Colossians

October 7, 2014

Paul said that we are to let the peace of Christ “rule.” The Greek word for rule is βραβευέτω, brabeuetō. It literally means to “umpire, arbitrate, to let make the call.” When our circumstances appear to overwhelm us, we are to let the peace, the shalom, of Christ act as our umpire, determining what’s in or out of bounds.

October 6, 2014

Human thinking is marred by sin’s mind-twisting effect. And it is further limited by its tiny perspective across time and space. Yet, this does not dissuade its foolish claims for superior wisdom. Paul calls man’s thinking “empty” and “high-sounding nonsense.” Instead, he calls us to place our trust in the revelation of God’s wisdom given in Christ. Christ is the Wisdom and the Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24). For those who would be lifted out of sin’s tangled-thinking and know the renewing of the mind, Christ is the answer.

October 5, 2014

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 wish to just introduce them to Christ or to tell them a little about the Savior. No, Paul used every faculty available to him, “warning and teaching” them to not only believe, but to follow Christ, becoming like Him in all things. This should still be the goal of those who would answer the call to pastor. It should also be the goal of every person who would call themselves “Christian.”

October 4, 2014

Creation itself is a general revelation of God to those who would acknowledge it. Yet, the ultimate revelation is Christ. No one has seen the invisible God, but Christ is His “visible image.” If you want to know what God is like, then gaze upon the face of Jesus. Read the gospels and see God’s nature revealed. Through Christ, God has created all, offers redemption and sustains all. Everything was made by Christ and for Christ. You were made for Him. So, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

October 8, 2013

These are among Paul’s final instructions to the church at Colossae to a man named Archippus (“Master of the horse”). He also mentions this man in his letter to Philemon. Apparently, Archippus was a fellow minister who needed encouragement to continue the ministry God had given him. Paul called him out on this. If Paul were writing to our church today, would he call you out to “fulfill the ministry” that the Lord has given you?

October 5, 2013

We received Christ freely by grace, but we forget to live according to that same amazing grace. We come to Christ totally dependent on Him for salvation, but then we attempt to live for Him with human effort, which leads to frustration, burnout, and lack of joy. We say, “I will do this great thing for God.” When we should be asking as servants, “What do you want of me today Master?”

October 4, 2013

This is one of the four Christological pillars found in the New Testament (Others are John 1:1-18, Phil. 2:5-11, Heb. 1:1-4). Do you want to catch a glimpse of the invisible God? Then, look at Jesus. Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father and Jesus replied, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Do you know this song?
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”