Fri 8.5 – Like Jesus, Like Jesus

Today’s Readings: Colossians 3.17-25; Philippians 2.5-8

As we close out this passage in Colossians, we’ve noted that God addresses a variety of real-life relationships. Let’s now make sure that we are reading about those relationships in the correct context.

Remember if you would the thought of 3.17 for a moment. Basically put, we are to make sure that our very WORDS and DEEDS are done IN THE NAME of the Lord Jesus Christ, correct? So then, what is the connection between that verse and the list of relationships that follows in the next verses?

I think we can argue that 3.18-22 are simply examples of how 3.17 should look in our lives. For example, if we are living our life in the name of Jesus Christ then:

As wives, we will SUBMIT.
As husbands, we will LOVE.
As children, we will be OBEDIENT.
As parents, we will be HUMBLE.
As SERVANTS, we will OBEY.

Now, you may be looking at this list and think to yourself, those are not exactly the first qualities that I think of when I think of Jesus. While majesty, holiness, power, and preeminence are the things that we typically associate with Him, do not lose sight of the time he spent here on earth and what that it took for GOD to become a MAN.

I find a lot of similarities between the teaching of Col 3.17 and of Phil 2.5. Read them together and see if you can sense the heart of the author as you read. They both seem to be calling us to a selflessness and a pursuit of Jesus’ life in ours don’t they? As our WORDS and DEEDS are taken captive to Christ and our MIND becomes His, then it seems that we would begin to live that life of seeking things above and setting our affection on things above.

Check out the similarities in the description of the mind of Christ is Phil 2.5-8

He SUBMITTED to the will of God, “but made himself of no reputation”
He was made a SERVANT, “and took upon himself the form of a servant“
He LOVED us enough to be, “made in the likeness of man“
He was HUMBLED, “being found in fashion as a man, he bumbled himself”
He was OBEDIENT, “and became obedient unto death, even death of the cross“

Do you see some similarities? I can’t help but think that God has a desire that we stop living this life ourselves and allow the life of Christ to invade and rule as we continue our days. May your life be lived IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, and may THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH ALSO WAS IN CHRIST JESUS, as you go today! Amen.

Thurs 8.4 – Three Hundred and Sixty Five Days

Today’s Readings: Colossians 3.17- 4.6 

In today’s reading, what you’ll see is how Paul closes out the PRACTICAL LIVING section of Colossians.

As I hope you remember from the previous devotions this week, our last thought for the Directions series is that our WORDS and DEEDS be done IN THE NAME of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I encourage you to read carefully through what God describes next. He (more or less) gives us a glimpse into the everyday relationships most of us have, and gives us an example of living IN THE NAME of Jesus in each one. Notice all the relationships he talks about… Wives, Husbands, Children, Fathers, Employers, & Employees.

Although it’s not completely clear, He covers all the bases, Family & Friends. Now, I Know what you’re thinking…Friends? There’s nothing in here about Friends Aaron. Well, although he doesn’t spell that out completely, where (as an adult) do you think most of your friends are going to be from? Work? If you have many friends at work, they will be watching how you interact with your boss, putting that “Christianity” of yours to the test. Old friends? Maybe they were long-time friends. Well, surely they’ll come over to your house for dinner and see how you interact with your family. How your children behave, and how you treat them as a “Christian” parent. Maybe your friends would come from church (and I hope so!). Well, your church friends are definitely going to see how you and your spouse interact with each other and parent your children.

Again, I know it’s indirect and not exactly what you would think God was saying in these verses, but I just want you to remember how much our lives bleed over from one area into another. As you are at school, as you are at church, as you are at home, as you are out with friends, whatever! And no matter where we are and when we are, God says do ALL in the name of Jesus.

With those thoughts in mind, re-read Colossians 4.5. WOW! What a vital truth! Time really does fly. I can guarantee you, when we stand before Jesus Christ at the Bema Seat (Judgement) we will never say, “I wish I had done less” or “I wish there was less time for me to serve you.” But, even the most faithful believer will find himself saying, “I wish I had more time, I wish I had done more to serve you, I wish I had more to give.”

Remember guys, time really does fly. Every minute you live, you are another minute closer to standing before Christ in Judgement. How are you using your time here (seeking and setting your affection on things above) that will amount to something there??? May we all redeem our time in the way that will most benefit Christ! Amen.

Wed 4.3 – Flesh vs. Spirit

Today’s Readings: Col 3.3-7; Romans 8

As we prepare for tonight’s service, I wanted to take a lighter approach to the devotion this morning. Throughout the DIRECTIONS study, we have been talking about the DIRECTION God gives us for our everyday lives. Much of that so far has centered around the things we SEEK and the things we SET OUR AFFECTION on. That is such a big part of the Christian life that we spent a few weeks on those topics making sure they were clear and understandable. You will notice that in Col 3.3-4, God repeats some key truths as to HOW and WHY we should be seeking and setting our affection according to His plan. Then comes verse 5.

There is a major word in verse 5. We must always give attention to this word when we study our Bibles if we hope to understand it properly. The word…THEREFORE. Notice that God gives all this doctrine through chapters 1-2, and summarizes His plan for that in 3.1-4. Now in verse 5, He tells us “therefore” , or BECAUSE OF THESE TRUTHS, we are to MORTIFY or MEMBERS which are UPON THE EARTH. Let me remind you again, what was it we are not to seek and set our affection on in 3.2??? It was THINGS ON THE ERATH, right? Well that’s what verse 5 is saying about our bodies, they are THINGS ON EARTH, and rather than seeking the things that please them (as we naturally do) we are to forsake them to seek things above.

The truth of the matter is, when we MORTIFY the flesh (which we explained yesterday in 4.2) we must have strength that is not our own. I am no match for my own flesh. I am just as weak as my flesh is. I am just as feeble as my flesh is. So, how then do I overcome it? Through the Spirit! God’s spirit inside of me is a limitless supply for doing his will. That power of God residing in me, keeping me and preparing me for the redemption of my body at the return of Christ, is also in me strengthening me to live my life TODAY!

If you were going to summarize what we have learned so far in this study, it we be (1) that we need to talk to God daily about the PURSUITS AND PURPOSES of life. That’s those 4 things God said were above that we are to seek, and the 4 things we have set our affection on that cause us to seek those first 4 things. We are getting ready to step into the second major concept of the directions study, and that is (2) to talk to God daily about the passions of the body. Until we admit the needs, we will never seek the help to overcome them.

As you close your time with God today, read prayerfully through Romans 8 and ask God to show you keys to MORTIFY the flesh and to LIVE according to the Spirit. He has called you to a spirit-filled life, and God never calls you to something He doesn’t first equip you to do. You may want to use these questions as a guide:

• What is the condition to escape condemnation currently? (8.1)
• What is going to occupy your mind if you are living after the flesh? (8.5)
• What relationship to God do those who are carnally (fleshy) minded have with God? (8.7)
• Can the flesh please God, and how often? (8.8)
• What should cause us to groan as we wait for it? (8.22-23)
• Who’s image did God predestinate that believers should be in? (8.29)
• What can separate us from the love of Christ? (8.35, 38-39)
• How do we conquer the flesh? (8.37)