When my son was a little boy, he asked for a pocketknife for Christmas. He was interested with those who could take a piece of wood or a stick and whittle it into a figure or an animal. Watching an experienced woodworker use a little knife to create amazing little figures was fascinating to a young boy.
Of course, I got him his first pocketknife, and we talked about how it was very sharp. We talked about how to hold the knife and how to begin the process of whittling away. I warned him not to put his finger on the blade and to respect it. Of course, the first thing he did was rub his finger across the blade – and cut himself. Just a slight bump against the blade and the cut was deep enough to draw blood – and a few tears.
The writer of the book of Hebrews describes the Word of God as being sharper than any type of edged weapon (4:12). Like a pocketknife, it can cut deep – deep into the mind and heart of the believer. God’s Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Like an impartial judge sitting on the judgement seat, the Word of God judges what is within us. The Word of God judges if we are resting in God’s grace or in human works. We can work hard and perform many good deeds for ministry. But those good deeds will not save us. Only the grace of God through faith in Jesus can save us from our sin. We can fool other people, but the Word of God makes it very plain that we cannot fool God. He will judge us rightly and with justice. If our faith is in Christ, we will find a sympathetic savior, who while tempted in every way, did not sin. He is perfect – and wants us to trust in His father as He did. The Word of God makes it very plain – our salvation is through grace by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). We cannot pretend to “earn” our way into God’s Kingdom. His Word testifies to the truth – that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) and trusting in him allows us to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Remember to honor and obey God’s Word. While it contains the awesome message of salvation, it also opens our lives up to the all-knowing, all seeing eyes of God. Sharp indeed!
Questions for Discussion:
How could Jesus experience EVERY temptation? (4:15)
One of the great truths of the Bible is the humanity of Jesus Christ. Jesus, our Lord and Our Savior, was born of the virgin Mary through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Our God created Jesus to be His messiah – God’s chosen One to save his people and rule as King in His future kingdom. Jesus always existed in the mind of God. In the beginning was the Word (John 1:1). The Word, or Logos in Greek, is the eternal program of salvation and restoration through Jesus Christ. It is the wonderful plan of God to make a way for believers to enjoy fellowship with Him in the eternal coming Kingdom. As such, at a time of God’s choosing, He created his messiah. He brought his great plan of salvation, the Logos, into reality. Our Lord Jesus was born into the world, a little baby, born of the virgin Mary and celebrated as our Lord and Savior. He was born into the world through God’s power to be fully human, and fully God’s son. He is the begotten one (first among everything).
The book of Hebrews tries to explain why Jesus had to be made perfect and why he had to be a human – like you and me. But why did Jesus have to be just like us? Jesus was created by God to be His only Son. In order to serve both God and mankind, Jesus had to be a special man – the sinless and perfect Son of man. Both divine (Son of God) and human (Son of Mary) – He is the perfect one to exist as the “mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ” (1 Timothy 2:5). Hebrews 2:14-18 teaches us that He had to be made with flesh and blood – he had to be a man. This is so His death on the cross might break the power of the fear of death. His resurrection is proof that a man can be raised up to eternal life. He was created specifically to save Abraham’s descendants of faith (that’s you and me). In being a man, he could be God’s High Priest, serving God and making atonement for the sins of the world (Hebrews 2:17,18).
With Christmas coming very soon, we remember the birth of Christ. That little child, born and placed in a manger, the son of Mary, would become the savior of the world. In God’s great wisdom, He made a way for us to enjoy fellowship with Him forever in His coming Kingdom. Thank Him for the gift of his Son, His human Son, the Christ Child who takes away the sin of the world.
It’s hunting season here in Ohio! All around the countryside, hunters are sneaking though the fields, climbing tree stands, and checking their trail cams. The deer are careful and on alert, listening and sniffing the air for the sign of trouble. Failure to sniff out the enemy can have deadly results for the hunted.
As Christians, we have to be on guard against temptations and situations that can cause us to fall away from the Lord God. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. Peter, in his letter to the Christians across Asia Minor (modern Turkey), has tried to encourage the believers to stand firm in the face of persecution. Instead of getting revenge or lashing out against people who have hurt us, Peter encourages us to rejoice in our sufferings and be thankful for the opportunity to do good to those who hurt us (1 Peter 3:8-12).
It is easy to want to strike back, to say something hurtful, or to defend ourselves. But God has a higher purpose in mind behind our suffering. He wants to shape and mold us into mature Christians. Sometimes, we have to endure hard times to allow that change towards maturity to occur. It is tempting to want to respond in kind to those who hurt us. We have to stand firm and resist the urge to take the bait!
Peter reminds the Christians that this is a sneaky trap, set by our enemy, the devil. We have to be on the alert, and watchful to avoid falling into the traps set by the enemy. Like deer trying to avoid the hunter, we avoid the traps of temptation by seeking to do God’s will. Peter asks us to be alert and sober minded. Resisting the temptation to lash out at our enemies or to hurt other people is not easy. But the more we resist, the easier it is to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. God wants us to trust Him. As we obey Him, He will “restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).
One of the strongest building materials is steel. All the great towers and skyscrapers today are built out of steel. It is a very hard metal and very durable. But it does not start that way. It begins as a piece of iron ore. To transform the iron ore into steel, the iron must be heated to extreme temperatures and exposed to blasts of super hot air to blow out the impurities. When it is quickly cooled, the result is steel – a pure form, durable, and able to stand the test of time. It is only tough and useable because of the intense “heat and violent blasts of air” that transforms it.
The apostle Peter wrote his letters to Christians scattered out across Asia Minor (Turkey today). The Christians there were struggling because of hardship and persecution. Living a life of faith in God was very difficult and dangerous. As the Roman empire continued to persecute the Christians across the empire, the apostles, like Peter, worked hard to encourage the children of God.
Peter reminds us in his letter that we have a “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3-4). No matter what kinds of trouble we experience in life, we can be assured that the hope that we have in Jesus is true and eternal. We know this because Jesus has been raised from the dead, proving that every promise that He made is true. No matter what kinds of sorrow we face in this life, we can be assured of an “inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. Kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). Jesus promised to return to this world to make things right. Then, our promise will be revealed before our very eyes as we enjoy eternity with God the Father and His son Jesus Christ in God’s glorious earthly kingdom.
Despite being persecuted and threatened by the Romans, Peter reminds the Christians that they are to put their faith in God and serve Him. Like the first Christians, God allows us to experience trouble and sorrow because, like heat to iron, He wants to create a tougher, more usable child of God. God desires for each of us to endure troubling times. We are a chosen people (1 Peter 2:9-10). As God’s chosen people, we can be assured that He will use hard times to strengthen us. It is God’s will that we suffer for doing good (1 Peter 3:17). Jesus suffered greatly on the cross. But the result of His suffering has brought us closer to God (3:18). Who knows what incredible things God will bring about because His people are willing to suffer for doing good?
Questions for Discussion:
Are good works the way to earn a blessing? (1 Peter 3:9-12)
Why be gentle and respectful to unbelievers? (1 Peter 3:15)
I’m not sure when contentment became a dirty word to so many people. We now equate it with a lack of drive or sometimes even laziness. We liken it to “settling.” The definition of contentment is actually a state of happiness or satisfaction. But we live in a world where bigger is better, and newer is better, and we can always achieve more if we just work a little harder for it.
For a little while I went through a faze where I looked on Zillow a lot. I got it into my head that we could potentially get a bigger or nicer house and therefore we should at least look. I just wanted to see what was out there that might be in our potential price range. And then I was looking at things slightly above that, because honestly we could probably make that work too.
You can see where this is going. It’s a slippery slope, and soon you’re borrowing more money than you should and all because you weren’t content with what you have. I deleted the app and fell in love with my home all over again. Contentment is something intentional, and it’s most definitely not settling. It’s looking at your blessings and recognizing them as such. It’s being thankful to your heavenly father for where you are, when you are, who you are, and who you are with.
These last chapters of 1 Timothy are a mix of advice from Paul on how to live, both for Timothy and for the people he’s ministering to. There’s a good deal in there about working hard so that we can take care of ourselves and take care of others. We are also called to not be so focused on money that we are neglecting our true purpose in ministry. Do good, be rich in good deeds, and be generous. Rather than focusing on our wealth and what we have or don’t have, we should be focused on how to serve others with our blessings.
1 Timothy 6:6-7 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
This is the true idea behind contentment. We can be ambitious in our careers and are encouraged to do well financially if that is where we are called. But we have to be wary of what’s actually driving us. If having wealth and status is our motivation, then we will never be in a “state of happiness or satisfaction.” We will never be content.
1 Timothy 6:9 “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
But if we are guided by an ambition to serve the Lord, then we can truly practice contentment. Paul describes these people as those who “will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” I love how that is phrased. “Life that is truly life.” And living a life that is truly life? Definitely not settling.
Reflection questions:
Where do you find yourselves in a state of discontent? Is it distracting you from God’s purpose for you? We have a lot of areas where discontentment can sprout up like a weed and make our lives more difficult and less full of the peace and joy that God longs for us to experience. Some common ones to watch out for: our physical appearance, financial status, possessions, our home, our relationships, our jobs. Is there a distracting discontentment in your life that is robbing you of peace?
How can you look at that area of your life and find the blessings? What sort of habits can you set for yourself so that you can better practice contentment? How can you take your blessings and offer them as a pleasing sacrifice to God?
Prayer:
My prayer for you is that you recognize God working in your life as it is now, and see the blessings he has given to you. I pray for discernment to see areas where you can grow and where he can further bless you and that your efforts be put there. I pray that you long to reach the goals HE has for you, rather than the goals you have for yourself, and that you live a life that is truly life.
Let’s talk about distractions. One of my greatest frustrations and fears while driving is distracted drivers. I feel a bit ridiculous when I say things like, “It didn’t used to be like this,” with the unsaid “back in my day” hanging uncomfortably in the air. But it’s true. I started driving before cell phones, screens in cars, and most other technology that might take my attention from the road. But now I can’t go anywhere without being cut off or having to swerve my car out of the way of someone crossing that center line. I notice it even more now that I’m teaching my daughter to drive. It’s terrifying.
Speaking of teenage daughters, it seems every time I give them a task and come back later to see it is not done, the response is always, “I got distracted.” I’m just as guilty. We all are. We are a distracted society.
I had to read through these two chapters a few times, trying to decide where I wanted to focus this devotion. What was God trying to tell me here? But I saw a common theme that I’ve never noticed before, and it was distractions.
Paul talks first about being too focused on our own past and on ourselves. We get so wrapped up in everything we’ve done and said that we lose sight of the fact that none of that matters. Pride or shame sets in. Paul lists why he had every reason to be proud of who he was and where he came from, but that it all meant nothing. We get distracted by ourselves and are no longer focused on a relationship with the only one who can actually save us. Paul tells us in 3:13, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Don’t get distracted by the past or yourself but push on toward Christ.
Next, we are distracted by worldly people and their ways. He says in 3:17, “keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” Stop trying to be like those of the world and surround yourselves instead with Christ-like examples. Stop trying to impress those that don’t matter with what you wear, what you do, and what you say. Reserve your attention and your actions for Christ and his message.
And, finally, my personal favorite distraction – anxiety. Whether you worry about everything, or overthink, or are overly concerned with what others think or do – all distractions. Paul tells us what to focus on instead: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Reflection Questions:
What is distracting you from a real relationship with Christ? What attitude within yourself should you change? What habits should you destroy and with what should you replace them?
What are some true, noble, pure, and praiseworthy things you should be focused on and how can you shift your attention toward them more often?
Prayer:
My prayer for you today is that you are able to pick out distractions in your life and burn them away. I pray that you have a closer relationship with Christ and that it outshines everything else. Like Paul said, “…press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Press on and focus on Jesus.
One of the sins that always frightens me most is the sin of pride. It’s slippery and hard to recognize because one of the symptoms of this particular sin is the inability to see a fault in ourselves. I’ve seen many people who claim humility – they are quick to point out their easily recognized flaws and will readily acknowledge when someone else is better than them at something that they are terrible at. I think of that as easy humility. It’s a quick reassurance to ourselves that we are not guilty of the terrible sin of pride. It makes us feel better about ourselves and our attitudes.
But pride doesn’t have to show up in every aspect of our lives. You can be humble about your skills playing an instrument, while still being enmeshed in pride in some other area. Sometimes pride disguises itself. For example, not seeking counsel because you believe you already have the answers? Pride. Insisting on things being done a certain way because you think it is the RIGHT way, when really it’s just the way you PREFER? Pride.
Philippians 2:3-4 says:
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
It’s an easy thing to say. I bet most of us think we already place others before us. We serve others, we give of our time and resources, we pray over their needs. But Paul calls us to do more than this. He says do NOTHING out of selfish ambition or conceit.
We all have agendas. We all have goals. Do every single one of our agendas and goals look out for the interest of others? I know mine don’t always. I struggle with shopping for gifts for others because I keep seeing things I would like to get myself! We are trained by the world to look out for ourselves! We must do what is best for ourselves!
Let’s be clear – God wants you to take care of yourself and do good things for yourself as well. But in this letter Paul is talking to the church as a whole and to the people working within that church. We, as a body of Christ, are to be working together in complete humility, putting others before ourselves. I’ve had to say many times, both to myself and to others, “This isn’t about you.”
Because it’s not. None of this is about you. The types of songs we sing in worship. How we conduct meetings. How the furniture is arranged. How we do prayer requests or announcements. What type of public events we hold. I could go on. None of those things are about you.
We have one mission as a church. We are to live and serve like Christ. We are to go and make disciples, baptize, teach, serve, and love. We are to do Christ’s work, and not once did Jesus ever put his own agenda before God’s agenda. He was the ultimate example of what it looks like to put God’s will before our own.
Reflection Questions:
Where are you guilty of pride? Don’t stop at the easy answers either. Look deep. Do you find yourself getting frustrated over people in church doing things “the wrong way” when really it’s just not the way you would do them? Do you find yourself not asking for counsel in an issue because you think you already have the answer? Do you find yourself not praying over decisions?
What areas of your life would look different if you put others before yourself? What areas of your church would look different if you put others before yourself? (Note that I didn’t ask what areas would look different if OTHERS were more humble or selfless. We are looking just at ourselves, so don’t start down that dangerous path.)
Prayer:
My prayer for you is that our church bodies be united in humility to do Jesus’ work. I pray that we are able to keep the slippery sin of pride far away from us. I pray that others are able to see Jesus Christ in us because we are continually showing them love and putting them first above ourselves.
Relationships are tricky things. They are a blessing to us, and yet they don’t come without thorns. God decided in the very beginning that we weren’t to be alone. We were created to be with others. The final three chapters of Ephesians center around how to be in relationships. From the bond found in church bodies and friendships,to slave/servant and master, to children and parents, to husband and wife, we see a wide array of relationships. And they all start in the same place: unity in Christ.
What a tricky thing to do, being one in spirit and purpose when we aren’t always one in mind. For example, you could look at the political atmosphere in our country. I know Christians who are Democrat, and Christians who are Republican, and a vast array in between or beyond. They are definitely not of one mind, though I like to believe that most are of one spirit: they want our country to be a good, safe place to live. We just all have a different ideas of how that should happen, and we prioritize different ideals, right?
The same goes in every relationship. In churches, I rarely see a lack of peace because someone desperately WANTS to go against Christ and destroy his church. Usually I just see different groups of people with different priorities and different ideas of how things should be done. One in spirit, but not one in mind. This holds true in every relationship. No matter how united we are in our goal, we will find differences that lead to conflict.
So how do we handle relationships when we differ in mind? Paul gives us a lot of advice here, so I’ll list some highlights:
1. Be humble, gentle, and patient in love. Show humility by admitting that maybe your way doesn’t have to be THE way. And of course be gentle and patient when you are disagreeing.
2. Seek God in determining your place in the body of Christ, as well as in your relationships. Many times our conflicts occur because we have stepped away from where God wants us.
3. Deal with your anger in a Godly way. Don’t let it take root and stew in your bitterness. Evaluate what you’re actually angry about. Is it righteous anger? Is this anger God would have in the same situation, or is this YOUR anger – anger that things aren’t going the way YOU want them to. If it’s Godly anger, then you need to speak up in truth. If it’s your anger, then you need to stop letting it get in the way of the work God wants to do in you and through you.
4. No unwholesome talk. This means you DON’T put others down. You don’t gossip, and you don’t say hurtful things about those who are one with you in the body of Christ. You don’t put down your children, you don’t put down your spouse, you don’t put down your friends, and you don’t put down your church body. You can’t be unified in mind and purpose if your speech is keeping you apart.
5. Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. That verse is so important to good relationships that I put it to song and had my children memorize it when they were small. God forgave you for all your stupid, stupid mistakes, sins and words. So forgive others for theirs.
6. Do not wait for others to follow Paul’s advice here. It starts with you. Paul didn’t say this, but we see it in every example of a good disciple. You can’t control others’ actions and emotions. But you can control yours. And good disciples take the first steps and live as an example to others.
Paul goes on in the rest of Ephesians with more good advice, specifically pertaining to certain relationships. But these foundations he lays out in chapter four pave the way. You are called to be united in Christ. So it’s time for a relationship inventory.
Reflection Questions:
First, are you united in spirit in this relationship? (As in, do you have the same goal, and is that goal Godly?) If you aren’t, then maybe it’s time to place some safety distance in that relationship so that it doesn’t affect the work God would like to do in your life. If you ARE united in spirit, you can move on to further analysis.
If you’re united in Spirit, are you currently not united in mind about an issue?
Are there negative feelings attached to that issue? Are you angry, bitter, hurt, jealous, anxious, or something similar? You need to find out the root cause. Do those feelings stem from something that is ungodly, or do they come from a more personal place? If you look at it hard enough, is this really just a difference of opinion, or is this an issue of righteousness? Most of the time, it’s a difference of opinion. If that’s the case, it’s time to start looking at Paul’s suggestions there in chapter 4. Most of all, show love. Rather than saying, “I’m angry at this person because of….” start actively saying, “I love this person because…” and you will see a radical shift in your relationships with others. Even if you have to start small with, “I love this person because God told me to.” Doing what God asks is a wonderful place to start.
Prayer Thoughts:
My prayer for you today is that you read through these passages and really try to apply them to your relationships. I pray that you are able to recognize a difference of opinion for what it is – a difference in how your beautiful brains think, not a reason to be angry and distrustful. I pray that you find unity in spirit and unity in mind in your relationships. I pray that when you don’t find that unity, you step up and be a good disciple by making the first move toward togetherness. I pray that you love and forgive others as Christ forgave you.
I will be the first to admit that I struggle to let go of hurt. I don’t like to hold grudges. Having bad feelings towards others eats away at me. It gives me an upset stomach. And yet, I still fixate on those feelings and my relationships with those that hurt me never seem to be the same. I cling to that hurt, and that hurt divides us.
Hurt and grudges don’t seem to have much to do with our passages today, I know. But it’s where my heart went. What stood out to me the most in these scriptures was the idea of division. I don’t know many Jewish people and so I don’t think I can fully appreciate what it meant to be united in grace and salvation with a group of people who were so radically separate from me. But there are others who ARE radically separate from me. We are separated by pain and broken relationships.
Read Chapter 2:14-18:
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Have you ever felt yourself so divided from another person or another group of people that you felt there was no fixing that gap? I have. But the divide wasn’t a matter of nationality or to what group of people I belong. The divide was pain, hurt, betrayal, pride, and heartache.
I don’t know what your divide is, but I’m willing to bet that most of you have felt separated from others like I have. It’s painful, and it doesn’t feel like it could ever be mended.
And yet, Jesus Christ destroyed the division. You are a sinner and you have done wrong and yet he died for you. The ones who hurt you? They are sinners and they have done wrong. And he died for them too.
“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” We all got the same message. We all got the same forgiveness. We all got the same grace. Yes, they hurt you. And you’ve probably hurt someone else.
Verses 21-22 continue:
In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
In Jesus Christ, we are joined together with those on the other side of that wide divide of hurt. We are to rise as his holy temple. We are to be united as his church. The divide that was too wide for us to cross on our own has been made small by the grace freely offered to all of us sinners. The divide may be hurt or betrayal or a sin done against one side or another. But the people on each side of that divide are equally guilty of sin. And they are equally forgiven.
Reflection Questions:
From whom are you divided? Really examine your heart. Do you want to be a united family of God? Do you want to be the temple God wants you to be, or would you rather hang on to your hurt?
What sins of yours did Christ die for? What sins against you did Christ die for? If Christ died for those sins, and they have been paid for and are no longer yours or theirs, why are you still holding on to them?
Prayer:
My prayer for you today is that you find healing. Pray that God softens your heart and fills it with love for him that is so great, there is no room for hurt and division. Pray that you recognize God’s children as your own family, and that you be united in Christ. Pray for peace to settle on you all.
Wow – today we have the whole book of Colossians to read and digest. After Ephesians Colossians is the next doctrinal and correction teaching which we have in our Bibles. The message of the kingdom is proclaimed all through the Old Testament and the blessing to the Gentile nations is included in that message. However, the fulness of the teaching of the mystery of the church of the body of Christ is hinted at in Romans 16:25, talked about in 1 Corinthians 2 and especially in 15:50-58, explained at length in Ephesians 3, and now the glory of the mystery proclaimed in Colossians 1:26-27. What is this mystery and why is it so important to the church that Paul would put so much emphasis on it?
The book of Colossians is one of the ones written by Paul while in prison at Rome. It follows Ephesians in the pattern where the first half of the book is doctrinal teaching and the second half of the book is a practical section correcting and teaching us how to live out this amazing Christ in us. Read these 4 short chapters with this main distinction in mind.
Colossians 1:15-18(NKJV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
The meaning of the mystery is that it is the sacred secret of God’s purpose which has been revealed to those that have the ears to hear and eyes to see. Christ died for our sin and to give us a newness of life which we now can receive. This brings us as children into the family of God, members of His own household. The body of Christ is a spiritually bonded people who all have the DNA of holy spirit to bring us together. Whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female we all become one in Christ. All tribalism is swallowed up by the coming of the one body of Christ with him as the head. It is Christ in each one of us which then unites us together. Amazing what God has done for us!!
The message of the kingdom changes on the day of Pentecost when the new covenant is instituted with believers in Christ. The time period between the passion of Christ and his glorious kingdom on earth was not revealed in the OT Bible. That is why the apostles ask him before Jesus ascends whether the kingdom is going to be restored that day. Jesus answers them that the timing of all these events are in the Father’s hands. The mystery revealed by Paul and Peter later on is that the time of the church of the body of Christ is now and is alive in Christ.
Colossians 1:24-28 I(NKJV) now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:6-7(NLT) And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
How does the mystery revealed intersect with our preaching and teaching of the kingdom message?
Colossians 2:6-10(NLT) And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Chapters 3 and 4 are the practical application teaching us about the doctrine taught in chapters 1-2.
How do the message themes compare between chapters 1-2 to chapters 3-4?
Colossians 3:12-15(NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
What is our motivation for doing the good works God calls us to do?
Colossians 4:2-6(NLT) Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. 5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.
How do we develop our willingness and ability to give a Godly answer to every person we talk to about Christ?
I pray for you as did Paul centuries ago that you will live out this wonderful mystery of Christ as part of the body of Christ, his church. Remember who you are this day!
Seek Grow Love 