"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21, NIV)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
#Colossians3 #Colossians4 - A Map Through A Minefield
Colossians 3-4:
1. What stood out to you from this chapter?
This chapter contains quite a few of the "do's" and "don'ts" we are to practice (or avoid) in living life as a Christian. Too often people treat Christianity like it is basically a guide for morality, a list of rules that we must follow. If we do enough of the "do's" and avoid enough of the "don'ts" we'll be qualified to go to heaven. This is not the picture of Christianity the Bible gives us. God says we are "qualified for heaven" not by what we do, but by faith in Jesus Christ who alone is uniquely qualified for heaven. So these kinds of lists aren't a road map to get to heaven, but rather a map through a minefield of life. If someone offered you a map to get through a live minefield, you wouldn't consider that oppressive or judgmental. You would be grateful. That's how I feel about Colossians 3 and 4. If we avoid the things that God tells us to avoid (anger, rage, slander, filthy language, etc.) and practice the things God tells us to do (patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, etc.) we will be able to navigate life with joy and peace rather than destruction and brokenness. For this, I am truly thankful.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
In Colossians 4:2-6, it talks about proclaiming the gospel often and clearly. In this short section, Paul says that our conversation should be full of grace and seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer everyone. This reminded me of Jesus when he said, "You are the salt of the earth," in Matthew 5:13. I didn't really think about what that means exactly, until I read this passage in Colossians. When I think of something that is seasoned with salt, I think of something that is plain that becomes delicious. When we share the gospel, we should make it also interesting and enticing, BECAUSE IT IS!
3. So what does this mean for my life?
Verses 1-4 of chapter 3 gave me a new challenge for my life. We are to set our mind on things above, not on earthly things. It is very hard to keep a heavenly perspective in some circumstances, but this is a good reminder that God is always in control (even when it really doesn't seem like it). I think of some people like Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers, beaten, sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned and mistreated. He still kept his mind set on things above. This was clear when his brothers came to him and he received them back. He said, "You intended this for evil, but God meant it for good." It's easier to say that looking back on circumstances, but I want to try and keep this in mind in the middle of them.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
At the end of chapter 4 there are some personal greetings. In verse 16, Paul says that this letter should also be read in Laodicea and that he had also written a letter to the church in Laodicea. I wonder what the letter to the Laodiceans was. Is there a copy of that anywhere? Why didn't that one get in the Bible?
That's it for today. I'm taking a break for Christmas. Have a merry Christmas.
In Christ,
Dan
1. What stood out to you from this chapter?
This chapter contains quite a few of the "do's" and "don'ts" we are to practice (or avoid) in living life as a Christian. Too often people treat Christianity like it is basically a guide for morality, a list of rules that we must follow. If we do enough of the "do's" and avoid enough of the "don'ts" we'll be qualified to go to heaven. This is not the picture of Christianity the Bible gives us. God says we are "qualified for heaven" not by what we do, but by faith in Jesus Christ who alone is uniquely qualified for heaven. So these kinds of lists aren't a road map to get to heaven, but rather a map through a minefield of life. If someone offered you a map to get through a live minefield, you wouldn't consider that oppressive or judgmental. You would be grateful. That's how I feel about Colossians 3 and 4. If we avoid the things that God tells us to avoid (anger, rage, slander, filthy language, etc.) and practice the things God tells us to do (patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, etc.) we will be able to navigate life with joy and peace rather than destruction and brokenness. For this, I am truly thankful.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
In Colossians 4:2-6, it talks about proclaiming the gospel often and clearly. In this short section, Paul says that our conversation should be full of grace and seasoned with salt, so that we may know how to answer everyone. This reminded me of Jesus when he said, "You are the salt of the earth," in Matthew 5:13. I didn't really think about what that means exactly, until I read this passage in Colossians. When I think of something that is seasoned with salt, I think of something that is plain that becomes delicious. When we share the gospel, we should make it also interesting and enticing, BECAUSE IT IS!
3. So what does this mean for my life?
Verses 1-4 of chapter 3 gave me a new challenge for my life. We are to set our mind on things above, not on earthly things. It is very hard to keep a heavenly perspective in some circumstances, but this is a good reminder that God is always in control (even when it really doesn't seem like it). I think of some people like Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers, beaten, sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned and mistreated. He still kept his mind set on things above. This was clear when his brothers came to him and he received them back. He said, "You intended this for evil, but God meant it for good." It's easier to say that looking back on circumstances, but I want to try and keep this in mind in the middle of them.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
At the end of chapter 4 there are some personal greetings. In verse 16, Paul says that this letter should also be read in Laodicea and that he had also written a letter to the church in Laodicea. I wonder what the letter to the Laodiceans was. Is there a copy of that anywhere? Why didn't that one get in the Bible?
That's it for today. I'm taking a break for Christmas. Have a merry Christmas.
In Christ,
Dan
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
#Colossians2 - Rooted in Christ
Colossians 2:
1. What stood out to you from this chapter?
As I came to verses 6-7 in this chapter, the language of being rooted and built up in Christ cast an image of a tree into my mind. Just as a tree draws its nourishment through its roots from the soil and water around it, so we too draw our life and nourishment from Christ. We do so when we let our roots go down deep. It's much like the title of my blog - namely that we would dig down deep into our relationship with God in Christ Jesus, rather than being like a plant with shallow roots that withers, scorches, and blows over in the wind. Not only do we find life in Christ, we find "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (v.3), "all the fullness of the Deity" (v.9), resurrection from the dead (v.11-12), forgiveness of sins (v.13), freedom (v.16-23). But all of these promises are only made true through Jesus. Notice how many times the words "in Christ" or "with Christ" or "in him" appear in this passage. They are connected to almost every one of these promises. I thought that was interesting.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
Verse 6-7 sparked an image of my life as a tree, but there are other images of trees in the Bible that stand out in my memory. One of the most similar is from Psalm 1. The whole book of Psalms (which is a worship songbook) begins with an image of a tree. It states that those who love and follow God and his commands are like trees planted by streams of water who yield fruit and don't wither. It's another reminder to let our roots run down deep in God.
3. So what does this mean for my life?
I think this metaphor of a tree can have all kinds of practical applications. We talk about our roots running deep, but what does that mean. I think there are several ways to stay connected to God, the life-giving Father. They may seem elementary, but they are good, and we often dismiss the elementary and end up stuck in spiritual pre-school.
1. What stood out to you from this chapter?
As I came to verses 6-7 in this chapter, the language of being rooted and built up in Christ cast an image of a tree into my mind. Just as a tree draws its nourishment through its roots from the soil and water around it, so we too draw our life and nourishment from Christ. We do so when we let our roots go down deep. It's much like the title of my blog - namely that we would dig down deep into our relationship with God in Christ Jesus, rather than being like a plant with shallow roots that withers, scorches, and blows over in the wind. Not only do we find life in Christ, we find "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (v.3), "all the fullness of the Deity" (v.9), resurrection from the dead (v.11-12), forgiveness of sins (v.13), freedom (v.16-23). But all of these promises are only made true through Jesus. Notice how many times the words "in Christ" or "with Christ" or "in him" appear in this passage. They are connected to almost every one of these promises. I thought that was interesting.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
Verse 6-7 sparked an image of my life as a tree, but there are other images of trees in the Bible that stand out in my memory. One of the most similar is from Psalm 1. The whole book of Psalms (which is a worship songbook) begins with an image of a tree. It states that those who love and follow God and his commands are like trees planted by streams of water who yield fruit and don't wither. It's another reminder to let our roots run down deep in God.
3. So what does this mean for my life?
I think this metaphor of a tree can have all kinds of practical applications. We talk about our roots running deep, but what does that mean. I think there are several ways to stay connected to God, the life-giving Father. They may seem elementary, but they are good, and we often dismiss the elementary and end up stuck in spiritual pre-school.
- Prayer - Since Jesus is our great high priest, he will mediate our conversation with God. We can talk to God ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, about ANYTHING. We don't even have to fold our hands and bow our heads. It doesn't matter "how far gone" you think you are, God is a patient loving father who is dying to hear from you. And while you're praying, don't forget to listen too. :)
- Read the Bible - You want to get to know God and Jesus better? Read the Bible. It contains a wellspring of wisdom, truth, and insight into God's character. It will change your life if you let it. That's what this blog is all about, to create an accountability system that works for me and gets me digging into Scripture daily.
- GO TO CHURCH - We live in a day where we feel like we can just do faith and life by ourselves. Who needs church when I can just stream it live and don't actually have to encounter other living people? I can read the Bible and pray by myself, why should I go to church? Because YOU DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING!
- Share your faith - "What? Talk about Jesus to someone other than my church friends or small group?" This puts almost every one of us outside of our comfort zone. We don't always know what we're doing. We rarely have time to plan it out let alone practice it. So we don't know what's going to happen. It requires...well...faith. It's weird to think that by sharing our faith we can grow in our own.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
Verses 16-23 talk about not worrying anymore about some of the Jewish rules and customs and finding freedom in Christ. Specifically it mentions rules about eating (and not eating) certain things, as well as observing specific festivals and calendar days. My question is, "What rules from the old testament do and don't apply anymore?
That's all folks. :) Tomorrow (Christmas Eve) I'll do Colossians 3-4, and take Christmas off.
In Christ,
Dan
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