God's Word For Every Day

Colossians 1:1-2:7 Lord, You’re calling us to move forward with You – “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him” (Colossians 2:6). As we think of Jesus, our great Saviour, may “our faith grow strong and may our hearts overflow with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:17). Colossians 2:8-3:17 Help us, Lord, to be what we already are, to be what You have made us in Christ: “You have been raised with Christ … You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1,3). We thank You that Christ has made His home in us. New life has begun. Now that Christ lives in us, help us to “set our hearts and minds on things above” (Colossians 3:1-2). May Christ reign in us – and may our lives be enriched by Him (Colossians 3:15-16). In Him, there is so much blessing. Help us to enjoy it!

"Beware lest any man spoil you through  philosophy  and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8). On the one side, there is philosophy. On the other side, there is Christ. The two are very different. Philosophy begins with man - "after the tradition of men." When we speak of Christ, we begin with God - "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son ..." (John 3:16). Sometimes, philosophy may try to find God. In philosophy of religion, we hear about the arguments for the existence of God. When these arguments are discussed, it soon becomes clear that it is questionable whether such arguments can be regarded as 'proofs' for God's existence. There are arguments. There are counter-arguments. We're left wondering, "What does all this really prove? - Neither side of the debate is likely to convince many on the other side. There may be some who will move from one...

Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon - These letters are known, collectively, as the prison letters. They were written by Paul during his time of imprisonment in Rome. In Philippians, we see God's kingdom as a kingdom joy: "Rejoice in the Lord always, and, again, I say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). When the Lord reigns as king in our  lives, he gives us his joy. This joy doesn't depend on our circumstances. It comes to us from the Lord. In Philemon, we see the kingdom of God as the kingdom of fellowship: "that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave, but as a beloved brother" (15-16). In Colossians 1:13-14, we have a marvellous statement of what God has done for us in Christ: "He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Through Christ's redemption, we are     now in the  kingdom of God...

God calls us to pray - ‘Devote yourselves to prayer’. We are to pray with concern - ‘watchful’. We are to pray with gratitude - ‘thankful’ (Colossians 4:2). We are to pray for those who preach God’s Word. Thank God for the past. Trust Him for the future. Remember - the important thing is the ‘message’ (Colossians 4:3). The messengers are just ‘jars of clay’. The message is the ‘treasure’ (2 Corinthians 4:7). The messengers must not draw attention to themselves. They must direct attention away from themselves to Jesus Christ - ‘We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord’ (2 Corinthians 4:5). We are to pray that the message will be ‘clear’ (Colossians 4:4). Pray for good preaching - preaching which does you good, giving you good cause to say in your heart, ‘For me it is good to be near God’ (Psalm 73:28). Pray for preaching which glorifies God.

The work of the Gospel is always more than what’s happening in the place where you live. Continue to pray for the work of the Lord in many places. Don’t forget to pray for those who brought the Word of the Lord to you and are now serving the Lord in another place.

Colossians 1:1-6 "All over the world this Gospel is bearing fruit and growing" (Colossians 1:6). The work of the Gospel is always more than what's happening in the place where you live. Continue to pray for the work of the Lord in many places. Don't forget to pray for those who brought the Word of the Lord to you and are now serving the Lord in another place.

Colossians 1:9 "Spiritual wisdom" is "knowledge of God's will." It doesn't take us up into the clouds - and leave us there. It lifts us up - and it puts our feet back on the ground again. Spiritual wisdom isn't just knowing a lot about God. It's learning to do His will.

Colossians 3:18-4:18 God calls us to pray - ‘Devote yourselves to prayer’. * We are to pray with concern - ‘watchful’. * We are to pray with gratitude - ‘thankful’ (2). * We are to pray for those who preach God’s Word. Thank God for the past. Trust Him for the future. Remember - the important thing is the ‘message’ (3). The messengers are just ‘jars of clay’. The message is the ‘treasure’ ( 2 Corinthians 4:7 ). The messengers must not draw attention to themselves. They must direct attention away from themselves to Jesus Christ - ‘We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord’ ( 2 Corinthians 4:5 ). We are to pray that the message will be ‘clear’ (4). Pray for good preaching - preaching which does you good, giving you good cause to say in your heart, ‘For me it is good to be near God’ ( Psalm 73:28 ). Pray for preaching which glorifies God.

Colossians 1:1-2:7 ‘In everything’ Christ is ‘pre-eminent’ (18). * In Him, there is salvation - ‘redemption, the forgiveness of sins’ (14) - , sanctification - ‘mature in Christ’ (28) - and service - making Him known (27). Everything is in Christ. * In Him are ‘all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ (2:3) - all that we need for salvation, sanctification and service. We must go on with Him - ‘Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him’ (2:6). How are we to live in Him? - ‘rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness’ (2:7). Remember all that the Lord has done for you. Give thanks to Him. He has loved you so much. He has done so much for you. Let gratitude be your attitude. Filled with His strength, we will go from strength to strength.

Colossians 2:8-3:17 Be what you already are. Be what God has made you in Christ. This is what God is saying to us here. ‘You have been raised with Christ... You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ (1,3). Paul is describing the new birth. Christ has made His home in us. New life has begun. Now that Christ lives in us - what are we to do about it? How are we to live? - ‘Set your hearts and minds on things above’ (1-2). This is how we are to live. We are to live out the life which God has put into our hearts. The new life begins when Christ comes to live in us. It does not end there. That is only the beginning. We are to go on, ‘being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator’ (3:10). Christ wants to reign in us. He wants to enrich our lives (3:15-16). In Him, there is so much blessing. Let’s enjoy it!

Be what you already are. Be what God has made you in Christ. This is what God is saying to us here. ‘You have been raised with Christ... You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3:1, 3). Paul is describing the new birth. Christ has made His home in us. New life has begun. Now that Christ lives in us - what are we to do about it? How are we to live? - ‘Set your hearts and minds on things above’ (Colossians 3:1-2). This is how we are to live. We are to live out the life which God has put into our hearts. The new life begins when Christ comes to live in us. It does not end there. That is only the beginning. We are to go on, ‘being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator’ (Colossians 3:10). Christ wants to reign in us. He wants to enrich our lives (Colossians 3:15-16). In Him, there is so much blessing. Let’s enjoy it!

"12  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.   13  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.   16  Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.   17  And whatever you do,whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:12-17). Holiness, compassion, kindness, humilit...

Colossians 3:1-17 "Put to death ... " (Colossians 3:5); "Put on the new man" (Colossians 3:9-10); "renewed in knowledge ... " (Colossians 3:10). This is not something that we can do in our own strength - "Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:11). "Put on ... " (Colossians 3:12) - Note that the Lord's forgiveness comes first (Colossians 3:13). "Above all, put on love" (Colossians 3:14). His love for us - It brings "peace" to us and fills our hearts with thanksgiving (Colossians 3:15). Colossians 3:16 - What a great verse this is! - but note also Colossians 3:17. Worship is to change our way of living. At the heart of all that we do, there is to be thanksgiving.

"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Colossians 2:13). You were dead . Now, you are alive . This is the miracle of the new birth. It's not something we can do for ourselves. It's the work of God. What we could never do for ourselves, God has done for us - " He has made you alive." Sometimes, we may feel more dead than alive? What are we to do about this? Are we to believe our feelings? or Are we to believe what God says about us - You were dead. Now, you are alive? God says to us. Be what you are. Be what I have made you - "a new creation in Christ Jesus" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

John 3:16 – The Saviour 2 Timothy 3:16 – The Scriptures Colossians 3:16 – The Spirit — Let us come to the Saviour. Let us read the Scriptures. Let us worship God in Spirit and in truth.