Daily Word

In these you once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Colossians 3:7-8. Paul calls for a stringent departure from the old life. In vs.5 he lists 5 vises; four have to do with sex, the fifth is covetousness; in vs. 8 he lists five more having to do with anger and abusive speech. To walk in our old nature is incompatible with Christ. Looking over each list of vises; how many of them can it be said of you “In these you once walked”?

Dail Word

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you; sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:4-6. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. Although Paul rejects legalistic asceticism, he calls upon believers to become in practice what they are in principle; dead to sin and alive to God. Today, no one likes to talk or hear about the wrath of God. However, His justice is as equal as His love and mercy. What sin must you die to in order to become more alive in Christ?

Daly Word

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3. As a believer you are inseparably united with Christ. The full reality of the new life is not yet fully revealed, but to be “hidden with Christ in God” means that the new life is secure in Christ. What God has freely given no man nor can angel take away. Do you fully understand your security in Christ, or are you desperately trying to stay one step ahead in maintaining your salvation? Find your peace in His total security today, and forever!

Daily Word

Late Post for 5.28.12 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1. The route to maturity is not the path of secret revelations, or of self-punishing disciplines. It consists in understanding and living on the basis of the believer’s death and resurrection “with Christ”. The Colossians have a false notion of heavenly reality, which ironically leads them to fruitless efforts on an earthly plane. In what area of your walk can the term “fruitless efforts be applied to you? How are you going to change that?

Weekend Quote

What you possess in the world will be found on the day of your death to belong to someone else, but what you are will be yours forever. ~ Henry Van Dyke

Weekend Quote

Faith wears everyday clothes and proves herself in life’s ordinary situations. ~ Bertha Munro

Daily Word

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. Colossians 2:13. God has not only over come sin as a general power, but He has also put away the guilt that stems from particular acts. Regeneration is an act of God alone in which He renews the human heart, making it alive when it was dead. Regeneration is the gift of God’s grace. It is the immediate, supernatural work of the Holy Spirit wrought in us. Many have fallen victim to the “feel good’ gospel and walk in deception from truth. Has your heart been renewed or just you’re thinking?

Daily Word

In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. Colossians 2:11. As the initiating right of the Old Covenant, circumcision had signified cutting away sin, undergoing a change of heart, and being included in the household of faith. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your household of faith; perhaps a little cutting away of sin in your walk is just what’s needed for your heart to change?

Daily word

For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority. Colossians 2:9-10. This is rebuttal of the false teachers who encourage submission to the “elemental spirits” as a means of overcoming fears of not being acceptable before God. Take a few moments today and recognize deep within what it truly means that you have been filled in Him…of which the fullness of deity dwells! You are so much more extraordinary than you even begin to see in yourself!

Daily Word

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8. Paul was addressing here the worship of the goddess Cybele, whose cult was characterized by ritual cleansing on the blood of a bull, ecstatic states, prophetic rapture, and inspired dancing. In the latter half of the second century Phrygia became the distorted version of Christianity known as Montanism. Be diligent enough in your studies of God’s word not to go with the flow just because everyone else around you in church is doing it.

Daily Post

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7. To be rooted in Him and established in the faith requires much more than attending church once a week. Without the daily nourishment of His Word and prayer the roots will lack the depth for obedience. Therefore, as it appears in the walk of so many today; there are no grounds to abound in thankfulness.

Weekend Quote

Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in. aim at earth and you get neither. ~ C.S. Lewis

Weekend Quote

Thy home is with the humble, Lord! The simple are thy rest; Thy lodging is in childlike hearts; thou makest there thy rest. ~ Fredrick W. Faber

Daily Word

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. Colossians 1:25-26.This passage stresses total sufficiency in Christ. We all will suffer to some degree from time to time. However, it is in searching out the “mysteries” revealed in God’s word that we find total sufficiency in Christ. You choose how to suffer as either victim or saint!

Daily Word

If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven and of which I, Paul became a minister. Colossians 1:23. Saving faith is persevering and enduring faith, anchored in hope. This relationship with Christ is confirmed by faith and hope, rather than rigorous ascetic disciplines. The tragedy of today is that many people have “heard” a false gospel, and are therefore unstable and shift easily in adversity. How stable and steadfast do you demonstrate to others in your relationship with Christ?

Daily Post

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, Colossians 1:21-22. Once God’s enemies and alienated from His life, we have now been given peace with God. Both our minds and our will cooperate in rebellion against God. Our reconciliation to God through Christ brings personal renewal and purification to those who grasp and obey the gospel. How often do you consciously strive to live your life blameless, holy, and above reproach…does it matter to you?

Daily Word

For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:19-20. Mankind’s fall into sin brought with it the corruption of all creation, seen and unseen. Through Christ’s incarnation and atoning death, God’s righteousness is satisfied, peace between God and man is restored. Today, I’m reminded just how much I take for granted that which was accomplished on the cross…Today is a good day to just simply be thankful!

Daily Word

And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. Colossians 1:17-18.This verse makes explicit what was implicit in verse 16; Christ existed before all creation. By virtue of His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ is Lord of the universe that was created by Him, that He has always sustained, and which now He has redeemed. I can think of no one more qualified to surrender my life to and follow…can you?

Weekend Quote

We must do something about the cross, and one of two things only we can do – flee it or die upon it. ~ A.W. Tozer

Weekend Quote

It is in lonely solitude that God delivers His best thoughts, and the mind needs to be still and quiet to receive them. ~ Charles R. Swindloll

Daily Word

He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created by Him. Colossians 1:15-16. For Paul, belief in the deity of Christ is practical. Since He is by nature God, Christ reveals the God who is otherwise invisible. Used of Christ, the term “first born” means that He has such honor and dignity, not that He was oldest child in a family. Christ is especially loved by His Father, and all things were created in Him, by Him, and for Him. Purpose today, to find God in everything, from the little things to the obvious things; reminding yourself, that all things were created in Him, by Him, for Him including you.

Daily Word

Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing – as it also does among you, since the day you heard and understood the grace of the truth, Colossians 1:5-6 Faith, hope, and love are central to Paul’s understanding of the Christian life. He treats them as gifts from God rather than virtues produced by believers themselves. How does faith and hope work together in the security of your relationship with Christ?

Daily Word

Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing – as it also does among you, since the day you heard and understood the grace of the truth, Colossians 1:5-6 Faith, hope, and love are central to Paul’s understanding of the Christian life. He treats them as gifts from God rather than virtues produced by believers themselves. How does faith and hope work together in the security of your relationship with Christ?

Daily Word

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all saints, Colossians 1:3-4. Because of a teaching circulating in Colossae that questioned whether Christ alone was sufficient. Paul reminds them in this letter through his prayer of thanksgiving that what they already have “in Christ” is sufficient. Have you come to a place of being sufficient “in Christ”? If not, what area in your life do you need to surrender to His sufficiency?

Daily Word

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19. This promise is for those who are in Christ Jesus, and refers to both spiritual and material needs. Look back to verses 6, 7. Where most of us seem to fail is discerning between our wants and our needs. Then often times rather than “being anxious for nothing”, and bringing our prayer and supplications with thanks giving before the Father; we through up a quick selfish prayer of want without any thanksgiving at all. Today step back and be thankful and learn to discern between your wants and needs.

Weekend Quote

Worship is the highest and noblest act that any person can do. When men worship, God is satisfied! And when you worship, you are fulfilled! ~ Raymond C. Ortland

Weekend Quote

What other dungeon is so dark as one’s own heart! What jailer so exorable as one’s self! ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Daily Word

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13. Paul is testifying he is able to live in both plenty and want, and that he is able to face all circumstances with contentment. Looking at your life at this time just how content are you? Have you truly found the secret to contentment or are you struggling along through each circumstance?

Daily Word

What you have learned and received and heard and seen from me – practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9. Just as the Philippians were to be guided both by Paul’s teachings and by his example so must we today. An even richer promise than “the peace of God” is the “God of peace”, and its fulfillment depends on your obedience. Take a close look at whom it is you tend to follow…Do they lead more with obedience or compromise according to the Word of God?

Daily Word

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8. Paul calls his readers to a life of obedience, the right response to the peace of God. Thinking on such things is not an end in itself, but preparation for purposeful action. How much time do you waste in your day thinking negatively about things, circumstances, and people; how much different would your daily walk be if you changed your thinking to preparation for purposeful action?

Daily Word

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanks giving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7. Anxiety is incompatible with trust in God. (In everything) Prayer has no restrictions on applying it. Presenting your request in prayer is an outlet to anxiety, and doing so with “thanksgiving” is itself an antidote to worry. Peace of God is a direct answer to the prayer of anxiety. Fret not…Take to Him in prayer today!