Devotional on Colossians

2014 – Pacific City, OR Thousand Trails

The heart of it all

Colossians 1: We preach Christ.

The Apostle sits in a jail as he writes this letter to the Christians in the city of Colossi, located in what is now the nation of Turkey. He wants his readers to stand firm for Jesus over the long haul, not in some grim, miserable, ā€œunto deathā€ sort of a way, but with joy and confidence and strength. In fact, Paul wants them to be absolutely focused on Jesus and not allow themselves to journey down ā€œdead-end alleys.ā€ Theyā€™re to be so in love with Jesus, so impressed with him, that they canā€™t imagine anything but living in him and for him. Actually, all Paul wants for them is what he has for himself. Heā€™s bought into Jesus, ā€œhook, line, and sinker.ā€ In his mind Jesus towers above all else; always has ā€“ always will. He tells them, and us, that the world exists only by Jesus. Heā€™s ā€œsupreme,ā€ ā€œGodā€™s original purpose,ā€ and gives everything in creation ā€œits proper place.ā€ When Paul preaches, he has only one subject: Jesus. When his ministry is finished, the result, he hopes, will be many mature, settled followers of Jesus. How important this message is today. Weā€™re pulled this way and that. Decisions are demanded of us. The circumstances of life threaten to erode our souls. At the end of the day ā€“ at the end of life ā€“ whatā€™s going to matter? In Paulā€™s words I find the answer: ā€œChrist! No more, no less.ā€

Take Away: I want the compass of my life to always point to Jesus.

Devotional on Colossians

2014 – Florence, OR

The mystery has been solved

Colossians 2: Weā€™ve been shown the mystery!

A new church has started down the block and old First Church seems dull in comparison. New Church not only offers a different style of music, but thereā€™s a lot of talk about amazing spiritual experiences and hitherto unknown secrets being revealed. The folks at First Church canā€™t help but notice whatā€™s going on down the street. How come their pastor never tells them some of these secrets to success? Why doesnā€™t he lead them into the mysteries of the spiritual? Something like that is happening at Colossi and Laodicea. Those with a different approach to God have come to town claiming that their way unlocks doors that have before been locked. If the Christians listen to them they can go beyond where they are and press on to spiritual power and authority beyond what they’ve ever imagined. The Apostle tells them that thatā€™s completely wrong. The great mystery, the wonderful secret to spiritual power and success has already been explained to them. It can all be summed up in one name: ā€œJesus.ā€ To be connected to him is to be connected to all there is of God. He warns them that to rush off down some other road is a ā€œwild-goose chase.ā€ Paul urges them to focus only on Jesus and, in him to be dominated by the love of God. The mystery has been solved and the secret has been revealed. His name is Jesus.

Take Away: Our religion isnā€™t bound up in mysteries. Rather itā€™s all about relationship: knowing Jesus as Savior, Lord, and Friend.

Devotional on Colossians

2014 – Along Oregon Hwy 101 – north of Florence

Dressing like a Christian

Colossians 3: Dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you.

For many people the phrase ā€œdressing like a Christianā€ dredges up a lot of old guilt and maybe resentment. We were raised in church traditions that stressed externals and the weight of that emphasis fell especially on the girls and young women. Looking back, I feel somewhat charitable toward those who stressed such things. I think, by and large, their hearts were in the right place. After all, they wanted to live holy, clean lives and our personal holiness ought to be evident even in the clothing we choose to wear. However, the years have pretty much proven that traveling that road leads to the city of legalism which is quite distant from the city of love and grace. In this passage weā€™re told that there’s a wardrobe that’s appropriate for Godā€™s people but it has nothing to do with how much or little skin is shown. Godā€™s people are to be characterized — ā€œclothed inā€ — ā€œcompassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.ā€ Weā€™re to be known as ā€œeven-tempered, contentā€¦quick to forgive.ā€ The absolute necessity for all followers of Jesus, Paul says, is the ā€œbasic, all-purpose garmentā€ of love. He emphasizes love by saying, ā€œdonā€™t leave home without it.ā€ So, there I have it. My Christianity isnā€™t seen in what I wear, but it is seen as these positive characteristics are on display in my life. It was easier to focus on ā€œcovering upā€ but such an emphasis totally misses what it really means to dress like a Christian.

Take Away: Christ should be seen in our lives, not so much by what we wear, but by the display of Christ-like characteristics.

Devotional on Colossians

2014 – Florence, OR

The secret to evangelism

Colossians 4: Make the most of every opportunity.

Believers arenā€™t supposed to create closed communities of the faithful. Rather, weā€™re to live right out in the open, rubbing shoulders with those outside the faith, making friends, sharing in their lives. I donā€™t think this means that believers are never to ā€œretreat.ā€ After all, Jesus at least attempted to get the disciples away from the crowds sometimes. Still, he always went back to them, loving them, and, apparently, liking those who werenā€™t his followers. Paul urges the Colossian Christians to not only stay involved in their community but to make the most of that involvement. Interestingly, his directions for them arenā€™t as evangelistic as you might think. He describes ā€œmaking the mostā€ as being ā€œgracious in your speechā€ and tells them that their ā€œgoal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation.ā€ Apparently, our influencing others for Christ doesnā€™t necessarily start with a ā€œspiritual conversationā€ at all. Instead, it starts with friendship, respect, genuine interest. In fact, Paul specifically warns them not to ā€œput them downā€ or ā€œcut them out.ā€ In light of these instructions, becoming a ā€œfriendā€ to someone just so we can tell them about Jesus is off the table. My seizing the moment starts, instead, with my making some genuine friends outside the body of believers. Then, I make sure Iā€™m always gracious in my conversations with them, wanting the best for them. Real friendships are the secret to evangelism.

Take Away: For church people itā€™s a big challenge to make good friends who are outside the church. Still, itā€™s a key component to evangelism.