesus, the Lord gave the prophet Isaiah a description of His coming. There are two types of Messianic prophecies revealed in the Old Testament. Both are seen in Isaiah. The first is the Messiah as conquering king, who will rule the nations