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. Col 2:6–7.
This last week has been a game-changer. Government guidelines and orders surrounding the COVID-19 crisis have intensified and often include the word “indefinitely.” Our endurance is being tested. The Apostle Paul knew struggle and suffering. He suffered in the flesh for his devotion to the gospel and suffered in his heart for churches attacked by false teachers. He knew of the work of Christ as a work of endurance. He knew that the church felt this burden, too. That is the context of Colossians 2:6-7. Paul tells struggling and enduring saints, “The struggle is real, difficult, and long. So, walk in Christ.” Even as we struggle to endure this virus and the programs put in place to slow its spread, we must see this as our greatest calling: to walk in Christ. Our ultimate concern should not be, “Will we get sick or die?” “Will we make it financially?” or “Will we survive social isolation?” Our ultimate concern must be to endure, come what may, in our walk with Jesus. Today is the day to resolve in your mind and heart to do just that. Will I stay rooted in Him? Yes. I will find my hope and my joy in Christ. Will I seek to be built up in Him? Yes. I will use what time I have to grow in the knowledge of Christ, love for Christ, and obedience to Christ. Will I remain firm in the faith taught in God’s Word? Yes. I will trust in Christ and His grace above all. Will I give thanks to Him? Yes. I will give thanks at all times! My prayer for you today is that your life, even today, will follow the trajectory of Psalm 13: How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. In Christ, Pastor Don 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, 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 1:21-23
In Colossians 1:15-20, Paul declares the glories of Christ. He does it so well that it would be perfectly understandable for the reader to stop there, overwhelmed by the person of Jesus, and spend the next day in worship. That would be an appropriate response. Another excellent response would be to read on. For, in verses 21-23, Paul presents this glorious Christ as a personal Christ. Paul explains just what Christ has done for the believer, “You were . . . He has . . . in order to . . . if you . . .” You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds. This is where we all start. We all begin life in a broken relationship with God—enemies who hate and rebel against their King. This is sin. Every Christian started life in this deplorable condition. He has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death. This is what turned the enemy of Christ into His friend. Jesus, God the Son Incarnate, embraced His enemy as He took on that enemy’s sin-guilt and died. In His physical body, He suffered the wrath of God’s judgment for them. Those who were distant have been brought close. Those who were enemies have been made friends. In order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him. Why did He do it? Why suffer for the wicked rebel? He did so to present Himself with a spotless and pure people on the last day. On that day, Jesus the Lamb of God will declare, “Here they are. I died for them!” That same Jesus, as the King of kings, will respond, “A perfect gift! Spotless and pure. A perfected people to dwell in my presence forever!” 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. How can you know that you are among that holy and blameless population? Faith. Trust Jesus and keep on trusting Jesus. Don’t let your hope shift from Him to anything else: not your deeds, your religion, your government, your success, your wealth, your health, or anything else. Just keep your faith and your hope in Him. Look to Jesus and keep your eyes on Him. May you have the joy of your Lord today. In Christ, Pastor Don He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For 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. 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 firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 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 1:15-20, ESV.
There are many reasons why you might be troubled today. There is a virus out there taking lives. There are the daily press conferences by federal and state governments adding restriction after restriction to our lives to try to mitigate the spread of this virus. There is the political backbiting that even a pandemic can’t kill. Cancer doctors are not allowed to operate, but abortionists are. There is much to be troubled by. Nonetheless, there is hope. Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. In churches that follow a church calendar, it is the beginning of Holy Week, a remembrance of the days leading to the cross and the empty tomb. What can care for your troubled heart? Fill this coming week with Jesus. Minimize your news exposure and maximize your Jesus exposure. Dwell on our glorious Savior—the great subject of Paul’s praise in Colossians 1:15-20. Memorize these verses! Just look at Him: He is the true image of God—the perfect man, the new Adam. He is the firstborn of creation—His status is unrivaled. He is the creator of everything—everything physical and spiritual, is His doing. His is the reason for creation—creation exists to glorify Him. He holds creation together—nothing going on today will overwhelm His care. He is the church's head—He bought her with His blood and rules her in love. He is the resurrection—the beginning of new life and king of a new kingdom. He is God who saves on a cross. Devote your days to Him this coming week. That is what will make this a truly holy week for you and your home! My prayer for you today is simple: May you glorify and enjoy Jesus! Pastor Don For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11.
Because the death of Christ has made it possible for us to enjoy Him as our greatest treasure in life and in death, we must encourage one another and build one another up. This morning, instead of my thoughts, I am passing along something sent from one of our church family to encourage me. As it blessed me, I pray that will bless you: A Word of Encouragement by Bonnie Becker In times of trial and testing It’s often hard to see Our loving heavenly Father’s hand Reaching for you and me. But, let us share a thought with you In this most confusing time. We still can rest upon His word And know that He is kind. He promises to comfort us, To cling and never leave, He’s a shelter in the time of storm All our cares He can relieve. So trust Him now, know He is God, He’s a dear and faithful friend, He wants to help in trouble And give peace without an end. Be encouraged and encourage one another, “just as you are doing.” May God bless your day, Pastor Don For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery … in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love … For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:1-15, ESV.
Governor Wolf, who had been doing so only on a county-by-county basis, has now placed the entire state of Pennsylvania under a “stay at home order." While we still have the freedom to get groceries and perform other essential tasks this order does remove some of our freedom. Even those who seem free to leave their home to do essential work now feel compelled to do so out of duty. To lose freedom is hard. I am sure that you feel it as I do. This morning I want to consider Galatians 5:1-15 (please read the whole passage if you have time). This word from Paul’s pen is about the freedom that is ours in Christ. While we feel the burden of the reduction in our social freedom, I want to encourage you to remember a freedom that nations and states cannot remove. Paul was writing to a church where people were being tempted to see the gospel as an addition to the law of the old covenant instead of the fulfilment of it. They were tempted to believe that they were made right with God through faith in Christ and obedience to the law. Paul is fighting against that view throughout the entire letter of Galatians. Here, in chapter 5, Paul states plainly that Christ has set believers free so they can live free, not as slaves to the law. Everyone who considers their own experience knows what it is like to live under the law, trying to keep God’s commands well enough to be judged good in God’s eyes. It is a constricting and miserable experience: our sinful hearts hate it, and we fail, and fail, and fail again to do it. Thankfully, Christ came to us in our misery and He, as the new and perfect Adam, kept the law for us. And He died for us, absorbing the law-breaker’s penalty. He set us free. As people who are set free, we are to live like it. We are to live in the freedom of knowing that Christ has taken our law burden. The law for us is no longer a taskmaster, but a teacher, showing us what righteousness looks like. We no longer live under it, but, trusting in Christ, we now live under this rule: the rule of love. Free men and women loving God and loving one another as the perfect exercise of our freedom! So, follow the stay-at-home rules. But, as you do, enjoy the freedom you have in Christ. Love God. Love and serve your brother or sister in Christ. Love and serve your neighbor. It is my prayer for you that you will enjoy your freedom in Christ—today! Pastor Don |
From Pastor DonWriting about the Bible and praying that it will be of some good for someone. Archives
June 2021
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