Colossians

Read Colossians 1:1-2  We are moving from Old Testament to New today with the book of Colossians.   It’s in the middle area of the NT…. my friend,  Nicole,  taught me the phrase:  General Electric Power Company as a way to remember Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.  The NT starts with the accounts of the apostles,  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as they walked with Jesus. Acts covers the acts of the apostles as the Holy Spirit arrived and led them to establish Christianity… Then Romans,  where Paul brought the Gospel to Rome, and wrote many of the epistles (letters) including Colossians where we will pick up. This passage is so rich, we don’t want to rush through, so today, simply consider the bible.   It is complex and simple.  It is wise and reliable. And sit with the idea of Paul, established by God,  writing from prison with a heart brimming with love and protection.  📖📜🙏🏻💖🙏🏻📜📖

Colossians 1:3-14 – Paul begins with a warm greeting, then in vs 1:9-12 we receive a model for prayer asking for:  A) complete knowledge of God’s will and spiritual wisdom.  B) a walk worthy as Jesus’s ambassador. C) grow to know God better everyday D) Strength, joy and gratitude…. Pray this for yourself first (keeps the ‘plank in your eye’ in check as Jesus cautions against in Matthew 7:5) then those you intercede for – don’t forget to pray for your pastor in this way too! 🙏🏻👣😊📖😊👣🙏🏻

Colossians 1:15-23 I’m hoping our reading is easy for you.  Just a little each day is like the daily bread Jesus commissioned us to pray for (the Lord’s Prayer/ Our Father – Matthew 6:11,Luke 11:3).  We are shown the unity of God and Jesus in this passage…. they are one as shown in 1:19-20.  We see our own separation redeemed  1:21-22. Much like in Joshua 24:2-13, God only holds on to the good in His children.  And we are given our part,  our call to action in 1:23 that is to believe and not drift.  This is HUGE and simple.   Meditate on this beautiful passage today.   🤗💖💗🙌💗💖🤗

Colossians 1:24-29 “Heavenly Father,  as I open your Word,  bless me to receive all that you have for me,  and bless me to share it.  Amen”  This is my prayer as I begin reading…. always that I would be filled first because one cannot give away from an empty cup, and then that I would not keep it to myself.   Paul speaks of his great and wonderful responsibility of serving Christ’s church, of mysteries revealed to gentiles (like me) of the riches and glory of Christ, and the amazing assurance that Jesus lives in believers.  It’s like falling in love,  wanting more and more each day as one considers what Paul is saying! I encourage you to pray for your own understanding each time you open your bible…. the Word is living and active, Jesus has something brand new for you every day if you simply ask. 🎉🙏🏻🎁📖🎁🙏🏻🎉

Colossians 2 – Freedom,  mystery,  fullness,  and the authority to break the rules all come from Jesus!  Paul urges the believers,  and us by extension,  to reject empty philosophies and pious self denial that human thinking and the spiritual powers of this world put forth (2:8,23).  LET YOUR ROOTS GROW DOWN INTO HIM, AND LET YOUR LIVES BE BUILT ON HIM.   THEN YOUR FAITH WILL GROW STRONG IN THE TRUTH YOU WERE TAUGHT, AND YOU WILL OVERFLOW WITH THANKFULNESS. (2:7 ‐ HIM = JESUS).  What bondage and lies of this world do you need to release today,  as you step into the strength and thankfulness Jesus has for you??? 💖🥰🙆‍♀️🙌🙆‍♂️🥰💖

Colossians 3 – Are you living differently as a believer in Jesus Christ?  Jesus lives in you and gives you the ability – but are you still taking Him to places of lust, greed, anger, rage and dirty language?  Even these words sit ugly on my tongue.

Consider His desire for you – that you clothe yourself in tenderness, mercy, kindness, forgiveness and above all else,  LOVE.  Let the peace of Christ rule your heart! ✌🕊💖🥰💖🕊✌

Colossians 4 – No!  I kept turning the page for more, but chapter 4 closes out the book of Colossians.   I have really grown from this upbeat wisdom.  As Paul was running through the list of people at the end, my eye caught on Nympha and the church in her house (4:15)… she represents the significance we all hold, as we do what we can, where we are at…. here her name is in God’s Word for all time.  What will be mentioned with my name in heaven? Judy who poured soda pop on airplanes? Judy who loves Jesus?  How about you?  Jesus, may each beloved soul who reads your Word remember they are eternal.   May their words and actions be worthy of the future, the hope, and the joy you secured in our Salvation. In Jesus name. Amen 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💖🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻