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 8.3 - Another Name Angle

Today’s Readings: Colossians 3.17-25; Exodus 20.7;  Acts 11.26; Ephesians 3.14-15

So far this week we have noted two angles through which to look at the idea of “in the name” of Jesus, in verse 17 and 23 of Colossians 3. They were:

1) Acting like him, as we believe he would act were he there in the situation.

2) Acting on behalf of him, as his ambassador to the earth during this time of his physical body’s absence, and his spiritual body’s presence.

Today, let’s take a slightly different approach and round off this idea of acting in the NAME of Jesus Christ. I want to first direct your attention to the selected reading for today from Exodus. I would imagine that most people have at least heard this verse of Scripture before, if not read it or memorized it. We typically speak of this verse when talking about the 10 commandments. However, let’s lift it out of that context today and look at it through our idea from Colossians 3.

That verse tells us not to “TAKE the NAME of the Lord” in vain. So what does that mean. Well, let’s focus on those two words capitalized…

TAKE - what could that mean? Well, let me just say it doesn’t mean “say” or “speak” the name like we so often hear. While that would be included in this truth, it in NO WAY stops there. Think of how we would use that same word in other ways. If I walked up to you and offered you a gift, and I said, “go ahead, take it” how would you hear that word then? Would the idea of speaking about the gift ever even pop into your head? Of course not. You would think I meant it as “receive” or “make it your own”.

NAME - now apply that truth to TAKING the NAME of God…how do we TAKE someone’s name still today? Well, in case this scary wedding picture wasn’t enough hint for you, it’s at a marriage. When Sandy Smith married David Brown, she was no longer Smith, but Brown. She TOOK the NAME of Brown. In the same way, when we are saved, we take on the family name of our Father - the Lord. (one more aspect of the fact that we are now the “sons of God”, see John 1.12-14)

So, here’s the meat of what we should walk away with this morning…

- As a child of God, I have TAKEN His name upon myself when I was saved.

- Now, as part of His family, my actions reflect on Him. (have you ever heard of a father saying to one of their children, “You have disgraced the name of _____”?) It’s that same idea. WHAT WE DO REFLECTS ON HIM. It’s just the hard truth of the matter. As much as I hate to admit it and wish it was different sometimes. Our poor representation of Christ is oftentimes why the World around us wants nothing to do with Him. But then again, why would they if this is how His people act!?!?

- So, it is very important that my actions “WORD OR DEED” would live up to the reality of who I AM in Him. As one of His children, is this right by my Father? That should always be the question at the tip of our tongues.

May God help His children today to act according to who they are in Him. May we represent our Father and His Word well as we go throughout our days. And may all our WORDS and DEEDS be done according to His will and way. Amen.

Fri 3.5 – Family Matters!

Today’s Readings: Col 3.1-4; Eph 3; 2 Cor 5.17-21

Ok, I’m sure everyone remembers the 3 things we have talked about so far that are ABOVE. What were they…?

We talked about SEEKING these things, and about SETTING OUR AFFECTION on these things. We talked about how that must include the PURSUITS of our life and the engaging of our HEART and our MIND in these things…so, have you remembered yet, what were they?

Things Above:
    (1) The PERSON of God (I Jn 5.7; Deut 4.29, 6.4-5, Matt 12.30)
    (2) The WORD of God (Ps 119.89, 18; Luke 10.38-42)
    (3) The THRONE of God (Eze 1. 26-28; Isa 6.1-6; Rev 1.17, 4.1-11, Matt 6.33)

Today, let’s look at the 4^th thing God says is ABOVE, the FAMILY of God.

We will spend our time in Ephesians 3 today, so it is a good idea for you to turn there and follow along as we go.

God makes a pretty big deal about His Church in this chapter of scripture. Today, our study will simply be a guided reading. Notice some of the HUGE things He says about His church in this passage, noted below. As you read, ask God to help you see His Family with the same emphasis He does. Check it out…

-It was a mystery to previous generations until the time of the apostles and early believers in Jesus Christ. God kept it hidden from the OT saints, but he allows us to understand, and join in it. (v.4-6)

- It was a means for the Gentile (non-Jew) to become a full blown God-follower without having to convert to Judaism and keep a bunch of rules and regulations (v.6)

- God HID the truth of the Church in HIMSELF since the foundation of the world. That also means THE CHURCH WAS GOD’S PLAN FROM THE BEGINNING. This was not an after thought (v.9)

- The Church is God’s way of saying “In your face!” to the Devil and the powers that fight against God. It was BY THE CHURCH that God’s wisdom was made known to all principalities and powers, or satanic forces (v.10)

- This show of God’s wisdom through the church was God’s ETERNAL PURPOSE from the beginning, and the reason for Christ’s coming to earth (v.11)

- It was because he realized this that Paul BOWED DOWN before God in worship and humility, seeking and setting his affection on the person, word, and throne of God (v.14)

- This amazing thing that God has such big plans for, is described as the FAMILY OF GOD (v.15)

Back in the introduction to this book of the Bible, Paul sends greetings in the name of GOD OUR FATHER (Eph 1.2). Even from his second statement, he wants to prepare them to think of fellow believers and God as being one big family. Do you have a Father? Do you know of a good father? Imagine the care and concern that man has for his Family. Now imagine how much greater our Lords must be for His FAMILY. Wow…such a privilege to be a part of the FAMILY OF GOD, because to God, FAMILY MATTERS!

In closing today, if you have time, check out 2 Cor 5.17-21 in preparation for tomorrow’s study. Ask God to help you see the role He has left for His family here. Tomorrow… “FAMILIES GROW UP, AND FAMILIES GROW OUT”