Welcome New Guys!! Challenge #3 Here we go!28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfectt in their relationship to Christ.29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.
This verse screams accountability and discipleship! We hold such a responsibility to others and to God. We want to present others to God perfect in their relationship to Christ...what does this mean for us, the believers? It also means that we too have to present ourselves perfect in our relationship to Christ! This chapter is incredible! So Gospel and Eternity focused! Let us work hard and struggle hard in order to do God's will...which is spread the great news about his deliverance and live lives worthy of the call!
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
ReplyDelete"The supremacy of Christ in all things." Just think about that statement. In light of this, what should we live like? Who is it that should get the glory?...This is why we pray in Jesus' name, that the son (God's only son) who is preeminent (above all things) might bring glory to the Father. John 14:13-14 For God has said that "through him" all might be reconciled back to God.
What's our job as believers? We are ambassadors given as Christ's beloved church the ministry of reconciling the world back to God. 2 Cor 5:18
"Father, make Christ truly be above all things in my life. Throw out the sin that so easily entagles and let my life reflect your glory. In Jesus's name I pray, Amen."
16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
ReplyDeleteThrough this view is certainly a new way to look at the work. To think that , aside from all of creation, that even the rulers and thrones of authorities were created by Him for His own use puts a whole new sense of responsibilities on that man. That the power of authority does not come from anyone on this earth, but instead from the Father above.
10-11 "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
ReplyDeleteIf we want to live lives that are "worthy" of our Lord, or as Philippians 1:27 "worthy of the Gospel of Christ..." we must have our eyes opened by God so that we may see Him, His will, and His desires for our life. We need to pray without ceasing and meditate tirelessly upon the Word of God so that we will see God and we then might begin to walk in a manner worthy of Christ our Lord.
How can we expect our lives to be worthy of Christ, if we are focused more on the things of earth that the things of God, and if we are looking more at ourselves than we are at Christ? (Colossians 3:1-17)
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.
ReplyDeleteWe are all by nature sinful creatures. Now that we have been exposed to the knowledge of God and of Christ, at least for me, it feels terrible when I stray from that, forsaking that wonderful news for the temptation of sin. But this verse is more than a reassurance. God let the crucifixion happen so that we who believed in the man who suffered as God incarnate would have our sins blotted out, that "though your sins are scarlet, they shall be white as snow."
10: "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."
ReplyDeleteThis is a verse from Paul's section on praying for the people at Colosse in verses 9-14. When praying for people, we need to ask God to help them live for Him. We all need to live lives worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way. So often we all find ourselves doing things that do not please God. There is no way we can find complete joy out of these, since our true joy comes from glorifying the Lord. As we grow in the knowledge of God, we begin to bear good fruit in every work, as the passage clearly states for us to do. In all that we do, whether for ourselves or others, we need to stop and think about whether or not our actions glorify God and bear spiritual wisdom and fruit.
"16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."
ReplyDeleteSometimes, when our lives start falling apart, it can sometimes be easy to question God as to why certain things are happening or where he is in the situation. Often, we fail to see that perhaps the chaos in our lives is because we have not made God our top priority or a priority at all. All things were created by and for Him, and, if we make him our central focus, everything else in our lives will fall into place. God is all-loving, all-knowing, and omnipresent. If we allow Him to guide our lives, He will never lead us astray.
verse 17: He is before all things and in him, all things hold together.
ReplyDeleteThe message of this verse is terribly profound. It is a simple truth that we all accept yet never think about. God is greater than us. He was here before us. He created us. He is the reason we exist. If you think about it, this alone is sufficient reason for us to worship him. So let's take our eyes away from other idols and give God the glory.
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
ReplyDeleteThis kinda ties into my last post a little. Why would God rescue us if he didn't have a plan for us. He loves us and wants the best for us. He rescued us from ourselves and wants the best for us. Why wouldn't we want to serve him given this?
11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
ReplyDeletePaul's prayer for the church of Colosse in verses 10-12 is a prayer that i think a lot of us consistently pray for ourselves and those close to us. I know I find myself on a day-to-day basis asking God for strength and patience. But I think sometimes we forget that when we are praying for that strength or patience to make it through whatever menial task we have for that day, we are asking to be strengthened "according to HIS glorious might." That, to me, is absolutely incredible that the same power that conquered the grave lives in me (Hillsong reference). We should be rejoicing and giving thanks to the father every day because he has already given us that power because the spirit of God lives in us! Oh and just in case that isn't awesome enough, yes, he has indeed enabled us to share in the inheritance of his kingdom.
27. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.(NLT)
ReplyDeleteThis verse was speaking to me and I had to stop and read it about five time in context to fully take in the message God was putting down. We often pray for strength because we feel that we are too weak to do all of the work placed before us. We pray for courage because we feel like if we have more courage then we can find and build relationships with more non-believers. We pray for so many things that we already have within us because we have Christ within us dwelling as the Holy Spirit. We are equipped and we do have assurance that yes Christ is living in us and through us, we don't to do a thing but let Jesus live through us. This has been a message that the Lord has been speaking to me in the last week and its amazing.
All is Good in Christ
16 "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."
ReplyDeleteTo me, this is an important verse. As a scientists I have the opportunity to see many wonderful things that He has created and each new day brings me the opportunity to see something awesomely complex and beautiful. This appreciation for His creation has grown through my years here at Tech and it makes me even more excited to know that I am also a part of his creation, "fearfully and wonderfully made". Beyond the creation aspect though, the breadth of His dominion is comforting. I'm reminded of Jeremiah 29:11 and it awes me to feel significant to Him when I know I represent a minuscule part of His creation.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
ReplyDeleteThese verses talk about what we should pray for each other: Wisdom and understanding to live a life worthy of God - a life reflecting the things God has taught us.
13-14 "For 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."
ReplyDeleteGod's grace has rescued us from destruction. By sending His Son, we are brought from darkness into the light as his very own children. Like Christ, we are also brought from death and darkness and welcomed into his kingdom as his cleaned people washed away from sin. It is important to remember that if we had not had a savior to come rescue us, we would continue to live in darkness.
Colossians 1:18
ReplyDeleteAnd he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
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When thinking about Christ's preeminence, I like to think of him as the first ray of light that shines through. He should never be "post-eminent".
As stated in Hebrews, "He is the radiance of the glory of God." I have spent a lot of time dissecting this phrase. He is the very light that shines God's glory. It is as if God is a lightbulb, and Jesus is the emitted rays of light. He is what illuminates the greatness of God.
Let him shine before all things. Give him his proper place. He is the leader of our lives. He is the promise of eternal life. He is the foremost of all creation. Don't try to outshine him, because when the last day comes, you will be like a small candle on a sunny beach. No one will be looking at you.