Colossians
Monday, July 12, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I praise You for being the God of abundance! You supply everything I need in abundance, whether what I lack is spiritual, emotional or physical. I praise You for sending Jesus into the world to show us exactly who You are, and exactly what You expect of us in our relationship with You. I praise You as well, that while You call me to give myself completely to You, that You don’t call on me to deny myself just to prove my commitment to You, but when You call me to deny myself it is ultimately for my benefit and blessing. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit right now that I may be faithful and obedient in everything You call me to be and do today. Pour Your Holy Spirit into my life that I may glorify You in every way. Use me as You see fit to advance the cause of Your coming Kingdom. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Colossians 2:16-23
16So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself. 18Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial. And don't let anyone say you must worship angels, even though they say they have had visions about this. These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them proud. 19But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God. 20You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, 21"Don't handle, don't eat, don't touch." 22Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. 23These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires.
Reflecting on God’s Word
Has anyone ever tried to make you feel bad, because you don’t sacrifice enough for Jesus? How have you responded?
What place do angels have in your understanding of life and God’s work among us?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
What does Paul tell us not to allow people to do in their attempts to condemn us in today’s Scripture? (2:18)
What warning does Paul give us about angels in today’s Scripture? (2:18)
What does Paul say is the source of people telling us to worship angels? (2:18)
Understanding God’s Word
How do you balance Paul’s statement about not allowing people to condemn you by insisting on self-denial, with Jesus’ command to deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily?
Why do you suppose that Paul says it is pride that causes folks to tell others to worship angels?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
What is the most important application of today’s Scripture to your life right now?
Thoughts...Claims of Humility...
Someone has said that the person who thinks he has attained humility has not! How true. Humility is one of the aims of our lives as followers of Jesus, and yet true humility is not something that comes easily in any person’s life. Some succumb quickly to the temptation of pride, while others give in to the temptation of false humility. In today’s Scripture Paul tells us that some have convinced themselves that God gave them a vision which convinced them to worship angels. Paul points out that the source of such “visions” is pride. His reasoning must be that God would never give us a vision that is contrary to His clear will and teaching. Obviously, God alone deserves to be worshiped and God alone desires that we worship Him, so He would never give us a vision in which we are told to worship angels. This passage of Scripture helps us to see that visions are valid (after all, on the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter told us that Joel’s prophecy was coming true of visions and dreams being given to God’s people!) but not ALL visions are true. Thus, if we are prone to visions or dreams we gain a key insight: always examine them against God’s word! Then humility will rule and God’s blessing as well!