The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage –Colossians 3:18-4:1 (day five)

One of the questions I would frequently ask teenagers as we talked about the scriptures and Christian faith was, “If I asked those closest to you to describe your faith, what would they say?”  Paul often points to our closest relationships (especially marriage and families) as a litmus for genuine and practical evidence of Christian faith.  So, to ask the question again in this context, “How would your family members describe your faith in Christ?”  Our faith must permeate all our relationships leaving especially those closest to us with no doubt about the presence and power of the Lord. Our faith not only shapes the way we initiate love and care in our relationships, it also is reflected to the way we respond to that same kind of love and care.

Re:Verse passage –Colossians 3:18-4:1 (day four)

How do you work when nobody is watching?  Maybe you are disgruntled with your employer…or you feel like you are in a dead end job…or you believe that your co-workers have it much better…or your job does not meet up to your dreams.  A lot of factors can influence your attitude toward your work and your performance and diligence in getting the job done.

Paul wrote to the Colossians, reminding them that the object of their work was the Lord.  When no one else recognizes or appreciates the job you do, God does.  Our diligence is an act of obedience and may bear fruitful rewards in the future that we cannot possibly foresee.  Maximum effort in whatever we do is about our relationship with the Lord rather than the circumstances of our surroundings.  Will we choose to obey and honor the Lord or will we offer less than our best because we feel we have been slighted in some way?  It is your choice!

Re:Verse passage –Colossians 3:18-4:1 (day three)

“Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters.”

Brought to you by the Bible, home of “Put to death men and women, children and infants”(1 Samuel 15:3), and “Show them no mercy” (Deuteronomy 7:2), among others. Will we ignore these words? Suppress them? Contextualize them? Think about this: Every children’s Bible you’ve ever seen in the hands of innocent little ones contains these verses. I know. Sobering. You’d think that if the Bible is supposed to reveal to us what’s right, it wouldn’t contain these problematic passages that people point to as reasons they distrust it. But the Bible isn’t just the story of God, it’s the story of God among us. And we change very slowly. Eventually, “Slaughter only in war” becomes “don’t slaughter.” “Mind your masters” becomes “submit to one another.” The Bible will leaven our hearts.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 3:18-4:1 (day two)

…knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. 4:1b

I have a confession. I really enjoy English period dramas. There, I’ve said it, now you can form whatever opinions of me that you like. I am a fan of English music, architecture, history, and literature. So it will come as no surprise to you that we watch Downton Abbey quite a bit in our home. Throughout the series there is a clearly defined boundary between upstairs and downstairs. Much of the series is about pushing these boundaries, or at least testing their limits, but they exist nonetheless. The truth is, however, that even those who lived upstairs, the aristocracy, were bound by the rules and conventions as well. No one was completely without some sort of rules for living.

Our freedom comes from serving others, but truly from serving Christ. We are only free in light of his authority. This must be the catalyst for how we comport every relationship, every business, every institution if we are to accurately claim to be followers of Christ. We must treat others as if we are clearly under his authority.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 3:10-17 (day seven)  ^“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” Colossians 3:16a

“I love my Bible. I read it every day” Pastor Don Guthrie would say during so many of our children’s sermons. Words that were not just meant to teach our children a valuable lesson about the importance of reading their Bible, nor to subtly set an example for the congregation attentively watching along, but words that were undeniably true. Words that cause you to ask the same question of yourself; do I love my Bible?

This type of love is evident and active. When you love your Bible, you are dwelling in the Words of Christ. You are opening those pages; spending time meditating on the words He has spoken. Then His words begin to shape, mold, and change you. He helps you take off the old and put on the new. He shows you how to put on love. None of which is possible on our own. He makes these changes in you as you dwell with Him. When you love your Bible, your love becomes evident and active.

Forgiveness and peace are best friends. Peace happens because forgiveness happens. That’s true of our relationship with God. Without forgiveness, we would never be at peace with God. Peace doesn’t mean placid. What Paul means by peace is the condition  where relationships can be restored without interference, nothing getting in the way, like past or even present sin.

So, peace isn’t the absence of fighting, it’s the space to reconnect. It’s the freedom to know and be known.

So Paul says, “forgive each other as Jesus has forgiven you…And let the peace of God dwell in you richly!”

So, forgive each other and give peace a chance. Or said another way, don’t take the peace forgiveness provides for granted. Don’t stand still; move towards one another. Most of all move towards God.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 3:10-17 (day five)  “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”‭‭ Colossians‬ ‭3:10‬
What is the result of “putting on the new self” (verse 10)? It’s certainly to learn and understand who Jesus is.  But, there is more.  The goal is also for each believer to become more of the person he/she was created to be. Humans were created in the image of God.  When sin entered the world thru Adam and Eve, mankind no longer could be completely who God had created them to be- sin tainted and marred the image. But through the life and work of Jesus, we can see that image again, and be transformed into Christ likeness- the untainted and original image.  One of the many promises of the gospel is that when we put our faith and trust in Jesus, we can become more like Him, and thus become more of the person we were created by God to be.  We can be authentic “ Jesus image-bearers”.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 3:10-17 (day four)

This passage has a familiar picture in Paul’s theology…a transformed life.  When we are in Christ, we are a new creation.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”  We cannot have Christ in our life and stay the same.  His Spirit cannot abide with our old sinful self.  His presence will produce Christ-likeness in us.

What do people see in your life?  Are they seeing a transformed life or are they seeing a selfish, self-centered individual?  Do they see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience?  If we are in Christ, the life that people see will look completely different than the life without Christ.  The picture we paint to the world speaks volumes about where our life originates.  To be ‘in Christ,’ will give us a whole new perspective on relationships, attitudes, and priorities.  Where are you living?

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 3:10-17 (day three)

“There is no distinction between Greek and Jew.”

Okay, then how am I to know who I’m dealing with? Jock, gamer, libertarian, fundamentalist, Unitarian, Asian, woman: Give me something to go on. Paul says, “No, we’re not going to assume things about each other according to those kinds of categories anymore. This is the day of the new human.” And yet, look around at the church in today’s world—our controversies, our disagreements, our expectations of each other. If we won’t understand one another within the church apart from pre-conceived identifiers, how in the world will we ever make a claim to anyone in the wider world that Christ can transform the way a person lives? You want to be a better patriot, a better teacher, a better boyfriend? Get a mentor. But if you want to become new, start over with Christ.