Category: Colossians

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Colossians

Faithful

Be Faithful

If there is one word that I think encapsulates this passage, it’s “faithful.”

Tychicus, “a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.” (Colossians 4:7)

Onesimus, a once unfaithful slave (see Philemon), but now a “faithful and dear brother.” (9)

Aristarchus, faithful to the point of being imprisoned for the Lord along with Paul. (10)

John Mark, cousin of Barnabas. Like Onesimus, he had once been unfaithful, leaving Paul and Barnabas in the middle of a missionary journey (Acts 13:13).

But now, along with Justus, Mark was faithful to Paul, comforting him in his time in prison. (10-11)

Epaphras, a man faithful in “wrestling in prayer” for the Colossians and “working hard” for them. (12-13)

Unfortunately, Demas (14) would later prove to be unfaithful, leaving Paul for love of the world (2 Timothy 4:10).

And so finally, fittingly, a charge from Paul to a man named Archippus.

See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord. (17)

In short, “Be faithful.”

How about you? Are you faithful?

If you feel you are, remember Demas, and be steadfast. Don’t lose your faithfulness for love of the world.

And if you feel you aren’t, remember Onesimus and Mark. They too at one point were unfaithful, but God gave them a second chance. And God will give you a second chance too.

So wherever you’re at in life, be faithful, that you may receive praise from God on the day of judgment.

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Colossians

Walking in wisdom

Colossians

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5-6)

Being wise. Or as the ESV puts it, “walking in wisdom.” Making the most of every opportunity.

How many opportunities do we miss to share the gospel because we aren’t looking for it. Are we making the most of every opportunity?

I had a unique opportunity with my daughter Yumi the other night.

She’s six, and my wife and I have been sharing the gospel with her for years, reading Bible stories to her and praying with her almost every night. She also has gone to Sunday school for the last three years.

But every time I shared the gospel it seemed that though she kind of understood, she wasn’t quite ready to become a Christian.

And then a couple nights ago, she talked about how her Sunday school teacher had told her that Jesus was in our hearts, and she seemed happy about that idea.

I’m not sure if that’s exactly what her Sunday school teacher said. I’d hope her teacher didn’t give such a blanket statement

At any rate, I asked Yumi, “Really? Have you asked Jesus to come into your heart?”

At which she stopped short, and said, “Um, no.”

And so I told her that Jesus only comes into our hearts if we ask him. I then talked to her about the gospel again, and for the first time really had her attention from start to finish. And that night she prayed to receive Jesus.

I’ve been praying for Yumi for some time, and always shared the gospel with her at every opportunity, so when the time came, I was ready for it. But I wonder how many other opportunities I miss because I’m not ready for them.

How many opportunities do I miss because I am not wise in the way I act with outsiders?

How many opportunities do I miss because day to day, my conversation is not full of grace, but of complaining or criticism?

How many opportunities do I miss because my speech is not “seasoned” with salt, full of flavor, a bit of sting at times (for the gospel can sting the unbeliever’s conscience), but full of God’s love each day?

I don’t want to miss those opportunities. How about you?

Our time on earth is short. Are you making the most of your opportunities?

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Colossians

Praying behind the front lines

Colossians

I wonder if we understand just how important our prayers are behind the front lines.

There are so many people, pastors and missionaries especially, who are out there on the front lines. Yet many times, we act as if they don’t need our prayers.

They are by definition, after all, “spiritual,” right?

But it is these very people on the front lines that need our prayer the most. Paul certainly recognized his need for others’ prayers. And so he told the Colossians,

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2)

The idea of “devote” is to be persistent, to hold fast and not let go. In short, don’t just blow off a quick prayer and go on your merry way. Truly engage with God in prayer.

Paul says to be watchful.

Watch for what God’s trying to do around you and ask him how to pray in the midst of what he’s doing.

Remember also to have a thankful heart. Don’t just make your prayers a “give me” list. But make it a time to remember God’s goodness in your life and draw near to him.

But Paul then gives specifics on the kinds of things people on the front lines need prayer for.

They need prayer that God would open up doors of opportunity to preach the gospel.

And they need prayer that God would give them the words so that people can clearly understand the gospel.

One would think, “Just preach the gospel. What’s so difficult about that?”

But while the gospel message remains the same, they still need wisdom on exactly what words need to be said to break through whatever blinders Satan has put on unbelievers.

So as you think of the missionaries and pastors you know, pray for these things. They need your spiritual support.

And let them know you are praying for them as well. It’s always encouraging to know you’re not fighting alone, but that you have people behind the lines supporting you.

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Colossians

Living as Christ’s representatives: What does it mean?

Representative of Christ

I love the way the NLT translates verse 17.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17)

Whenever we do something in the “name of someone,” we do act as their representative, but I had never seen that verse in that light before. And it seems to flow over into the following verses.

Wives, as representatives of Christ to your husband, respect your husband and submit to his leadership in your home. (3:18)

Husbands, as representatives of Christ, love your wife, and don’t be harsh with them. (3:19)

Children, as representatives of Christ, obey your parents. (3:20)

Fathers, as representatives of Christ, don’t embitter your children, lest they become discouraged. (3:21)

Slaves, as representatives of Christ, obey your masters in everything and not just when they’re looking, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord. (3:22-25)

(We, of course, don’t have slaves nowadays, but we could equally say these things of any working person.)

Masters, as representatives of Christ, treat your slaves (or in our day, employees) fairly because you know you have a Master in heaven. (4:1)

In other words, in all our relationships, remember who you’re representing. You’re representing Jesus Christ. To your husband, to your wife, to your parents, to your children, to your boss, and to your employees.

When you disrespect your husband as head of the family, what kind of representative are you being?

When you treat your wife harshly, what kind of representative are you being?

When you disobey your parents, what kind of representative are you being?

When you embitter your children, what kind of representative are you being?

When you work half-heartedly, what kind of representative are you being?

When you treat your employees unfairly, what kind of representative are you being?

In all your relationships, with friends, neighbors, coworkers, brothers and sisters in Christ, what kind of representative of Jesus Christ are you being?

Can others see him in you? Or do they only see you?

What kind of representative of Christ are you?

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Colossians

Living like Christ truly is our life

Looking to things above

“Christ is my life.”

As a Christian, can you say that? The truth is, he is our life whether we see that or not.

Paul tells us in verse 3 that we have died and that our life is now hidden with Christ in God. Though the world and even we ourselves cannot fully see all that we have in Christ, we have received so much in him.

We have been saved from our sins, our relationship with God restored.

Day by day our lives our being transformed into Christ’s likeness, and the day will come when our bodies will be fully redeemed, totally free from sin.

More, on that day, we will receive our inheritance in heaven, and be given crowns of glory.

Like I said, all these things are hidden right now. We see some glimpses of these things, but only glimpses.

But when Christ returns, then all that we have and all that we are will be revealed as well. Paul puts it this way,

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)

If this is so, then why do so many of us live as we do? Focused not on Christ and all these treasures we have in him, but on this world which is passing away? So Paul tells us,

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (1-2)

Set our hearts on things above. Set your hearts, in other words, on things that are eternal.

What is eternal? Our relationship with God. And our relationships with all those who are part of his kingdom.

Anything that stands in the way of those relationships needs to be set down in our lives.

What things are those? Paul tells us,

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 

Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. (5-7)

All these things interfere with our relationship with God. All these put ourselves ahead of God, thinking only of what we desire instead of what God desires.

We make idols of sex, money, and other things, casting God aside and breaking the great commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

But Paul also tells us to rid ourselves of things that would destroy our relationships with our brothers and sisters. Things like anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, lies.

Why? Because in Christ we are all one. There are no racial or gender barriers between us now. Or at least there shouldn’t be. We are all one family, and we need to treat each other as such. (8-11)

Instead, Paul tells us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

We are to make allowances for others’ faults (NLT) and forgive each other as Christ forgave us.

And over all these things, put on the love of Christ as we deal with each other and live in peace. (12-15)

And the word of Christ is to dwell in us with all its richness. That starts with the gospel, the message about Christ (NLT).

Do we dwell on all that he did for us on the cross, and all the grace that he has showered on us?

Are our lives rooted and grounded in his love and grace?

And does all his teaching on how to live also change the way we think and live our lives?

More, are we filled with gratitude for these things, and do we constantly remind each other of these things? (3:16)

And finally, in all that we do, do we act in the name of Jesus Christ? Do we act as his representatives to this world?

Christ truly is our life. But are we living that way?

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Colossians

The fullness we have in Christ

Colossians

“Fullness.”

It apparently was one of the catchwords of the false teaching that was creeping into the Colossian church. And basically, Paul threw it back in these teachers’ faces by saying, “You have no idea what true ‘fullness’ is all about.”

Paul told the Colossians, “You are made perfect in Christ. The thing that I strive for in my ministry is that you may reach that maturity and fullness in him. I want you to have the full riches of complete understanding and assurance (ESV) concerning the mystery of God.

“All the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge, however, are not found in these false teachers and their ideas of ‘fullness.’ Rather, they are found completely in Christ.

“So don’t let people deceive you by their fine-sounding arguments.” (Colossians 1:28-2:4)

He then told them, “Since it is in Christ that you can find these treasures of wisdom and knowledge, root and build yourself up in him.

“Remember how you were saved? It was by putting your faith in Christ and coming into relationship with him.

“So as you continue to live each day, don’t get away from that. Keep walking each day trusting in him and with thankfulness and joy for all he’s done for you.” (2:6-7)

He then warned the Colossians, “Don’t let yourself get sucked into any philosophy that would pull you away from Christ. Such philosophies are empty and are based on mere human tradition and the basic principles of this world.” (2:8)

Other translations translate “basic principles” as “elemental spirits” (ESV) which seems to point to Satanic forces as the source of this teaching.

But Paul makes clear to the Colossians two things.

He says, “Do you want to know the fullness of God in your life? Well, all the fullness of God is found in Christ. All that God is, is found in Christ. And now you too find your fullness in Christ. You can’t find it anywhere else.” (2:9-10)

Why is that? Because it is only in Christ that our sinful nature can be dealt with. Christ himself circumcises or cuts off that sinful nature from us in a way that no person can through their own human effort.

Through Christ, we die to our old self, and he raises us as a new person in him, living not by our own power, but through the power of God. (11-12）

We were dead. There was nothing we could do to save ourselves. But God himself made us alive, forgiving our sins. He ripped up our certificate of debt that we owed him because of our sins and nailed it to the cross.

And by dying on the cross and then rising from the dead, he totally humiliated all the Satanic powers that crucified him and tried to destroy us. (13-15)

So Paul says to stop trying to add to the work that Christ is done. You already have your fullness in him.

Don’t go back to the old religious practices the Jews followed. They were mere shadows of the true reality that is found in Christ. All the sacrifices and religious celebrations pointed to Christ. Since Christ has come, look to him, not the shadows. (16-17)

And don’t get caught up in false religious experiences either, whether it’s worshiping angels or any other creature. When you do that, you separate yourself from Christ. Christ is the one that causes you to mature and grow into completeness. (18-19)

In Christ, you died to these things. How can you now go back to them? And why go back to religious rules that look good, but can’t solve the real problem of your sinful nature? (20-22)

In short, Christ is all. And as I said yesterday, if we want true “fullness” in this life, Christ is the one we are to go to.

The question is, are you? What is your life rooted in? Is it rooted in Christ? Or is it rooted in something else? Who or what is at the center of your life?

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Colossians

The only One we need

Colossians

The Colossian church was facing some kind of false teaching that was slipping in among them. What exactly that teaching was is not clear.

But one thing that seems to be clear is that people were teaching them that Christ is not enough. That they needed something more.

That there were perhaps ranks of angels that they needed to go through to reach God, and that these powers were worthy of worship.

That there were “mysteries” that they had yet to learn, and could only do so through these false teachers.

And that there were certain rituals and religious practices they needed to follow in order to truly be right with God.

And if there is one thing that Paul seems to emphasize in Colossians 1:15-29, it’s this: Christ is the only One we need.

Why is Christ all that we need?

For one thing, he is the preeminent one over all creation. That’s what it means by “first-born of all creation.”

Not that he was created before all other things as the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach (even so far as to insert, “other” several times into this passage.)

But that he is the one who is supreme over all creation. His rank and position is high over anything that was created. (15)

Why is Jesus the preeminent one over all creation? Paul tells us. Jesus was the one who created all things. All things were created through him and for him, including all the angels and other heavenly powers, not to mention us. (16)

On top of that, he existed before all things, and all things hold together through him. We can’t even hold the atoms that make up our body together. Nothing in this world could hold together without him. (17)

God also placed Christ as the church’s head, not angels or anyone else. And he was the example for all the church in that he died and rose again. (18)

If that weren’t enough, all God’s fullness dwelt in him. Because of that, he is the very image of the invisible God. If we want to know who God is, we need not look any further than Christ. (15, 19)

And it is through him and his death on the cross that we are now reconciled to God. We need no other mediator. And through him, we are made holy in God’s sight, without blemish and free from accusation. (20-22)

And as for mysteries of God, THE mystery has already been revealed. It was a mystery that had been hidden for ages and generations, but now is revealed.

What is that mystery? That through faith in him, Christ now dwells in us. Whether Jew or non-Jew, Christ dwells in us and we are now one body, one church in Christ, shining God’s glory to the world. (25-27)

So what need is there for anything or anyone else? None. And so Paul emphatically states, “We proclaim HIM, admonishing and teaching everyone about HIM.” Why? Because we are only made perfect in Christ. (28)

Yet so often, we live as though we need more than Christ in our lives. We start pursuing religion instead of Christ. We start pursuing “spiritual experiences.” Or we start pursuing the things of this world to fill us.

But these things will not bring us “fullness,” as the Colossians seemed to be seeking. Only Christ can.

How about you? How are you seeking to become complete? There is only way, and that’s Christ. He is truly the only One we need.

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Colossians

A prayer for all believers

Praying the Bible

If you ever want to pray a prayer for a fellow Christian but are not sure how to do it, and you want to go beyond a simple, “bless so-and-so,” you don’t have to look any further than the prayers of Paul.

Time and again in his letters, he gives us wonderful models of how to pray for others according to God’s will.

We see one of those models here in Colossians chapter 1. Paul had apparently never met these Colossians, but had only heard of them and their faith in Christ through a man named Epaphras.

But when Paul heard about the fruit that was born in their hearts through the gospel, he rejoiced. More, he prayed for them a very specific prayer. What did he pray for?

First, he prayed that God would fill them with the knowledge of His will with all wisdom and understanding. That is something that we all need as Christians. Why?

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10)

If we want to please God and bear fruit for him, then we need to know his will in our lives.

As he fills us with his wisdom and understanding, we start to understand who he himself is. We understand how he thinks. We understand what is important to him.

In short, we come to truly know him, not just about him, particularly as he imparts his power into our lives. That’s why Paul prays that they would be,

strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (11-12)

God doesn’t want us to live this Christians life based on our own strength.

Many people go through trials with endurance and patience, but no joy. Why? Because they are resting on their own strength, not God’s.

But Paul’s prayer is not that the Colossians would patiently endure their trials in their own strength. Rather, he prays that God’s power would fill them so that they could not only endure, but do so with joy.

That each day, they would focus not on themselves, but on God. To remember that all they have as Christians is not based on their own efforts, but on what God has done. For he is the one who qualified us to share in his inheritance, not us.

Not only that,

he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (13-14)

Again, all the work is of him. He rescued us from out of darkness. He brought us into the kingdom of his Son. And it is in Christ, not ourselves, that we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.

Yet many Christians forget that. And because we do so, we start trying to live on our own wisdom and strength, and in the process, lose our joy.

But when we are filled with his wisdom, knowledge, and power, when we remember all that Christ has done for us and that all we have comes from him and not ourselves, then we find joy.

So as you pray for your Christian family members, friends, and other brothers and sisters in Christ, don’t just pray a general, “God bless them.” Pray as Paul did for the Colossians.

And pray that God would do these things in you as well.

How are you praying?