Colossians 4:15-18

Colossians 4:15-18  Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.  After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.  Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.”  I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains.  Grace be with you.

Paul a servant and soldier of the Lord signs off his letter to the Colossians by asking them to tell Archippus to complete the work the Lord has given to him.  Paul knew what he was asking Archippus because he, too, was under the authority of the Supreme Commander of the army of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  He was in the uniform of the Lamb of God, under orders to carry the message of grace and mercy to whosoever would receive the message, repent of their sins, and follow Christ.  His orders were cut to carry out some of the most dangerous and difficult assignments ever given to a human being.  And now I am going to Jerusalem, drawn there irresistibly by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what awaits me,  except that the Holy Spirit has told me in city after city that jail and SUFFERING LIE AHEAD.  But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.  (Acts 20:22-24)  He told his followers who did not want him to carry on with his mission to be quiet and not to deter him from his purpose on earth.  “Why all this weeping?  You are breaking my heart!  For I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but also to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”  When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The will of the Lord be done.”  (Acts 21:13-14)  Would we as Christian Americans willingly accept the same assignment as those early Christians?  Paul encouraged Archippus to finish the course, to fulfill the mission assigned to him.  I am sure most of us who spend our evenings sitting in comfortable recliner chairs and lounging on soft sofas, watching television till late at night in the safety of our homes would have a rough time accepting such orders FROM THE ONE WE CALL LORD.  Sometimes, the smallest amount of pain or embarrassment serves to discourage us from carrying out any assignment that tests our perseverance.  

Paul and his co-workers fasted and prayed for long periods of time to face and to endure the ordeals the world presented them.  Many times their missions for the Lord involved persecution, danger, and death.  After Paul heard his friends say, "The will of the Lord be done,"  we see him struggling to stay alive as the Jews in Jerusalem attempted to kill him by viciously beating him.  Paul was dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him.  As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.  He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd.  When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.  The commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains.  (Acts 21:30-33)  Can you imagine what that scene must have been like for Paul as he faced a murderous crowd and then is bound and led away by Roman soldiers?  How must it feel to be at the mercy of a mob trying their best to kill you; then your rescuers take you away to prison?  How much blood must have flowed from Paul's body?  How many times did he fall down from the blows that came against him from all directions?  What thoughts passed through his mind as he was chained by the guards?  Some of us have fears.  Perhaps a fear of attack or of a burglary or of being shot by a gun, but few of us have ever faced the possibility of death by an angry mob.  Yet, the Holy Spirit drew Paul to this very place and then to prison where he stood at the door and attempted to preach to the same people who wanted him dead until they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him!  He’s not fit to live!”  (Acts 22:22)  He was there because he was a soldier of the cross, a soldier under orders who loved not his own life but gave his all to the Lord of All.  

Although Archippus is mentioned only two times in the Bible, church records make mention of him as one of the 70 that Christ sent out.  He is also said to have been martyred for his faith.  We know for certain when Paul wrote to his friend Philemon, he began by saying, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home.  (Philemon 1-2)  This soldier, Archippus, finished the course.  He followed his orders.  He gave everything for the cause of Christ.  He did not write any letters that lasted through time for the benefit of the church, but God gave him a work to do so important that his fellow servant, Paul, reminded the brethren to encourage Archippus, to gather round him, to make sure he finished the race.  Dear breakfast companions, complete the course now set before you.  God has given you clear directions, a purpose, you belong to him.  You call Jesus Lord: He calls you Son, Daughter.  You must follow his direction, not yours.  Most of us do not want to go to Jerusalem, do not want to complete the course or do what God wants us to do when the situation becomes difficult, when we face pain and sorrow, torment and persecution.  Do not let foolish pride or difficult situations get in your way.  Ask forgiveness, alter your course a bit, seek help, start over with renewed zeal.  Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.  We have only one life to live.  As Papa tells the grandchildren: Live life, don't watch it!  You will never regret living a worthwhile life, but you will regret sitting on the couch and watching life go by.  God has marching orders for each of us.  Peter wrote, we endure hardships and trials, but we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.  (1Peter 1:8)  May this joy overflow from your innermost being as you live your life for God's glory with great anticipation.  Every day is a new day to walk in the light of God's love full of the Holy Spirit.  Paul and Archippus lived each day IN THE SPIRIT, doing the work assigned to them by the Lord.  2,000 years later, we still know their names.   

Abba Father

My God, the hope

In the room,

Remains when 

All else fails.

My Savior, sets

My spirit free.

When my soul

Cries out in pain,

My Comfortor,

Covers me.

In violent storms,

Carries me.

When I fall

Reaches down,

Lifts me up

To Heaven’s realm.

My Lord, Redeemer,

King of Kings,

Calls me his 

Beloved Daughter;

I say boldly,

Abba Father!

Jacqueline M. Bursch

  

Colossians 4:7-14

Colossians 4:7-14  Tychicus will tell you all the news about me.  He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.  I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.  He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.  They will tell you everything that is happening here.  My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)  Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings.  These are the only Jews among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.  Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.  I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.  Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. 

Nearing the end of his letter, Paul mentions some of his fellow workers.  While we might typically skip through this section, we wondered what the Word says about these men.  We could not help thinking none of them realized their names and Paul's comments would echo through history.  Christians through the ages have read Paul's remarks concerning their service to the Lord.  Usually Paul speaks the names of fellow laborers in passing with expressions of thanks or words of encouragement to others to follow their examples.   On this list, Onesimus has the most written about him.  Paul's letter to Philemon pleads for him to receive this wayward slave, Onesimus, as Paul now sends him back as a believer.  Yet Paul mentioned Onesimus by name only once in the letter, and his name is seen a second time in the Bible in today's passage.  Paul tells Philemon, I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.  I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.  But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced.  Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good—no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.  (Philemon 12-16)  Earlier in the letter, Paul reminds his friend he could order him to do the right thing by Onesimus, who is now a Christian brother, but he asks him to act in faith, saying, I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.  (Philemon 10)  Paul remains so committed to this fellow servant, he lectures Philemon throughout the writing.  Then Paul, truly interceding for a brother, says, So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.  If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me.  Paul is so concerned for his friend, he says, I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand.  I will pay it back — not to mention that you owe me your very self.  (Philemon 17-19)  Paul is not above saying, "You owe me, and I am calling in a debt."  Paul loved Onesimus in word and deed.

As we look at some of the other men on the list, Paul says, Tychicus will tell you all the news about me.  Then Paul describes him so lovingly by listing his attributes so clearly: 1.  Beloved brother  2.  Faithful minister  3.  Fellow servant  4.  Observant worker  5.  Encourager.  When we look up Tychicus elsewhere in the Bible, his name appears in four other places, and each time he is serving Paul by going somewhere for him.  While in chains, Paul writes, Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.  I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.  (Ephesians 6:21-22)  When character comes from within, from the indwelling Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ, our actions remain constant: we show forth the glory of the Lord, the light and the love of the Christ.  Paul could send Tychicus wherever he was needed, assured he would do the work God had prepared for him to do.  He knew Tychicus was a beloved brother and fellow servant of the Lord who ministered faithfully.  He knew Tychicus paid attention to the work of the Lord by carrying news to the church and encouraging them with accounts of the miracles of God's goodness in Paul's ministry.  He would also pray with the people, telling them the needs of those who were spreading the Good News and facing persecution, trials of every kind.  We do not know as much about some of the other men listed, but the Word offers us glimpses of their lives.  A few words often tell a huge story.  Aristarchus for example often accompanies Paul in his journeys, and being near Paul is not always such a safe place.  A silversmith in Ephesus called the tradesmen together, saying there was a danger they would lose all their trade because Paul was converting so many people and turning them away from buying statues of the goddess Artemis.  When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”  Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater.  (Acts 19:28-29)  Later Aristarchus accompanied Paul when they set sail for Italy as prisoners.  What we know is this fellow prisoner remained faithful to his brother Paul along with Mark, the cousin of Barnabas; Jesus, who is called Justus; Epaphras, who was also a fellow prisoner who wrestled in prayer for the church; Luke, the doctor; and Demas.  These co-laborers in the harvest stood with Paul and proved a comfort in the midst of an often chaotic existence.

These men remind us to take heart in serving the Lord.  Mom saw an ad for a book recently.  The author contented we have taken Christ out of Christianity by packaging the gospel in many different boxes to attract people.  We have tried to make it user friendly or more like we think it should be, hoping to sneak up on people with the "Good News" that Christ died to save sinners.  The problem is the Good News is all we have to offer: everything else is fluff and stuff and does not satisfy.  When we offer substitutes or slant the gospel, we lose sight of our purpose for being.  When we are not authentic, we play roles, get caught up with a certain mold or posture as we try to fit everything into that box.  We stop depending upon the Holy Spirit.  We look to people for inspiration: books, seminars, and models dominate our plans and goals.  These things are not inherently wrong, but Christ often gets lost or obscured. This author pointed out it does not matter what side we choose.  We can be ultra liberal or very conservative in our pre-packaged formula; if we are selling a method and think we know the WAY, we have lost our way.  Now these words are our interpretation of what the author was sharing, but he made us think.  Jesus said if we lift him up, He draws all people to him.  The men Paul traveled with were trustworthy, committed, fellow-servants of the Lord.  They kept showing up.  They were single-minded lovers of God and one another.  They did not find fault, turn away in times of trouble, or shrink from hard tasks.  Accepting their calling, they did the work their hands found to do with gladness while encouraging and helping others.  They knew their purpose for living: serving and working for the Lord.  They did not stir up trouble, find fault with others, or complain about the government or the church.  We must ask ourselves: What would Paul say of us if we traveled with him?  Would we be a dear brother or sister, a faithful servant, a comfort to him?  Would he plead our case and offer to cover our debts?  Would he list our attributes as an encouragement in Christ?  Help us Lord!  May this be our heartfelt prayer: I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. . .Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:8 & 13-14)   

 

Colossians 4:1-6

Colossians 4:1-6  Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.  Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  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.

Before addressing slave masters, Paul has just told the church, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, reminding them they are working for the Lord, not for men.  We can almost hear the Holy Spirit expanding this thought in Paul's mind lest anyone think there are exceptions to this idea.  Paul exhorts his Christian brethren to extend the love of Christ to all people in all situations by seasoning their words and actions with grace and mercy, for as joint heirs with Christ we should be the light of the world.  As we saw in John, Jesus commanded us to love as He loves us: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  (John 13:34-35)  Paul says in a culture with slavery, even the Christian masters should manifest the light of Christ by treating their slaves rightly and justly.  They should remember to treat their slaves as their Master treats them with the same grace and mercy they received when they were in the depths of their rebellion against him.  Their Master showed them forbearance and kindness even when they were seemingly unredeemable, lost in the abyss of sin.  You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)  We should give to others what we have been given.

Paul understands grace as well as any other believer of his time and would certainly have compassion for all.  He wrote to his spiritual son Timothy: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst (chief) of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.  (1 Timothy 1:15-17)  Knowing what the human spirit was capable of outside of the mercies of Christ, Paul continually pointed the church to the cross and the unfailing grace of a loving God who showed the world his love through the gift of his Son.  This former persecutor of the church knew sons and daughters of the Lord should walk in love with the fruit of the Spirit evident in the way we act towards the world, the way we conduct our daily walking about lives.  We should be the salt, the light of the world.  Sadly, many times we fail Christ by displaying harshness, negativity, and judgment rather than kindness, love, and mercy.  We cannot succeed on our own, only through Christ in us our hope of glory.  Jesus yielded himself totally to the Father and the Spirit as He walked this earth as an example to us.  He was tempted in all ways, yet He was without sin, so He might offer himself as a sacrifice for our sin.  He showed us how to depend upon God.  When the people did not understand who he was and questioned him, He always pointed to the Father.  When the time for his death neared, the people did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.  So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am [the one I claim to be] and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.  The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”  Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.  To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  (John 8:27-32)  This is the truth and the freedom Paul offered the church.

All believers must ask: How does the world see us?  If we surveyed a group of outsiders, would they say Christians are negative, angry uncaring, judgmental, narrow-minded, hard to talk to, and the like?  Maybe we would find some folks who would say Christians are kind, generous, caring, and helpful.  That is what we hope.  Unfortunately, there is a rather distorted image of us out in the world.  We have to deal with that, not just blame it on the devil.  Christians have founded thousands of hospitals and orphanages around the world.  We feed and house millions of indigent people every day and perform good deeds for the poor and the needy in inner city ministries in our own country.  We could make a long list of the positive works of the church, but still the world many times sees us in a negative light.  Often we seem to obscure or mar Christ's image rather than to enhance it.  What is wrong?   Well, perhaps it is our words that do damage in our day-to-day living.  Our conversations are not seasoned with salt, but with vinegar.  We are often too bitter, too critical, too judgmental and not peaceful, conciliatory or inclusive.  We often express the truth, but we do it in such a manner that the world resents us.  They don't see love; they see judgmental anger.  We try to win the world through our words, through our rightness, rather than through our love and compassion.  We win the battle of words, but we lose the war of love.  How will the world know Christ: though our love.  Our love will dispel more darkness than any words we can conjure up.  God's love breaks the bondage of darkness.  Love lifted me and love will lift you: love will lift the world up also for God is love.  The Word should be our guide: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  (1John 1:7-11)  Without this love we are hopelessly doomed to the darkness of sin and death.  Love is more than words: love is an action, a life, a commitment that never ends.  As the saying goes: Actions speak louder than words.  Loving deeds through the power of the cross win hearts.  

Colossians 3:18-25

Colossians 3:18-25  Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.  Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

After telling believers whatever you do, whether in word of deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him, Paul admonishes husbands, wives, parents, children, and slaves to serve others with all of their hearts as working for the Lord.  American Christians often speak of servanthood yet experience difficulties when serving actually costs them something or service become an inconvenience.  We want to serve on our terms, when it fits into our schedules and does not take too much time, strength, or emotional energy.  We have protective cliches to shield ourselves from responsibility for the needs of others, and we are convinced our needs come first.  "I have to take care of myself, don't I.  My family should come before other people.  I have my own problems.  I can't get involved in ministry because my husband and kids are just lost without me.  I need what little time I have for my family.  There are other people with more time and talent than I have to offer."  Many simply say, "It's my life and I am going to live it my way.  I work hard and no one has a right to tell me what to do."  Our American culture extolls independence from authority and freedom from interference and oppression.  Our forbearers broke free from the bondage of monarchism and based our government on principals of personal freedom.  Our Declaration of Independence states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."  Setting aside personal needs and rights to become subservient to someone else or serving without any thought of receiving anything in return seems difficult to many; for some the thought remains an anathema.  Yet the Spirit of God constantly reminds us of our calling to love others as Christ loved us.  Paul told the Galatians: You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself."  (Galatians 5:13-14)

Many Americans combine their strong sense of personal freedom with the current pervasive materialistic view of life.  They decide since we  go around only once, we should use our rights and privileges to enhance our brief sojourn with all the earthly benefits we can amass.  Submission to others or looking to meet their needs gets in the way of storing up treasures for ourselves.  As Christians we are so blessed by the Lord's favor, his bountiful mercy and grace; but there is a danger in getting so used to handling holy things as if they were common while walking hand in hand with Jesus that we forget He is LORD OF ALL and Lord of our lives.  If we lived in the time of a carnal King such as King David and we were invited to come into his presence; we would not even look at him when we approached him, not even raise our eyes to look into his eyes.  Recognizing him as the representative of God on Earth, the chosen king of the land, we would crawl to him, eyes on the floor, until he acknowledged us and gave us permission to have an audience with him, an opportunity to speak in his presence.  People living under a monarch better understand lordship and submission.  Because of our freedom, we carelessly call Jesus Lord without knowing what we say.  Therefore, it is often burdensome for wives to submit to their husbands; vexing for husbands to serve wives as Christ served the church; trying for children to obey their parents in everything; difficult for fathers not to embitter their children; demanding for workers to complete all their duties, even when the boss is unfair and cruel.  We don't understand that kind of committed and slavish obedience, but if we yield with a sincere heart by submitting to Christ, the world will see the love of our LORD revealed in and through us as we work with all our hearts for him.  

We say we will follow Jesus wherever He leads but often stop short when He opens doors, saying, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."  In our homes, on the job, in the neighborhood, at the shopping mall, wherever we find ourselves and see people needing us; that is where the Lord calls us to serve.  Yet our self-absorption and rebellious hearts keep most of us focused on the our own needs: I have to get the house cleaned.  What do I need at the store?   Where is the best sale on chicken?  I am not going to speak to my sister until she calls me first.  I have to get this project finished by five o'clock.  Why is he always late picking up the kids from the sitter?  We tend not to listen to the Lord, not to hear the Spirit's still small voice, telling us to sit down by that discouraged co-worker during lunch, to send an email to a friend, to make a call we have put off, to visit a person we have promised to visit for months (even if it is a little embarrassing), to buy extra groceries for a family down the street with the husband out of work.  There is no end to the ordinary acts of kindness for ordinary people when we get started and give God a chance to reign in our hearts.  Americans are not the only selfish ones.  The media sends out a message to the world: BE ALL YOU CAN BE.  This seems to be one of the main goals of modern society, yet such an aim does not always lead to cooperation and working together for the good of all.  For believers such a goal does not promote taking up the cross and following Jesus to spread the Good News.  

The world says get up early and work as hard as you can for yourself--the survival of the fittest.  None of us is immune to this self-spirit, but this is not the spirit of Christ.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!  (Philippians 2:5-8)  We are new creatures in Christ who did the Father's will.  When James and John sought positions of power at Jesus' side in glory, Jesus knew they did not understand his mission.  He said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  (Mark 10:42-45)  The Father's will was for Jesus to serve and ultimately to give all that we might live.  Wives serve your husbands, husbands serve your wives, children serve your parents, parents serve your children, workers serve your bosses, bosses serve your workers.  Love one another deeply from the heart (1 Peter 1:22) as Christ has loved us.  

Colossians 3:15-17

Colossians 3:15-17  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

In the previous breakfasts, we saw when believers follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and take advantage of the provisions of the Lord, we experience a rich inner life and cope better in a world of turmoil where peace is sometimes hard to realize in our hearts.  As we clothe ourselves with the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience of our Lord, we begin to walk as Jesus did.  We become more like him because He lives in us.  Paul now goes on with his teaching to the next steps of walking in the Spirit.  Letting the peace of God rule means letting his peace be the judge, the arbiter of your life, your decisions and actions.  The Message says: Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.  None of this going off and doing your own thing.  And cultivate thankfulness.  Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house.  Give it plenty of room in your lives.  Yielding to the nature of Christ in us enables us to make a more fruitful and overcoming journey through life where we do face troubles of all kinds.  The sinful condition of the human heart spawns wars, conflicts, fights, divorces, dissension, criticism, hatred, abuse, and the like.  Every day our news is saturated with these problems.  As God's Word dwells in us richly and we admonish each other in faith, we will sense the anguish of Jesus over the tragedies and misfortunes of people we know and many we do not.  Jesus said the poor will be with you always: He could as easily have said trouble will be with you always.  The above scripture implies our hope is not in the world, for we are called to peace and thankfulness, the opposites of the way of the world where people strive and fight for what they want.  Darkness reigns because of sin.  In reality the sun will never come out tomorrow without Christ in the picture.  Of course every believer has the light of Christ in us, and we share that light with others, but the world does not know that light and often rejects it.  Rays of light break through for small periods of times, but the enduring, eternal brightness of the Sun/Son that shines forth and penetrates into every dark place and exposes everything will never come out tomorrow until Christ returns.  

Before he gave these instructions to the Colossians, Paul set forth important admonitions to the church, encouraging them as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved.  He wants these believers to remember who they are, to return to basic truths; so he shared obvious yet vital information.  Since , then, you have been raise with Christ, Paul reminded them, set your hearts on things above.  Then he repeated himself, telling them again to set their minds on heavenly things, not on earthly things.  All of us can relate to this message for we are constantly pulled in all directions.  I often think of lines from a poem by William Wordsworth: "The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers."  If we want peace to reign in our hearts in a steadfast manner, we must be in tune with the Holy Spirit daily.  If we are willing, the Holy Spirit will expound the Word of God in our hearts.  He will sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude through our lips as we experience joy in the Lord and realize our position and our inheritance.  Because of the cross of Christ, our lives are now hidden with Christ in God.  When we let the Spirit open our spiritual eyes and ears, He will set our hearts on things above, bringing peace to our troubled souls along with guidance and wisdom to do his perfect will.  We are not naive.  We see the selfishness and greed surrounding us--the me first generation.  We know the world is full of troubles even the sorrow of death, but our hearts are set on the permanent eternal truth of God: God sent his Son for our redemption, for eternal life.  We are no longer bound to the vicissitudes, pain, grief, and sin of this world.  With tremendous security in our possession and an eternal destination in mind, we press on believing the Word.  

Do we just ignore the trials and troubles of this world?  No, we seek justice for the poor, the downtrodden, the widows, and the fatherless.  We work tirelessly to bring the good news of God's peace to the world by telling people about Jesus, the author of peace.  With all our strength, we work to carry the image of Christ to a sick and dying world.  That image consists of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  (Galatians 5:22 & 23)  We strive to have the mind of Christ in us by serving others rather than ourselves.  We subordinate our needs to the needs of others as we attempt to be a servant to all; to love them as we love ourselves.  Our hearts are moved because Jesus was moved with compassion by the needs of the people.  He gave his all that all might live.  Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. . .We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  (Isaiah 53:4 & 6-7)  This image of Christ brings peace and light to a dark and chaotic world.  As we are enveloped in Christ, the sun does come out tomorrow, for we are the light of the world; we are the hope of the world in Jesus.  May Paul's prayer bless you: I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,  and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.  (Ephesians 1:16-23)  

Colossians 3:12-14

Colossians 3:12-14  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

As joint heirs with Christ knowing Christ is all and is in all, we stand fully confident of God's grace and mercy through the works of his Son Jesus as dearly loved children in his household.  Therefore, as a harvest of the Spirit, we begin to live lives of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience--people see Jesus in us as we walk in the light of his love that binds his virtues together in us in perfect harmony.  We must recognize and appreciate our position in Christ to live victoriously over the flesh.  If we feel we still have a leading role to play in our salvation, we will go back to the law in order to feel safe with God.  Our role is choosing Christ, yielding to his will, and accepting his Lordship, not ruling our own lives through our own strength or depending upon a list of rules to keep us in line.  However, when we are judgmental and critical of ourselves because we don't always add up to God's righteousness, we tend to treat others similarly resulting in criticism, anger, and bitterness.  Rather than supporting others, praying for them, and loving unconditionally, we judge their actions and words with a lack of empathy and unforgiving hearts.  Our loved ones as well as people in the world will see us a judgmental and condemning rather than as people of grace and mercy.  Yet we all know that Jesus said people would know we are Christians by our love.  We know Jesus went about doing good and the only people He was really hard on were those with a religious spirit.  He called the Pharisees and teachers of the law hypocrites because they had a form of religion but lacked love for God and compassion for his people.  He said concerning them, But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.  They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.  (Matthew 23:3-4)  When we know who we are IN CHRIST, we are assured of our place in the family, knowing we our sons and daughters of the Most High God, our Abba Father.  IN CHRIST, nothing can separate us from our Father.  When we rest and abide in this security, we will begin to naturally and automatically satisfy the second of God's two cardinal laws that fulfill all other commandments in the law:  love your neighbor as yourself.  AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE MOST HIGH, WE ARE LITERALLY BATHED IN SELF-ESTEEM: WE LOVE OURSELVES BECAUSE HE LOVES US.  Such Love overflows as a mighty never-ending fountain.    

However, if we only receive this knowledge of God's perfect and complete sacrifice as a partial victory for our fleshly selves, we will continue to live under the dominion of the law, continually trying and failing to gain freedom through our human efforts.  If we fail to appreciate who Christ is in us, we will repeat the sins of the flesh and go through cycles of defeat, shame, and guilt.  We will never be good enough and always feel we have to do something more to be like Jesus.  But truly just as a biological examination of a cell in our body would reveal that it is a human cell, a cell of our spiritual being will reveal we are of Christ, for He has redeemed us and made us totally his by his shed blood.   We are part of HIS BODY.  He has made us whole, completely as He is in our souls.  Because of Christ, we have been set free to serve him out of love.  We are made WHOLE, COMPLETELY BY THE WORKS OF THE CROSS.  IT IS NOT OF OURSELVES, BUT IT IS BY THE GRACE OF GOD.  When we know who we are in Christ, we then can begin to really function in the total mileau of Christian love and service to him.  We will be less critical, condemning, and judgmental.  We will accept people as they are, rather than trying to change them through our words because we trust the Holy Spirit to perfect each brother and sister as we pray for each other in faith believing.  Only Christ can change a person from the inside out.  We can monitor and supervise people, but we will never change them completely as a new creature.  Only Christ does that.  When we begin to function in the Spirit as the body of Christ in Christian love and fellowship, building each other up, our environment will change from criticism to loving one another.  We will forgive as the Lord has forgiven us.  As Paul told the Ephesians: Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. . .Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  (Ephesians 4:2-3 & 14-16)

If we never realize Christ has won the victory for us completely, we will always be captives to sin.  And the wages of sin is death in this life as well as the life to come.  Paul says, You, my brothers, were called to be free.  (Galatians 5:13)  If we know who we are IN CHRIST, our love for him will be great.  We will not want to betray his work in us.  The old sinful nature of sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like  (Galatians 5:19-21) will not be implanted with strong roots any longer in our daily lives.  Instead, we will walk in the freedom of the Spirit, forgiving others, putting on the love of God which binds all us together.  Knowing God's great love towards us, we love him with all our heart, soul, spirit and might, and we love our neighbor as ourselves.  He has paid the complete price for our salvation, and He has brought us into his family, holds us close to his heart.  Stand fast dear brothers and sisters of the faith.  Stand upon the Word, for God does not lie.  As Mom was finishing this breakfast, a familiar passage of scripture came to her mind and we want to close with these powerful words of faith.  If the enemy has been lying to you or telling you that you are unworthy of your calling or that you must prove your worth in some way to come back to Jesus, those are lies.  This is what the Lord says today: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.  And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.  (Romans 8:1-4)  Blessed be the name of the Lord most High!         

Colossians 3:5-11

Colossians 3:5-11  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.  But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.  Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 

Having our hearts and minds opened to accepting the firm foundation of security and freedom God has provided for all believers who have been raised with Christ, we now see the logical conclusion of this amazing victory over sin and death.  Jesus did not merely save us from our sin, He filled us with himself: Christ is all, and IS IN ALL.  Christians should have the mind of Christ preeminent in our thinking and actions.  Since He is love, we should allow ourselves to be vehicles of that love.  Because He went to the cross for us, we should willingly sacrifice for others.  In that He was a servant to all, we should be servants to those He allows us to serve.  The infallible mind of Christ should motivate our thinking and our actions.  His indelible character should change our lives so much that we portray his image, though filtered through our imperfections, to a hurting and needy world.  Adversely, if we allow our natural selves to maintain prominence in our lives, we will regretfully display more of the character of the evil one than the beauty of Christ.  Our lives will lean toward self-centeredness, materialism, and even a mean-spirited attitude rather than the altruistic, loving, and caring manner of living the Holy Spirit would bring forth if we allowed the mind of Christ to have preeminence.  A lack of dedication to Jesus as Lord of all and failure to depend upon his holiness as our righteousness in our lifestyle can lead us into anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.  Negative thoughts and actions can destroy the harmony and peace in our relationships, homes, and our sense of self.  When we end up betraying our Christian testimony of CHRIST IS ALL, AND IS IN ALL, we have to take inventory as Paul says to the Colossians. We have to say those things are part of my old life, my old self.  I am going to stop lying to myself and walk in the freedom that is mine.

Paul said we used to walk in these ways of sin; but since we are IN CHRIST, we should no longer participate in this former lifestyle.   Instead, we should realize that in Christ we are to be like him.  IN HIM, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free.  We are all as Jesus is, Holy.  Since we are IN HIM and since the Holy Spirit is IN US, we have the means to live victorious lives through the resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead.  Nevertheless, what if we feel we are not like him?  What if our fleshly selves are always condemning us, making us feel as if Christ's work in us is of none effect?  Paul says, consider this old man who constantly bothers you with his exploits of sin to be dead.  Don't pay the dead person any attention.  His life, the flesh, will not go to heaven.  He is dead because Christ died that you might consider him dead for all time.  When he acts up, ask for forgiveness and then go on with your life.  God has chosen you IN CHRIST to be his beloved child.  The Word is clear on this as we read in many passages such as this message to the church in Rome: Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.  (Romans 6:11-14 NKJV)  Redemption is always yours IN CHRIST.  As you willingly place Christ on the throne of your life and accept his new life IN YOU, you will grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord.  When you feel sad about your failures, you will remember Christ is still on the throne; He has won the victory over sin and death.  He is the only one who ever has or ever will live a perfect life.  You can put your confidence in Christ.  Regardless of his human circumstances, Paul told the church to trust in Jesus: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:19)   

If you sin and you find yourself not sorry, then you have entered dangerous territory by ALLOWING THE OLD FLESHLY DEAD MAN TO GAIN NEW LIFE rather than Christ.  We are what we eat.  If we feed only on the things of this world, we will gravitate toward the god of this world.  We know Satan is the great deceiver, going about as a roaring lion seeking to devour those who feed at his table.  If you have put your trust in Christ as your Lord and Savior, remember you are born again.  The Bible says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)  This new creature needs food, manna  from heaven: THE WORD OF GOD.  Allow the Holy Spirit to use the Word to defeat the devil and his cohorts.  Listen to the Spirit: the Comforter will counsel you in doing what is right.  He will comfort you when you fail.  He will teach you and guide you in the faith.  Jesus said, He who has ears to hear, let him hear.  (Matthew 11:15)  To overcome, human effort is not enough: we must see ourselves enlivened by the Spirit to follow Christ.  We must live in him and through him by every word that has come forth from his mouth through the Word.  Paul told the church at Galatia, Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  (Galatians 5:25)  Then we will pray, meditate, sing spiritual songs, and make melody in our hearts.  This will strengthen our inner person and lessen the strength of the dead person we carry around with us on this earthly journey.  If you begin to forsake meditating on the Word and your lips do not sing the songs of Zion, your life will ebb slowly toward worldliness.  Your thoughts will begin to hinge on what is happening to you in the present, whether good or bad, rather than on almighty God and his amazing everlasting mercy and goodness, his perfect will.  Our abiding hope is that these breakfasts help us all focus on the horizon of faith, on the joy of the Lord.  Since, 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.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  (Colossians 3:1-3)  Praise God, nothing can keep you from victory IN CHRIST EXCEPT YOU.      

Colossians 3:1-4

Colossians 3:1-4  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.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Paul views the church as triumphant, victorious over all powers, principalities, and authorities.  Because of Christ's finished work, Paul declares our hope of eternal life with God as his children.  We who have been crucified with Christ by accepting his sacrifice for sin by faith have died to ourselves and been raised IN CHRIST to eternal life.  When He, who is our life, appears, we who are hidden in him will be clothed in his robes of glory, glowing with his visage.  His likeness is totally acceptable to a holy God, for Jesus alone completely fulfilled the Law, the sacrifices, and all the regulations of the old covenant.  To this very day, believers need no more sacrifices for sin, no more laws to make us righteous and holy.  Christ alone through his atoning death on the cross brought us into right relationship with God when He poured out his blood as a sin offering.  He is the Sabbath Rest.  He is the embodiment of all the regulations and the fulfillment of every sacrifice.  All who have placed their faith in HIS WORKS are holy as He is holy before God.  IN CHRIST, WE ARE EVERYTHING GOD DESIRES FROM HIS CREATION.  We are as his Son is: the light of the world, the salt of the earth.  We do not wait to be made whole: we are made whole through the cross.  As Paul told the church at Ephesus, As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.  (Ephesians 2:1-8)  

What about the flesh, what about failure, self-esteem issues, our human faults and foibles?  Each one of us knows we sometimes go astray, lose track of what really matters in life, make mistakes we regret.  Certainly those deeds are far from perfect, and we feel guilty, ashamed, and wonder where we stand with the Lord after those experiences.  How can God accept us when we are so easily distracted?   God did not have a halfway plan for his creation when He decided to sacrifice his only begotten Son for us.  He dealt with every aspect of the flesh through Christ.  Because of the shed blood of Jesus, God no longer sees us as enemies or aliens.  He views us as members of his family: his beloved sons and daughters.  Because of the cross and the resurrection, we are as his only begotten Son.  Paul told the church if you have the Spirit of the Lord alive in you, you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. . ..  (Romans 8:15-17)  Similarly, he told the Galatians who were tempted to go back into law,  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.  (Galatians 4:6)  The only way we can remove ourselves from this holy relationship is if we knowingly and willfully walk away from God by putting Christ aside, claiming our goodness is enough to please God and we want nothing to do with his best gift, this so-called Messiah, Jesus.  If we put Christ on the cross again, we crucify him afresh in our lives and He becomes dead to us.  The Word stands: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.  (Acts 4:12)  Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  (John 14:6)

You may feel discouraged or defeated, thinking you have failed the Lord or let him down.  The fact you feel remorse is a good sign that your heart is toward him, but actions or events have gotten in the way of your first love for him.  He is nigh you, close by your side, calling you with a faithful, tender, merciful love.  Listen to his call.  Seek that love relationship, the joy that overflowed your heart when you first met him.  Jesus always says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  (Matthew 11:28-30)  Ask him to set your heart on things above.  Ask him to strengthen you in your innermost being--in the desires of your heart, your choices, your wants, your inclinations.  We know He will say lovingly, "My child you have always been mine.  I love you.  I chose you from the beginning of time.  Fear not, for I am with you."  Open your spiritual ears to hear that voice and to follow that love.  The Holy Spirit is the great Comforter, the best Counselor.  He'll guide you as you walk through this world.  A contrite heart like David's heart pleases God, for God is gentle and long-suffering.  He will hold you near to him if your heartfelt desire is to please him even when you fail miserably in your own strength and human abilities.  His love covers all when we totally yield control to him and fall beneath his mighty hand of protection.  He will feed his flock like a shepherd.  He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.  He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.  (Isaiah 40:11 NLT)  Praise him today dear breakfast companion, for He loves you and has a  plan for your life.  Our God is an awesome God!  

Colossians 2:16-23

Colossians 2:16-23  Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.  These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.  Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.  He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.  Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:  “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”?  These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.  Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. 

Paul continues his strong plea to believers to stand fast on the foundation of righteousness through Christ alone.  We read in our last study that God chose to save sinners when we were dead, without any hope.  Paul fully understands through his own experience that while we were in that depraved and helpless condition unable to keep the law, unable to save ourselves, "God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross."  He goes on to declare Christ defeated the powers and authorities, making a spectacle of them when  he triumphed over sin at the cross.  (See Colossians 2:13-15)  Paul wants the church to stand in the freedom of Christ, knowing Jesus paid the price for God's grace gift to cover his people, setting them free to function as the church victorious, not to go back to the former things, the lesser things.  He tells the people, since we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, since we are perfect IN CHRIST, for we have died IN HIM and have been raised IN HIM by faith in newness of life, we have confidence in his finished works.  Consequently, God finds no fault in us.  WE ARE FAULTLESS BECAUSE CHRIST IS FAULTLESS.  Further on in our reading, Paul will state categorically: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.  We rest in Christ our Savior, Redeemer, Lord, and King.  No principalities or powers can condemn us anymore: Jesus Christ reigns over every principality or power forever.  If we could look back over 2000 years we would see a most wretchedly agonizing scene as the Beloved and Lovely One, the Bright and Morning Star takes his last breaths on this earth.  When he was thirsty they lifted a sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant to his lips.  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.  (John 19:30)  Yet in that moment came light and life to all creation; the hope of the nations was released that day!  When the Creator of all things says the work is finished, it is finished for He is Lord of All! 

Nevertheless, knowledge of an event is one thing; acceptance of a faultless state of being seems hard for any one of us to consider possible and even harder to accept for ourselves as a day-to-day reality.  To gain and to sustain acceptance by God, we tend to believe we must be very religious and live a holy life.  We think we should establish special days to worship God; we follow certain, rules, laws and regulations we consider righteous or holy; we make lists of activities and behaviors we decide are sins to avoid because they displease God.  We learn not to taste, handle, or touch anything that is deemed to be unholy or unclean.  We live circumscribed lives the best we can.  We feel good when we keep our religious tenets; we feel bad, guilty, unworthy, and unholy when we fail to keep our religion.  We submit to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, thinking this pleases God, hoping to prepare for the world to come.  But Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit offers a new way.  He tells the church to listen to the Holy Spirit's call.  You do not have to keep your rules and regulations anymore because you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world.  Why are you behaving as if you are still under the old system when we have been released from this lifestyle of religiosity?  He says look at who we are in Christ Jesus.  We are now free IN CHRIST.  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  (Galatians 5:1)  We are new creatures, no longer bound to this world's taxonomy.  We live on a different plane.  If our lives are hidden in Christ Jesus, then we lack nothing.  He is our righteousness, our holiness, all that we need.  We have the real substance, not a fleeting hope of right standing with God.  We are growing together in Christ our Lord as his living body.

Recently, Dad had a dream that relates well with today's discussion. I was seated in an auditorium, listening to a speaker.  Because I desired to take notes, I looked for a pen because I did not have one.  Looking around, I found one in a wastepaper basket in front of me. Unbeknown to me, this pen leaked ink; and before I knew it, I had ink all over the pew and dripping onto the floor.  I had so much ink on the floor, a man already was cutting out a square foot of carpet and sewing in a new piece while everyone was still listening to the speaker.  Then an officious woman behind me noticed I had one foot resting on the pew in front of me.  Apparently, this behavior disturbed her, so she touched me on the shoulder and told me to put my foot on the floor.  With so much commotion surrounding me and feeling just a little embarrassed, I decided to be more spiritual than all of the rest, so I raised my hands in the air and worshipped and praised the Lord in tongues rather loudly.  I did this, knowing the lady next to me was an unbeliever.  This type of worship disturbed her greatly; hence, she quickly left the building as soon as she could.  Now, some of the events that happened to me in this dream were definitely unintentional, but some were intentional such as praying loudly in tongues, knowing the unconverted person next to me would probably consider me mad.  But as I awakened, the Holy Spirit did not chastise me for my faults, for making a mess that someone else had to clean up, for carelessly putting my foot on the pew in God's house, or for chasing away an unbeliever.  He spoke to my heart, "YOU ARE FAULTLESS.  I FIND NO FAULT IN YOU."  I thought, that is impossible!  Look at all I did wrong in that dream.  But the Spirit was saying to me, "I find you completely acceptable because THE SON IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE TO THE FATHER."  We have a new way, a living way, a better way: his name is Jesus!  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  (1 John 1:7)  Praise God!  Amen!   

Colossians 2:13-15

Colossians 2:13-15  When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Paul wanted the church to understand if the written code had not been canceled by God, believers would still bear the heavy weight of sin; but Christ's atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind did away with that code and all its regulations.  The former covenant was annulled; he [Jesus] took it away, nailing it to the cross.  As sons and daughters of the Lord, we no longer gauge our spirituality based on right or wrong, good or bad, success or failure.  We who are IN CHRIST through his cleansing blood are no closer to God when we are  successful in keeping the law than we are when we are failures at keeping the law.  Most of us find this impossible to believe because we think living righteously according to the Law is what pleases God.  Today's scripture says, God made you alive with Christ when you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature.  Christ fulfilled God's plan and finished the work that made us righteous and holy when it was impossible to please God through our flesh.  The Spirit made us alive when we placed our hope, desire, and faith in Jesus, the Son of God, as THE CHRIST, THE SAVIOR, THE MESSIAH, LORD OF ALL.  He did all of this when we were so filthy in sin and so lost God could not even look upon us.  God cannot look upon sin without passing judgment.  Paul wrote to the Romans, You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:6-8)  Praise God!  At the cross, Christ, the perfect Lamb of God took our place before the judgment seat of God.  Jesus willingly separated himself from the godhead to face a cruel death without defending himself, knowing He faced eternity in the grave if God saw fit not to raise him from the dead.  But God said, He would not allow his Holy One to face the decay of the grave; therefore, He resurrected Christ victoriously to a new life of holiness to sit at his right hand making intercession for us forever without the taint of sin.  We who are IN CHRIST were also raised with him to share in his sinless state.  

When Christ went to the grave and arose through the power of the Holy Spirit, He disarmed the powers and authorities of this world and the ethereal world.  He brought the high places low and low places high.  He made the path smooth and straight to heaven, for IN HIM there are no written codes and regulations that any power or authority whether the demons from hell or wicked people on this earth can use to condemn us.  Christ came into the  world not to condemn us but to save us from the sins that so easily beset us and the final corruption of the flesh, which is death.  IN CHRIST WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD.  Christ made a public spectacle of all powers and authorities by showing them to be weak because without the law these powers have no bullets to shoot down God's heaven-bound children.  We stand fast in the freedom wherein Christ has made us free, clad in the full armor of God.  We do not stand in our own righteousness or human abilities because in Christ we have the Holy Spirit guiding us all the way.  The Spirit comforts us, directs us away from a life committed to the flesh, and uses us to fulfill the perfect will of the Father.  The Spirit says, "Go out in the name of the Lord: feed the hungry, pray for the sick, visit the lonely, comfort the suffering, encourage the downhearted.  Share what you have received and be blessed."  As the newborn in Christ, we rejoice in afflictions and hardships, knowing these trials and temptations come to make us strong in the power of Christ's might.  We comfort one another with the comfort we receive.  We draw closer together as the body of Christ, encouraging each other in the Spirit to do good deeds in Jesus' name that we might grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord.  We do not lift up ourselves.  As we lift Jesus high, we come to know him, finding peace, freedom, life everlasting.  We see what Paul described: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  (2Corinthians 5:17-19)  

Will the flesh sin as we live this journey of faith?  Yes, sometimes we wander, but the old nature IS DEAD.  He died at Calvary when he was crucified with Christ.  Our job is to agree with God's work in us.  He has made us holy and righteous, perfect through the cross, so we might enter into the holy place with confidence as the Word says many times.  We no longer carry the guilt and shame of sin.  Instead of cringing in fear or running away to hide from God, we thank him for his loving kindness and tender mercies.  We repent when we know we have willfully gone astray, and we praise God for delivering us from sin and lavishing us with his grace.  Since we are no longer captives in bondage to sin, we proclaim our freedom.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:  “Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)   When we see ourselves righteous IN CHRIST, we will have victory over the works of the flesh.  No husband who really loves his wife as he loves himself will betray her.  Believers who love God as God has loved us will not betray him by making him an open show to the world as if He were of no affect in our lives.  When we sin, we sorrow and seek forgiveness from the Lover of our souls; but we will not let that sin harm our relationship, for we know God will never leave us or forsake us.  This kind of love demands reciprocation, loyalty, devotion.  Who can resist the steadfast love of God that never changes?  No one who has an ear to hear his voice!  If we truly know how much God loves us, how much he has done for us, how much He longs to fellowship with us in close communion; if we see him snatching us from the pit of Hell; we will surely dedicate our lives  and our allegiance to him with a passion that cannot be broken by any power on the earth or from the spirit realm.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."  (John 8:34-36)  As children of God, may we use that freedom from sin and death to bring glory to our lovely, all-powerful Savior, the Good Shepherd of the sheep.  Amen!