Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet ( worthy) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet ( worthy) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.From being joyful in trial, to the giving of thanks for an eternal inheritance that we could never merit or earn. For those of you that are not religious, or limit church attendance to Easter and Christmas this can sound a little weird. I thank you for hanging in there at my request. For those of us that regularly attend church, this is something we hear. And depending upon how much your religious faith is part of your everyday life, will determine your feelings about this verse. However, in a nutshell, this verse is the “gold medal” for someone who has an active faith life. The “inheritance of the saints in light” is in reference to eternity or Heaven. As with all inheritances, it is something that the father (parents) prepares and wills to his children. In the same way God’s inheritance is tied to a life of faith, a life that has sought God first and made self second. “Born again” is a term I introduced a couple devotions ago as something Jesus said to describe a faith lead life. A life that is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. As we carry the D.N.A of our physical parents, the “D.N.A” of a child of God is the presence of the Holy Spirit, thus making us a child of God. In John 3.16 it states ” that God so loved the world (us) that He gave his only begotten son ( in reference to Christ’s sacrificial death) that whoever believes ( an expression of faith) in him would not perish but have everlasting life.” Which by virtue of this faith the spiritual D.N.A of the spirit is passed unto us, making us worthy to receive the “inheritance of the saints in light.” At this point I know I am crossing boundaries, for I know most of you all on a personal basis. Each of us has to decide for ourselves what to believe. For not even God forces faith, but we are ” invited ” by Him to believe. My desire at these junctions of definitive teaching, biblical doctrine as it is termed, is to expose you to it and then let you decide. Giving you the same freedom that God grants each of us. A freedom that according to the scripture is given to us as a stewardship. As with all stewardships there is accountability. My desire is that with joy we can give an account to God for a life well lived, a life lived in fellowship with Him. AmenSide note: We have all been given a great gift, that of life – and with that comes a soul and a spirit. We are not just physical beings. A question to ask is, “Am I limiting myself to just a physical existence, or am I seeking to use my gift of life to it’s fullest?Prayer
Father God, for the most part I’m clueless to a life of faith, at least to this degree of intimacy with You. Yet within me I know something is missing. There is an emptiness and an uncertainty that makes me feel that all is not right. Help me to draw close to you by reading your Bible, and to start praying, talking to you regularly. And please bring people into my life that will help me to understand a life of faith. Thank you and Amen.
Father God, for the most part I’m clueless to a life of faith, at least to this degree of intimacy with You. Yet within me I know something is missing. There is an emptiness and an uncertainty that makes me feel that all is not right. Help me to draw close to you by reading your Bible, and to start praying, talking to you regularly. And please bring people into my life that will help me to understand a life of faith. Thank you and Amen.
Colossians 1:11… unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
This part is tough, I have lived with patience and I have forgiven wrongs or offenses, “suffering” quietly, but with joy? More “long faced, stressed out and dismal” would describe it, but joyfulness took some work. Why is joyfulness important and why would I be joyful over suffering? The Bible has commands that are contrary to normal thinking ( e.g. love your enemy). To understand why being joyful is so important, I need to give us a “heavenly perspective, by using an earthly story. As a dad of two girls and now having a son-in-law, the last thing I want is for them to suffer. However, if our society changed and our religious freedoms were taken away, whether it be the freedom to worship or the freedom not to worship, and we were forced to embrace a new belief and lifestyle, then under those circumstances I would want my family to be strong, not compromising their beliefs. Knowing full well that it would mean suffering and hardship. For the rewards of faithfulness far outweigh the short term effects of suffering. If you think on an eternal perspective. Which is exactly how God views all our events. Whether in life or death, in sickness or health, in want or in plenty, in peace or in hardship, faith transcends all earthly events. Granted this is mature faith, and it takes time and trial to develop, but it knows and believes in the promises of God. It is important to note that God is not the creator of hardship or trial, though he often gets blamed for it. I find in society that we do a good enough job of perpetuating our own trials. However He may allow it or use it to draw us closer to him, finding a comfort and hope that we would not normally have. When faith leads in one’s soul, then hope is very tangible. For faith not only seeks to trust God, but seeks to see the bigger picture acknowledging that my reason for living is not just about me. My comforts, my wants, not even about my family, but that my life takes on a greater purpose, “a fuller meaning.” We look for a greater good, one that is eternal and serve a God that is not bound or limited to this world. This then becomes the birth place of hope, which is often borne in difficulty as we are forced through hardship to reach outside ourselves to find God. And upon finding hope, we find joy. For joy is the offspring of hope and therefore we are able to be joyful in our sufferings, knowing that God uses suffering to draw me closer to Himself. And what goal can be grander than intimately knowing and walking in the love of God, nothing compares. Amen
Prayer
God help me to see you as my heavenly Father. To find that safe place in you were I am at peace in surrendering my hopes, fears and every day stresses over to you. Knowing that in your lovingkindness the best will work out. Thank you and Amen
Colossians 1:11 ” Strengthen with all might, according to his glorious power…
Colossians 1:11 ” Strengthen with all might, according to his glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”To coin a phrase “this is where the rubber meets the road.” When the road is easy and life is going our way, it is easy to make the claim that we believe in God. To proclaim that God is good, but what happens when following God is hard, when suffering set backs seem to be all we experience. Can we still make that claim, “I’m living for God, and that God is good?” Not so easy then. This verse speaks to this part of life. We are ” strengthen with all might,” speaks about an empowering that comes to the believer from the indwelling presents of the Holy Spirit. But this empowering is not like our morning coffee, where that extra jolt of caffeine gets you up and going. This empowering is more like you start the first step and He will help you to complete it, and then the second step and the third and so it goes. It’s nothing magical or mysterious, you’ve got to be committed, 100% in the game. But when the day is over, you look back an say, “that was amazing, there was no way I could have done all that without God’s help.”
Next, the following words are not welcomed by our instant gratification society.
Why are we strengthened? It is ” for all patience and long suffering with joyfulness.” Not exactly the reason for why we would want to be strengthened. But what is patience? “Patience,” the ability to persevere or bear up under, or demonstrate endurance in circumstances. “Long suffering,” speaks of self restraint against an adversary, or the ability to avenge oneself but restrains from doing so. These qualities represent an inner strength that is so needful in our interactions with one another. In the Batman movies, we hear Alfred ask Batman ” Sir, why do we fall,.. it is so we can get up again.” The implication is that we are taught by our failings. When we suffer setbacks requiring us to persevere, or when we chose the road less travelled and refrain from taking matters into our own hands, trusting in God to make it right, faith and character grow. However, in everyday life we live by another standard, the “you get in my face and I”ll get in yours.” Where is patience, where is the man or woman that has the means to avenge themselves, but instead chooses mercy overlooking the faults of another? If one makes the claim to be a Christian, by that statement alone one relinquishes his or her own rights to self governance coming under the authority of Christ, who demonstrated a life of obedience, faith and trust in the Father. Which for him, as the Ransom Redeemer for mankind, brought him to the cross. Are we so committed to God that we too are willing to crucify our will and passions if they contradict a Holy God, or His good will for our life?I will end with a saying that I have taped on the cover of my Bible ” I’m living this life for the life to come. I’m not living this life for today, but for tomorrow’s eternity. My setbacks, hardships, and trials that cause me to refocus or seek the Lord more earnestly are those events that will bring me blessings in tomorrow’s eternity.”
Next, the following words are not welcomed by our instant gratification society.
Why are we strengthened? It is ” for all patience and long suffering with joyfulness.” Not exactly the reason for why we would want to be strengthened. But what is patience? “Patience,” the ability to persevere or bear up under, or demonstrate endurance in circumstances. “Long suffering,” speaks of self restraint against an adversary, or the ability to avenge oneself but restrains from doing so. These qualities represent an inner strength that is so needful in our interactions with one another. In the Batman movies, we hear Alfred ask Batman ” Sir, why do we fall,.. it is so we can get up again.” The implication is that we are taught by our failings. When we suffer setbacks requiring us to persevere, or when we chose the road less travelled and refrain from taking matters into our own hands, trusting in God to make it right, faith and character grow. However, in everyday life we live by another standard, the “you get in my face and I”ll get in yours.” Where is patience, where is the man or woman that has the means to avenge themselves, but instead chooses mercy overlooking the faults of another? If one makes the claim to be a Christian, by that statement alone one relinquishes his or her own rights to self governance coming under the authority of Christ, who demonstrated a life of obedience, faith and trust in the Father. Which for him, as the Ransom Redeemer for mankind, brought him to the cross. Are we so committed to God that we too are willing to crucify our will and passions if they contradict a Holy God, or His good will for our life?I will end with a saying that I have taped on the cover of my Bible ” I’m living this life for the life to come. I’m not living this life for today, but for tomorrow’s eternity. My setbacks, hardships, and trials that cause me to refocus or seek the Lord more earnestly are those events that will bring me blessings in tomorrow’s eternity.”
Prayer: Father my life is so far from living for You. Yet within me, I know it is right. Help me to bend the direction of my life towards You. To find a church that teaches me to worship and pray, a church that explains the Bible to me. As well as to make time in my day to read the Bible and pray, knowing that you will help me to understand your purposes for me.
Thank you and Amen.
Colossians 1:10 … being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:10
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
“being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” To be “fruitful,” is an expression of productivity. A healthy apple tree will be ” fruitful naturally,” and produce apples. Therefore, to be fruitful spiritually is to live a life that “naturally” demonstrates a faith in God. It is not something that is turned off and on, it is who you are becoming. For the word that is used for “knowledge”, is a word that speaks of “exact and intimate knowledge.” So intimately acquainted, that one’s thoughts, responses and choices reflect that relationship. Example, a wife can answer on behalf of her husband because she knows him intimately. And this is what is meant by this word. To be Christian means you are growing in and learning of Christ. And this is where there is confusion about Christianity. Many hold to the belief that they are Christian because they are good people. And surely being a Christian should cause one to be benevolent and kind. But it is the intimacy of knowing Christ, allowing God’s Spirit to change you from the inside that causes one to be “Christ like,” which is what the term Christian means. The expression “born again” is the term Christ used in speaking of this change to his disciples. A surrendering of one’s life over to God’s care and keeping, and the acknowledgement of one’s need of forgiveness, in light of a Holy God. This is the beginning of a life of faith. 8/26/12
Colossians 1:10 ..That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
The word “worthy” not only means “properly or suitably ” but has a secondary meaning that speaks of perceived value. In other words, the value is not inherent value, as gold, pearls, precious metals etc., items that have a societal value. Perceived value is more personal, and can have as high or higher value than gold, pearls etc. Example, to someone who has not eaten in days, a meal would have far greater value than anything material. Such is this word. We may not have great value to society at large, just another face in the crowd, but to God we have enormous value. Therefore, we are to walk worthy or properly of such esteem. Another example; if we were orphans our actions or decisions would be larger our own concern. However after being adopted (by God), having love and worth placed upon us, our decisions and actions now matter and make a big difference to those who love us. Such is this word, therefore “walk,” an axiom for living, worthy.
Amen 8/25/12