207th Week, Colossians Intro - Chapter 2 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

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 Click on Title for Video Intro


Monday, Colossians Intro
Colossians Intro 
Bart Strayer

INTRODUCTION
I like Colossians. Like Philippians, the book emphasizes many fundamentals of the Christian faith. Reading these books is important in keeping our focus on Christ. Paul does such a great job on keeping Christ as the foundation of all principles.  It is too easy in this day to become complacent in our knowledge of the Bible.  As our Bible reading fades, so does our understanding of our God and applicable Christian standards.  Let the reading of Colossians brush us all up on many Christian fundamentals.

PRAYER
Lord, as we read Paul’s letter to the Colossians, help us to understand Your Word. Give us the eyes to see and ears to hear the message You have for us.  Help us to combine Your Word with Christian action to be salt and light to those around us. AMEN  


Tuesday, Colossians Chapter 1A (Verses 1-23)
Colossians 1A
Verse 17
Bart Strayer

Verse 17: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

THOUGHT
Do you ever ponder about how God is the sustainer of life? We all agree that He created life, but sustains it? When I watch nature shows and see how the different animals who have a brain the size of a grain of sand, somehow have the ability to feed themselves, reproduce, migrate with precision, shed their coat, grow a new one, know to avoid eating some foods while pigging out on others? etc. It is in nature that I see God at work sustaining His creation. The deeper you dive into our earth and its animals, the more you see God's hand. 

PRAYER
God, You are an awesome God. As we marvel at Your creation, open our eyes  to Your work and help us to fully appreciate Your ways. AMEN 


Wednesday, Colossians Chapter 1B (Verses 24-29)
Colossians 1B 
Verses 28, 29
Matt Strayer

Verses 28, 29:  We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me. 


THOUGHT
The last two verses in chapter 1 spoke to me. To summarize, we are to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to everyone, so that they may become mature in Christ. Paul gives us an excellent example of how we are to encourage each other in Christ. We are to use our experiences, gifts, and opportunities to pass on God's Word. Paul's unselfishness is evident here. And it is not by our own strength, but the strength that God gives us to do His will. 

I sell God short here all the time. God's spirit is working in us when we are trying to spread the good news. In what ways are we admonishing and teaching? Do we find ourselves relying on our own strength or the strength of God? If we have accepted Jesus into our hearts, then we can truly push forward like Paul and proclaim God's wisdom to everyone to hear. 


PRAYER
Dear God, we asked that You give us opportunities to teach others about Your great wisdom. Allow us to call on Your strength to do so when the time is right and we feel we cannot. AMEN 


Thursday, Colossians Chapter 2A  (Verses 1-5)
Colossians 2A
Verse 2
Matt Strayer

Verse 2: My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery Of God, namely, Christ. 

THOUGHT
I love the fact that Paul's "purpose" is to encourage the heart and unite one another in love. I look at the Salt Shakers group of family and close friends, and I truly believe we are living Paul's purpose. There are probably many close families and friends out there, but we are united in Christ. It’s Christ that takes our relationship, our group, to a higher level. The level truly allows us to know the mystery of God in a much better way. 

PRAYER
God, I am so thankful for the Salt Shakers, a group of family and friends. Allow each of us to continue to encourage and unite. AMEN 


Friday, Colossians Chapter 2B (Verses 6-23)
Colossians 2B
Verse 14
Matt Strayer

Verse 14: 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.

THOUGHT
I sometimes forget what the blood that Jesus shed on the cross really means. What a sacrifice it was. This verse does a great job of reminding me what his death on the cross was all about. It cancelled the written code, enabling us to enjoy our new life in Christ. Our sin died with him on the cross that day. Can all of you truly grasp that? I'm not sure I will really ever grasp it. What an unbelievable sacrifice he made for us that day. A wonderful reason to rejoice in God always! 

PRAYER
Dear God, we thank You for sending Your Son to die for us on the cross. We no longer have to be perfect according to rules and regulations that stood against us. God sees us clean and pure because of the sacrifice made by Jesus. AMEN 








  

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