by Pastor Cecil | Dec 17, 2019 | Colossians
Colossians 1:9
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”
I am ashamed to admit that I have often promised to pray for someone—even had the best intentions to do so—but became busy and forgot my promise. Because of this I have made a separate file for visits and prayer requests. That being said, what kind of prayers should we offer up?
Paul had heard of the faith of the church in Colossae and sent this letter as an encouragement to their faith in the face of persecution. In today’s Scripture Paul says he is praying for God to fill them with the knowledge of His will through all wisdom and understanding.
In the next few verses Paul becomes very specific in what he anticipates as the result of his prayer. Let me list four of them for you:
- Bear fruit in every good work.
- Grow in the knowledge of God.
- Be strengthened with God’s power for endurance and patience.
- Joyfully give thanks to the Lord.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 24, 2019 | Colossians
Colossians 1:9
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”
I am ashamed to admit that I have often promised to pray for someone—even had the best intentions to do so—but became busy and forgot my promise. Because of this I have made a separate file for visits and prayer requests. That being said, what kind of prayers should we offer up?
Paul had heard of the faith of the church in Colossae and sent this letter as an encouragement to their faith in the face of persecution. In today’s Scripture Paul says he is praying for God to fill them with the knowledge of His will through all wisdom and understanding.
In the next few verses Paul becomes very specific in what he anticipates as the result of his prayer. Let me list four of them for you:
- Bear fruit in every good work.
- Grow in the knowledge of God.
- Be strengthened with God’s power for endurance and patience.
- Joyfully give thanks to the Lord.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 6, 2018 | Colossians
Colossians 3:23-24
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
It seems I can still hear our kids in play as one would rebuke the other, “You’re not the boss of me!” I don’t know that anyone appreciates being bossed around, so it is no wonder that resentments often arise on the job. We do not like someone telling us what to do — even when they are our supervisor. Who is your boss?
Today’s Scripture convicted me many years ago. I was working for a man who seemed to view himself to be a Viking warrior. He was often the topic of conversation in the break room and at any other time a group of us gathered together. Our comments were not at all respectful of his position.
As the Lord convicted me through His word, I went to my boss’s office and asked for his forgiveness for the manner I had behaved toward him. I confessed to making derogatory comments about him. I was truly sorry and made a pledge to speak to him directly if I disagreed with his decisions.
Today’s Scripture is very clear about how we are to behave in the workplace. If Paul is saying how slaves are to respond to their masters, how much more does it apply to employees. He says “in everything” … and even when the boss is not around. Not to get a promotion, but doing it as unto the Lord. How do you stack up?
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 5, 2018 | Colossians
Colossians 1:26-27
“The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
I am so glad I grew up in the days of radio. The radio dramas were something that we constantly looked forward to. They allowed the listeners to use their own imaginations to envision the unfolding story. One such program was “I Love A Mystery,” and just as the title suggests, it was a mystery program. It was thrilling to listen as the characters read their lines and the sound effects gave the impression of reality.
In today’s Scripture, Paul reveals a spiritual mystery for us. It is a mystery that was hidden from those who lived before the time of Christ. They may have had some suggestion of this mystery, but it was only in a veiled manner. It was a mystery that would have to wait for its fulfillment in Jesus.
It is obvious that people have been searching for the mystery of how God chooses to work. The answer Paul gives is that it is from the inside out. Wow! There it is once again — not what we do to prove we are righteous, but the indwelling presence of God to work in and through us.
Are you trying to do what God alone can do? Read today’s Scripture once again and realize that the answer to the mystery of mysteries is that it is Christ within us and that is our eternal assurance. Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 16, 2017 | Colossians
Colossians 2:7
“- – rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
As we continue in this passage from Colossians 2, we read the words rooted – established – abounding. It reminds me of watching crew members on the International Space Station eating red lettuce that they had grown in space. It was the first time they had been able to grow edible food in space. I guess they could honestly say that the taste was… OUT OF THIS WORLD! (OK, that was bad!)
In our walk as Believers we are called upon to be rooted. That means we are to base our growth on the Word of God. It is not the wisdom of God that will allow us to grow, but our willingness to be rooted in that wisdom. When we rely on human wisdom and reasoning we will lack the life-giving spiritual nourishment.
From being rooted in God’s Word we will become established in the faith and will abound in it with thanksgiving. That is a fantastic truth that is made evident in and through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the time to evaluate your personal life. After accepting Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, are you rooted deep in His will for your life? Are you being established in Him to the point of abounding with thanksgiving? If not, now is the time to begin this thrilling walk with the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 15, 2017 | Colossians
Colossians 2:6-7
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Yesterday I shared God’s plan for our salvation by quoting from Ephesians 2:8-9. It is by God’s grace and our faith in believing and receiving His provision of eternal salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
When we place our trust in the completed work of Jesus Christ we begin our walk as new believers. It is at this point that much confusion exists. All too often we are led to believe that we are kept by our works. We can no more be kept by our good works than we can be saved by our good works.
Notice in today’s Scripture that Paul writes that just as we received salvation by grace through faith, we are to walk with the Lord by grace and through faith. In order to be strong and productive believers we need to live in victory. We do that by constantly walking by faith as God’s own dear children.
As adoptive children of the God of the universe we have received a new name and a new identity. There is nothing we can do that will keep us saved any more than we could do anything to deserve it in the first place. We just live as believers!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
