Faithful on Fridays Blog

There is a powerful sense of accomplishment when you finish something, isn’t that true? Whether its cleaning out the garage or a closet, organizing an area of your home, or finishing a good book; it just feels good. I hope you feel that way today as we complete the Book of Colossians.

Paul completes his letter (chapter four) the same way he began it, with prayer. Remember back in chapter one all the times that Paul told the believers he was praying for them? Such an encouragement! What a relief to know people are praying for you. Paul has changed, though. He is now asking for prayer. It’s as if the music in his ministry has changed. Kingdom living is like that. It’s like a dance with God and He can change the words, the tempo, and the tune.

Yet Paul is all about ministry. He travels around the Middle East to teach, preach, pray, and encourage believers. Remember, there is no New Testament; it hadn’t been written yet. All those new Christians had were other believers who came a long distance to minister to them. I love it that Paul mentions some of them by name. It must have been such a privilege to have their name in his endorsements. Don’t fly through those names too quickly. I know they’re hard to pronounce but read the lines that describe the person. The common element in all of the people mentioned is servanthood. They were all serving Christ by using their spiritual gifts in this dance with God.
As he brings his letter to a close, Paul makes a statement that I think is very important. To one of his co-workers in ministry he writes, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” I want to complete this series on Colossians the same way. God has given you gifts to make a meaningful difference in the Kingdom of God. Have you identified them? Have you found that ‘sweet spot’ in the Church where you can dance with God? If you haven’t, try thinking about what interests you, what you are passionate about, or what you see as a need in your church? Talk to people about it, especially the leadership. They will be there for you with encouragement, suggestions, and prayer.

Whatever your dance looks like today, be sure God is in the lead. Let Him move you around the dance floor at His pace. Your song may change, the words may be different, and it’s pace may be slower or faster, but let God lead. I am leaving you with a video that pictures this dance with God. I hope you’ll take the time to watch it and see yourself as He moves you around the dance floor of your life. Just click on the link.

Twelve Hours of Light

Let’s talk about time. It seems to have become a four-letter word. People are walking around every day stressed, frustrated, and even angry because they don’t have enough time. I hate to be the one to bring this revelation but we all have the same 24 hours every day: 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. Let’s always remember, God created time for our benefit, not our destruction. God wrote through Moses in the first chapter of the Bible about the creation of light within the darkness (which gives us time) and devotes seven verses to it! Again, in Revelation 22, the last chapter of the Bible, He tells us that we will be reigning with Him in constant light with no need for time. I think He was making a point from beginning to end.

Jesus taught on time in John 11; read what He said:

“There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” (John 11:9, 10 NLT)

I think Jesus is comparing your time with Him to your time without Him. Without His light you remain in darkness. In the life of Job, during his most difficult situation, he was able to write that prayer is light.

“Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him. You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you. (Job 22:26-28 NLT) Now that is a promise that you can count on!

On the other hand, Micah the prophet wrote, “Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”

So whether you’re on top of a mountain or down in the valley of life today; move toward the light. It’s your choice. Darkness comes slowly, as night arrives progressively, but the light of day is coming. Depend on God to bring you justice, direction in your life, or simply a time of rest in Him. Remember this week, as children of light, to turn from the darkness of any situation and back to the light of God where you will have no fear of stumbling. Make it a good week!

“How to” books are very popular and always have been. Who wants to pay for a service that you could probably do yourself, if only someone would show you how? YouTube is the pinnacle of “how to’s”. Not only do you get instruction but it’s on video!

That’s what Colossians 3 is all about. It’s a chapter written to people who didn’t know how to live the kingdom life, the good life, the higher life in Christ. It’s Kingdom Living for Dummies. Do you get my drift? We are no different from these people in ancient Turkey. We desire God’s kind of life but aren’t always sure how to get there. Why? Because that life is secret, it’s hidden from the world, but it is nevertheless real.

As you read this week keep in mind a few points to help you follow Paul’s line of thinking. And remember, always use a translation of the Bible that’s easy to understand. Lay aside those versions that after reading a section you look up and say, “Huh?” I like the New Living Translation; it’s accurate and there is a natural flow in the words.

• Watch for the obvious contrasts: sin nature and new nature, heavenly thinking and earthly thinking, being dead to the world but alive in Christ, the materialistic life or the hidden life.
• Spend some time on the lists of behaviors from the old life. Compare them to the characteristics of this secret life you now have available to you. Which list would best describe you? Now is the time to get serious.
• It seems that our mouth is the primary concern. Surprised? I didn’t think so. The way we handle our anger can be changed and controlled through the power of the Holy Spirit. Your language can be cleaned up and the tendency to lie to make yourself look better will fade away. Slander and gossip will disappear in this new life. Now is the time.
• Our lives reflect our relationship with Christ. We literally re-present Him to the world by our behavior. We want people to see a difference, don’t we?
• This new life includes our relationships of all kinds. Look at the examples. It’s the “how to” of relationships.

Hopefully, after reading this third part of Paul’s letter to these believers you are getting the gist of his intense longing. As he sits in prison, writing to people he will never meet, he encourages kingdom living. I can identify in a very small way. It’s what I experience each time I write this blog. I also want my readers to live the higher life. We are in this together. If you are encouraged, let others know. Give them a “how to” for the blog. Now is the time, don’t put it off. Be an encourager to others.

Is Kingdom Living for You?

Have you ever had someone give you advice that sounded right but their life demonstrated they didn’t practice what they preach? Dieting or exercise tips from someone vastly overweight? How about advice on raising children from someone who doesn’t have kids or their’s are out of control? What about suggestions on living God’s victorious life, however, their life is a train wreck?

Will anyone listen to you talk about the good news of following Christ and the new life He offers if you’re still living according to the world’s ways and acting like the devil? That sounds like my mother talking but it’s still true. Let’s spend some time over the next few weeks on this Midweek Message from the Archives to dig deeper into kingdom living. We’ll answer some simple questions, get practical, yet scriptural answers that work, and get a fresh outlook on our life in Christ.

Now… that assumes that you have come face-to-face with God, acknowledged your sin, and received His forgiveness. There is no other way. Jesus said that you must be spiritually reborn to enter the kingdom of God (John 3). But what about this concept of living in the kingdom of God? What’s it’s purpose? Why did Jesus call it a kingdom anyway?

These are some common and yet valid questions to explore. For now let’s say that the kingdom of God is a lifestyle. It is walking with Him every day, knowing in your mind and believing in your heart that you are a child of the King. Since God is a spirit, reigning from a spiritual realm, then our life is lived in a spiritual kingdom that we cannot see. It’s an invisible kingdom but a royal lifestyle, nonetheless. This is a mystery for sure but Jesus said that His children were permitted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom (Matt. 13). What a privilege. We can understand God’s secrets.
You know, we began in a kingdom when God created the world. Even though the word ‘kingdom’ is not used, the concept is there. Ruling, reigning, and taking dominion was God’s command in Gen. 2. He had created a world for us to live in and gave us fellowship with Him and with each other. Great plan and destiny but there would be a detour for a time. The name of that detour is sin but as humanity continued through time, that great plan and destiny was still on God’s mind. He did not go to Plan B, He did not give up on us, He did not scratch the plan. He had already chosen us to be reunited with Him through His Son (Eph. 1:3-8) before sin entered the world. He was prepared. That’s great news, kingdom living is available for you! Are there places in your life where you not experiencing the victory of kingdom living? Drop me a comment on this blog and let’s talk about it. It’s a safe place to share. Be sure you’re a subscriber before you comment. I welcome your discussion.

Picture this. You’re with a group of new believers in a totally pagan city. A letter is being read from someone you’ve never met but your heart is stirred. This guy seems to really care about my life. That’s the essence of Colossians 2.

Paul continues his letter saying once again, Christ is their vital connection to God. He encourages them to stay in unity through their love for each other. That’s something new. Loving your neighbor as yourself? Praying for your enemies? Forgiving, even when they’re wrong? New perspectives, for sure.

Wisdom is making the right decision at the right time. Don’t we all need this in our lives? Knowledge is having the right information to make that decision. Paul explains that both are found in Christ. The good news is that as a believer, you have access to both wisdom and knowledge because of your vital connection to Him. He is God and He lives in the heart of a person who trusts Him with their life. That’s a mystery but stay with me.

We are confronted with world views every day, some good, some bad. As you watch TV, whether its CNN for news, The View for entertainment, or simply read some Facebook posts the influence is unmistakable. Paul is warning us to stay on track, grow in faith, and stay connected to God. What are some of these perspectives that sound good but don’t line up with the Bible. Consider these:

“There are many roads to heaven, many ways to God.”
“Go ahead, you deserve it.”
“Everyone will be saved; God wouldn’t damn anyone to hell!”
“There is no hell, you just cease to exist.”

I could go on but I think you get the point. Paul tells us to watch out for these well-crafted arguments and these empty philosophies. Check your belief system with scripture. Are there many roads to heaven? No, Jesus said He was the only way to the Father. Sounds excusive, it is. Don’t get mad at me, I’m just telling you the truth. Should you go ahead and do whatever you want because you deserve it? The Bible tells us we deserve punishment. Without Christ that’s what we’ll get. Will everyone be saved in the end? Jesus said you must believe in your heart and your actions will show it. Not everyone will humble themselves before God.

That may all sound like bad news to you but it’s really good news. Jesus Christ left His throne in heaven to become like us so that we could become like Him. We have the opportunity to be vitally connected to God, our sinful nature cut away like a circumcision, and the same power over the devil that Jesus had. Now that’s good news!

As you read Colossians 2 this week I challenge you to think about your world views. Talk to someone you trust. If you’re a subscriber to this blog, respectfully share your thoughts and perspectives. If you haven’t yet subscribed, do it today!

Preaching the gospel
What do you think of when I say, ‘preach the gospel’? Sounds churchy, right? Can you picture a pastor standing behind a pulpit quoting words of scripture? Maybe he’s recounting the sacred life of Christ, His death and resurrection. Or how about your mother or a teacher preaching to you about your behavior and its consequences? Ugh. Yet when you read the New Testament you’ll find that phrase used in many references, over 30 times, and often about Christ Himself. Now, if He was preaching the gospel then it wasn’t the story of His death and resurrection. He hadn’t died yet! Then what was He saying? That’s a significant question. Let’s look at it a little closer.

Remember last week that the gospel is good news? Of course it is what Jesus accomplished for you on the cross but in a bigger picture it is what He is doing for you right now! Preaching the gospel is talking about Jesus. It’s telling others, who may need a word of encouragement, what God has done for you. The phrase used in Matthew 11 and Luke 4 is that Jesus preached the gospel to the poor. I don’t think that means financially poor. I think it’s referring to those who are poor in spirit: tired, hopeless, or spiritually depleted. Spiritually poor are those who have reached a point in their life where they have been humbled by circumstances and ultimately by God. People in your life who are down, depressed, or discouraged could be in place to hear the Good News. Preaching the gospel isn’t limited to the podium or center stage, it’s a simple word of hope. God loves you. If He’ll help me, then He’ll help you. Plain and simple. I like that, don’t you? If you have time this week take a look at Romans 10:14-15, it speaks of being beautiful when you share the Good News with someone. Be beautiful to one who needs you this week.

Today I begin a four-part series on the book of Colossians. Obviously, I cannot do more than inspire you to read it for yourselves but I can give the ‘big picture’ in each chapter to give you incentive to open your Bible.
Paul begins with words that display his love for these believers. Read it that way, personally, as if he’s writing to you. His desire is to encourage you in your walk with Jesus as well as give you insight into the mystery of that relationship. Chapter One shows us that Paul sees three things in you: faith, hope, and love. Look for those words in the first five verses. He tells you that it’s obvious your life is different since you decided to follow Christ. Let me ask you today, do people notice changes in your behavior and attitude?
In the next verses he encourages the believers by letting them know he is praying for them. Have you ever had someone tell you that? I have, even this week, and I assure you I received hope, strength, and rest knowing someone cared.
Next, Paul, being a teacher of sound doctrine, writes the most succinct verses of the supremacy of Christ in all of scripture. He tells us that Christ is the exact representation of God. He is not only God’s Son but He is God Himself. A mystery? For sure. He goes on to explain that all of the attributes of God are in Christ. Amazing. Other religions acknowledge Jesus as a prophet and even God’s Son but no other religion admits that Jesus Christ is God except Christianity. These verses prove that. Why doctrine in the midst of such a personal letter? Maybe because we need to be reminded that our Savior, our Rescuer, our Redeemer is truly God in all aspects. He has the ability to help us in all circumstances.
Lastly, our relationship with God begins with the cross and ends with His indwelling presence in our hearts. God is in us, going where we go, hearing what we hear, seeing what we see, participating in what we do. That should cause you to reflect on your life. If you confess to be a follower of Jesus Christ are you acting like it? If Jesus reflects the Father, do you reflect Jesus? He wants to give you His mighty power so you can live in the Kingdom of God holy and blameless. He wants you to stand before Him without a single fault. It’s not hard to live that way but it takes diligence, patience, and endurance. It’s His power–not yours, that’s the clincher of Chapter One. Read it for yourself this week and ponder on the amazing promises you have in Christ. Take it in stages and think about this incredible mystery that is being revealed to you. If you’re discouraged, it’ll encourage you. If you’re hopeless, it’ll restore hope. If you’re on cloud nine, it’ll remind you why you’re there. It’s all about Him.

The Cross
Last week for the Midweek Message I talked with you about the queston God asked, “Where are you?” inviting us into fellowship with Him in a more consistenet way. This week I’d like to dig a little deeper into Gen. 3. After Adam and Eve sinned, they covered themselves with fig leaves as they recognized their shame and God dealt with the enemy of our souls, the serpent, Satan. God told Satan that One was coming Who (referring to Christ) would crush his head yet he, Satan, will bruise His heel. Huh? What is God talking about? Figurative language, for sure.
In a nutshell, God is saying that He has taken care of everything, sin and Satan, and it will be dealt with in the future. Our fall into sin did not surprise God. He had a plan from the beginning of time and it would unfold throughout history until that divine moment when He sent His Son to the execution cross in our place. Blood, decided by God, would be the payment for sin. The blood that God first shed when He killed animals to cover Adam and Eve (vs. 21) would be a foreshadow or picture beforehand of the final blood that His Son would shed on the cross on our behalf.
Wow, the Cross.
Scripture says that the cross is the ‘power of God’ and that peace or wholeness comes to us through that cross. We are reunited to God at the Cross and our sins are forgiven there. What awesome promises! The best part for me is in Col. 3:13-15 where we are reassured that Jesus took the charges against us and nailed them to the tree (figurative language again!). By that one act of love He transferred spiritual power from Satan to us. Satan is now disarmed, neutralized, paralyzed, and defenseless against us. That’s not figurative: that’s reality.
Doesn’t that make you want to throw your shoulders back and stand a little more erect knowing that The Cross has given you all the power you need to defeat the devil in this world? The Cross has given you the opportunity to become a brand new person in His sight. The Cross has restored fellowship between you and God. This week let the Cross of Christ be on your mind. Remember these few promises that I’ve listed. Be thankful that He has chosen you to receive His rescue, His deliverance, and His restoration. Let’s live like we believe it!

Today I want to be like a farmer scattering seed (Mark 4). I’ve hit the main the disciplines in previous messages but today I’ll just throw some seed out there and let you decide which ones can take root. Keep in mind that spiritual disciplines help you think about activities that will bring you closer to God and man. They increase your effectiveness in the Kingdom of God. They help you grow stronger in areas that please God but don’t come naturally to you. The disciplines are to help you work on the areas that are hard for you.
The first seed I’m throwing out is hospitality. This is serving others in a variety of ways. Yes, it can mean inviting others into your home. However, it can also be meeting for coffee, staying later to talk to others, offering a listening ear (without giving advice), or any opportunity to serve someone that God puts in your path. The disciplines are all about dying to yourself. You can be assured that when you are serious about growing in these areas you will have to step out of yourself and into someone else’s life. It can be scary but it is worth it. When I come face-to-face with Jesus I want Him to say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Practicing the discipline of hospitality can help you toward that goal.
The next seed is frugality. It’s the practice of abstaining from all those items we purchase to give us personal comfort. Oh, I can hear the groans. This includes the incessant shopping (yes, online purchases as well), even when we can’t afford the purchase. Credit cards are so easy and such a temptation. Consider a way to practice frugality. It’s good for the soul.
Secrecy is a discipline that truly forces a dying to yourself. You do something nice for someone and don’t take any credit. It creates a place in your heart for a person who can’t repay because they don’t know who blessed them. Keeping your good deeds a secret makes it all about them and not about you.
Confession has often been left out of our times with God, whether in church or in our devotional times. It is a simple thing and yet refreshing to your soul to confess those times of sin in your life. This allows God to hear you and forgive you. He will, you know.
Lastly, celebration (as Dallas Willard titles it) is rejoicing in God when times are bad. When it’s hard to pray, hard to sing, hard to believe God. When we practice celebration we are increasing our faith in Him to hear and answer us ‘in His time’. We want God to move now and not later; isnt’ that true? This discipline reminds us of His sovereignty in our lives. Celebrate Him no matter how your outward circumstances look.
I hope some of these seeds that I’ve scattered today take root and produce a great harvest in your life!