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Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
What are you willing to surrender to God in order to grow in your relationship with Christ?
What are you unwilling to surrender? How may God be inviting you to surrender this area of your life over to Him?
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New Testament scholars agree that the Apostle Paul wrote letters to the earliest known groups of Christians in order to combat errors in the church. There were misunderstandings on spiritual gifts, worshipping of angels, people believing they had the freedom to do anything they wanted, and more. Throughout his letters, Paul addressed each of these topics. But he shared truth with a whole lot of grace.
Take, for example, the church of Colosse. Paul was writing to combat errors in the church. How does he combat these errors? He writes that he is praying for them (1:3-14). He writes a hymn about the supremacy of Christ (1:15-20). Shortly afterward he writes, And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong (2:5).
Sadly, many Christians have set-aside living our lives and communicating to others with this level of grace. We emphasize what’s true while neglecting to share that truth with the high level of grace that Jesus, Paul, and others throughout the Scriptures modeled for us. Today, live your life in such a way that the grace of God is evident in your words and actions. Accept Christ’s invitation to live through you.
READING & PRAYERS:
COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:5 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Those who do not regularly and consistently receive grace are more likely to struggle living a life expressing grace toward others. How might you pause to more fully receive the grace of God in your life today?
DIGGING DEEPER: Are there any areas of your life in which you’re living and/or speaking with more truth than grace? More grace than truth? What steps can you take to begin living with 100% grace and 100% truth?
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, if I were to do a deep dive into all of my words and actions over the previous 24-48 hours, I’m confident I would recognize that the grace and truth I exhibit toward others are out of balance. Others are more likely to see or hear truth from me than grace. May I more fully receive Your grace so I can better express Your grace today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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The Apostle Paul was somebody who experienced some of the best education available in his day. He was a trained Pharisee, which would indicate that he would have memorized the Old Testament. Not part of it, but all of it. The education he received in his day would be comparable to an Ivy League education today.
While his education helped him to be highly intelligent, it did not help him to be wise. It was only after his encounter with Jesus that Paul discovered it is only in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3)
In western civilation today, we have placed an extreme amount of resources into the field of education. Unfortunately, some have prioritized intelligence over wisdom. As an example, the Harvard University Crest initially stated the goal of the university was, “Truth for Christ and the Church.” Today it has been whittled down to, “Truth.” As followers of Jesus, it’s imperitive we look to Christ for wisdom. Education is beneficial, but we must ensure we prioritize a focus on the source of all wisdom.
READING & PRAYERS:
COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:5, PROVERBS 2:1-22 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: How would you describe the difference between knowledge and wisdom?
DIGGING DEEPER: Considering writing down a list of 10 things you could do to increase in wisdom. Choose two of them and begin to implement them into your daily life over the next few weeks. Then consider adding in additional ones.
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, if wisdom truly comes from knowing You, today I simply pray that I will get to know You more deeply than yesterday. As I sit in silence for the next few minutes, may I experience the love and grace You have for me, and may I grow in wisdom as a result. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Colossians 1:27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you.
Read the above verse again slowly. Here, the Apostle Paul is communicating something which, when understood in full, drastically changes how a Christian lives their life for Christ.
In his devotional book titled, Restoration Year, counselor and author John Eldredge notes that too often, Christians try to imitate Christ by “…doing their best to live as he did.” But as Paul notes in Colossians, the Christian life is not about trying to “do your best” to live as Jesus did. It’s to recognize that Christ lives in you. He is the one transforming you from the inside out. Your role is to accept His invitation to live through you, allowing His life to become your life.
This means that as you read through the Gospels, it’s important to pay close attention to exacly how Jesus lived. Not one who wielded a sword, but one who surrendered Himself to His heavenly father. Not one who did everything others wanted Him to do, but one who spent time with His heavenly father in order to discern where God was sending Him next.
READING & PRAYERS:
COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:5 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Are you more likely to “do your best” to live as Jesus lived, or to surrender to His will and allow His life to become your life?
DIGGING DEEPER: What is one area of your life you’re currently struggling to fully surrender over to God? Why do you think it’s such a struggle for you to surrender it to Him?
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I live in a culture which regularly communicates the importance of “doing your best.” While I do desire to live as You lived, I recognize that too often I’ve attempted to do this in my own strength instead of accepting Your invitation to transform me by Your strength. Continue to mold me more and more into Your image. May Your light be evident through my words and deeds today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Colossians 1:24-25 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body…God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you.
The topic of suffering is one which is familiar to all of us. There’s just no escaping the reality of suffering throughout our lives.
However, some followers of Jesus fall into unhealthy beliefs on the topic of suffering. For example, the Apostle Paul was experiencing suffering because of his perseverance to teach and preach the gospel. As such, some may fall into the trap of believing that the suffering they’re experiencing is for the same reason.
Yet others in the Scriptures experience suffering for different reasons. Moses, David, and others experienced suffering as a result of their sin against God. Elsewhere, Job experiences suffering not because of his sin, but because God permitted him to experience suffering.
While each of them experience suffering for different reasons, all of them came to know God better through their suffering. This indicates that even in suffering, we can know God better.
READING & PRAYERS:
COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:5 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Have you ever experienced a time when you came to know God more intimately in light of your suffering? What did you learn about God in the process? Similarly, what did you learn about yourself?
DIGGING DEEPER: Think of somebody you know who may currently be experiencing a season of suffering. In what ways may you be able to help them experience the love and grace of God?
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there have been times when in the midst of suffering I was more likely to push You away than to draw nearer to You. Today, I’m grateful for the reminder than whether in seasons of suffering or seasons of contentment, I can know You intimately. Continue to help me see You and know You fully. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)
Take some time today to journal and reflect on the following questions:
What are you willing to surrender to God in order to grow in your relationship with Christ?
What are you unwilling to surrender? How may God be inviting you to surrender this area of your life over to Him?
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Colossians 1:22 …you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
Various authors have commented that the majority of people attending a Christian church today walk away hearing three distinct messages during a service. These include (1) God is good, (2) you are not, (3) try harder.
God indeed is good! So there’s no need to refute this teaching. But the next two are worthy of much deeper exploration.
It’s understandable how many may walk away from a church service and hear, You are not good. The reality of sin and brokenness is evident in our lives and throughout our world. However, those who have professed faith in Christ – He has reconciled us back to Himself. We are loved. We are holy. We are blameless. Every Christian must live and practice seeing ourselves as God sees us. Loved. Delighted in. Friends. Children. You are a delight to God.
Finally, trying harder is the opposite of the Gospel. The Gospel says Jesus paid it all. He paid the price. You no longer need to prove yourself to God. He sees you as if you’ve never sinned.
READING & PRAYERS:
COLOSSIANS 1:15-23, ROMANS 5:1-2, 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: How might your day be different if you lived with the deep belief that you are holy and blameless? That God delights in you? That He sees you as if you’ve never sinned?
DIGGING DEEPER: Consider somebody in your life who may not see themselves as holy and blameless. How may you reveal the love of God toward them today, helping them more fully see themselves as God sees them.
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, when I think of all the ways You see me, I recognize that far too often I don’t see myself the same way. Continue to lead me into a way of life in which I see myself as You see me, and a way of life in which I see others as You see them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Col. 1:19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.
One of the earliest beliefs for Christianity is that Jesus was both fully human and fully God. The Greek philosophers in Paul’s day did not believe this fundamental truth. It was regularly taught and communicated that Jesus could not have been both human and divine at the same time.
Paul refutes — or perhaps, corrects — this faulty teaching in Colossians 1:19. He shares that indeed, Jesus was fully God and fully human.
Consider the implications of this teaching for a moment. This indicates that we have a God who understands our weaknesses as he experienced a human life (Hebrews 4:15). He experienced a life full of pain and suffering (Matthew 27:28-29). He shed tears over the passing of a close friend (John 11:35). He recognized he had limits and could not travel to every town or heal every person with whom he interacted (Mark 1:35-39). Instead, he simply followed the Father’s leading (John 5:19). There are many lessons to glean from Jesus’ humanity. Primarily, in our humanity, we too cannot do everything.
READING & PRAYERS:
JOHN 5:19-30 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Jesus did not reject his humanity. He fully embraced it and lived within his limits. In what ways are you not currently living within your limits? What would it look like for you to slow down, embrace your limits, all while more intentionally following the Lord’s leading?
DIGGING DEEPER: Look at your calendar over the next week or two. Take the opportunity schedule intentional time every day to be with God and pray that You will not agree to things that will stretch you beyond your limits, but will instead follow the Lord’s leading in all things.
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today’s reading leads me to question where the line is between laziness and embracing my limits. Help me to recognize that living within my limits is not laziness but is instead more fully living the life You have created me to live. It’s living at the pace of my soul and not the pace of our culture. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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If somebody were to ask, Who are you?, how would you respond?
Some may respond by saying what they do for a living, but this falls flat. Your job, hobbies, and interests may be some things you enjoy, but it’s not who you are.
Others may respond by saying they’re a mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister, and so on. This is getting closer. But at the end of of all things, is the fact that you are a son or daughter of your parents the central part of your identity?
Fortunately, the Scriptures provide a much more profound answer to this question, and it strikes the very heart of your identity. You are Created by God (Genesis 1:26), in the Image of God (Genesis 1:27) for the Glory of God (Colossians 1:16, Romans 11:36).
Believing these truths about yourself is an essential aspect of your ongoing discipleship. At the same time, believing these truths about others is equally essential. Those who may look, think, live, believe, and/or behave very differently than you…they too were created by God, in the image of God, for the glory of God.
READING & PRAYERS:
COLOSSIANS 1:15-23 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: What is your greatest hangup when it comes to firmly believing that you were created by God, in the image of God, for the glory of God?
DIGGING DEEPER: When it comes to others who may look, think, live, believe, and/or behave differently than you, what is your greatest hangup when it comes to seeing all others as people who were created by God, in the image of God, for the glory of God?
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I recognize that all throughout my life it has been a clear teaching that I was created by You and your image. It’s also clear that Your Word declares I was also created for Your glory. Yet I confess I don’t always see myself in this light. Sometimes when I look in the mirror I see something unworthy of Your love. Continue to help me see that these kinds of thoughts do not come from You, and lead me to see myself as You see me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
As you interact with others about the Christian faith, you will inevitably hear some puzzling questions about Christianity. Some may ask questions like:
It’s important to note that these questions are not all at all new. In Paul’s day, the people of Colosse were asking and debating similar questions. Paul addresses questions such as these in Colossians 1:15-20.
A number of New Testament scholars believe that Colossians 1:15-20 was an early Christian hymn which presented foundational Christian beliefs. The first half declares Jesus was God in the flesh and that He is responsible for all of creation. The second half of the hymn advances forward to declare that He is also the One who reconciles creation back to Himself. In other words, this brief hymn proclaims the goodness of God, identifies His goodness is evident in creation, and reveals He is reconciling all good things back to Himself.
READING & PRAYERS:
COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Think of a time in your life when you wrestled with questions like, How could a good God allow bad things to happen? In what ways does today’s reading reveal the goodness and graciousness of God and His love?
DIGGING DEEPER: Take the opportunity to discover at least 5 verses that describe how God sees you. (Example: John 1:12 declares that all who believe in him have a right to be called children of God. “God sees me as his child.”) Discover at least 5 additional verses that describe how God sees you.
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, it seems to me that Your greatest enemy would want me to question You and Your goodness. As such, it is clear that when these thoughts come into my mind, they are not from You, but from the Enemy. Continue to help me recognize which of my thoughts come from You, and which of my thoughts may go against You and Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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