Christ the Key

Read Colossians 2:1-7

1. The key to God's treasure. Paul writes, here, about those false teachers who were leading the Colossians astray (v.4). They seem to have been saying that, between man and God, there exists a series of angelic beings, and that Jesus was only one of these. But Paul is firm in his opposition. Today's English Version translates verse 3 in this way: "He is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge." In other words, there may be many treasures, but there is only one key. God's treasures - love, mercy, truth, and so on - are not scattered around carelessly. Remember how Jesus warned His disciples not to "cast pearls before swine"? But these same treasures are available to anyone who uses the key.

2. The secret of God's life. Then the word-pictures change. Instead of the Christian being seen as a person with the key, opening up the storehouse of God's bounty, the Christian is seen as a living plant or a sturdy house, "rooted and established" in Jesus Christ (v.7). These two pictures appear to contradict one another, but Paul is simply using different metaphors. Mixing metaphors never bothered Paul. He simply wants to emphasize one thing , that Christians have only one source of life, that they rest on only one basis, and that is Jesus Christ Himself. When we first come to Christ we do so with simple trust and confidence; we must keep that confidence and trust as we grow in Him (v.6).

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to abound in thanksgiving as I live my life in Your strength and build my life on Your truth. Amen.

Christ in You

Read Colossians 1:24-29

Reading this passage is a little like peeling an onion. As each layer is removed another is revealed until the very heart of the text is laid bare before us. Paul leads us from one level to the next.

First Layer: Paul is suffering as a prisoner, but he knows how to rejoice (v.24).

Second Layer: in some mysterious way, Paul's suffering is part of the total of Christ's suffering for His people (v.24).

Third Layer: Christ's people are so closely related to Him tht they can be described as His "Body" (v.24).

Fourth Layer: Paul had been set apart to serve that Body (v.24).

Fifth Layer: The way Paul serves the Body of Christ is by proclaiming the Word of God (v.25).

Sixth Layer: That Word concerned something that had only recently been made known (v.26).

Seventh Layer: this new development, recently revealed, was that the Gentiles (the non-Jews) had been brought into the circle of God's grace (v.27).

Eighth Layer: the very heart of the matter - this, Word of God, was all about "Christ in you..." (v.27); not simply about Jesus as some far-off or theoretical person, but "Christ in you," that is, the tremendous truth that the Savior actually lives in every person who truly believes and trusts in Him.

This was Paul's message. It involved "warning", teaching", "toil", and "striving" (vs. 28, 29), so it wasn't likely to make Paul very popular, neither did it describe an easy life for those who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord. But, what a gift, to have Him living within you! That alone makes it possible for us to live as Christ's disciples.

Prayer: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Lord Jesus, make Yourself so real to me today that the light of hope may shine out through all I do or say. Amen.

The Image of the Invisible God

Read Colossians 1:15-23

1. "He..." (vs.15-20). Jesus Christ is the true "image" of God (vs.15, 19); that is one reason for taking our Bible reading very seriously, since it is in the Bible that we meet Jesus. But Christ is not just some kind of carved and painted figure, like an idol or icon. See how many different things He is described as being and doing in verses 16 to 18. The most important is put last, for emphasis (v.20). It mattered more to Jesus, and it cost Him more, to "make peace" between you and God than it did to fling the stars into space and to build the universe.

2. "And you..." (vs.21-23). Christian doctrine has to do with real people in real-life situations - "you" in Colossae, in London, in New York, in Lake Jackson. The paragraph has two parts: (a) What Christ has done (vs.21,22). Again, try to pick out the highlights. There is no one else like Jesus. To be the Church is to proclaim the fulness of the Godhead in Christ. No less will do. (b) What we have to do (v.23). Our part is straight-forward - holding on to what we have been given. "Every creature under heaven" - this is obviously a figure of speech. Paul means "far and wide across the Roman Empire." The Gospel has been proclaimed far and wide. It is beginning to bear rich fruit. That is a process that continues to this day. What kind of fruit are you bearing?







Prayer: For all that Jesus is and for all that He has done, I thank You, heavenly Father. Amen.

Help for Today

Read Colossians 1:9-14

Paul had not visited Colossae - but he was often there, in his prayers. Note what Paul prays for: he outlines a program for Christian living.

1. Knowledge of God's will (v.9). Note that this is not just head-knowledge or human wisdom, it is "spiritual"; that is, it is given by God's Spirit to receptive Christians.

2. Living in God's way (v.10). This is made up of several parts: obedience, which pleases Him; good works, which are the "fruit" of His presence; and, a growing understanding of what God is like, which brings us nearer to Him.

3. Made strong with God's power (v.11). The purpose of this is not to help us to perform spectacular miracles, it is to help us to endure and to be patient. We don't usually think so much about this kind of virtue, but it's a sign of strength when we can suffer patiently, and "with joy."

4. Acknowledging God's favor (v.12). Usually, when we talk about people being qualified we are referring to their ability and their achievements; but see how, in this text, it is God who qualifies us. How? See verses 13, 14.

Prayer: Your will, Your way, Your power, Your favor, O God; let these dominate my life today. For Christ's sake. Amen.

At Colossae

Read Colossians 1:1-8

1. "At Colossae..." "Faithful brethren..." This passage gives us insight into the daily surroundings and the human relationships of the Christians in Colossae. They were under immense pressure to conform to the way of life of the vast majority of people in a city noted for its idolatry, its paganism, and its loose morality. Followers of Jesus went about their daily tasks worried about making a living, but also facing the hostility of their idol-woshipping neighbors. They also had to endure the suspicions of those who did not believe it possible both to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and to be loyal to Caesar. As "brethren" they had to take special care of one another. The Roman world could be very harsh on outsiders; there was no safety net, no Social Security. The Christians had to learn to depend upon one another.

2. "In Christ..." "saints..." The passage also emphasizes the unseen world in which they also lived. Although they lived and worked in one world, they also inhabited another. In fact, they were to take that other world with them into their everyday experience. Even as they dealt with the pressures of the day, they were to draw on the strength and grace of Jesus Christ. They were "saints," which means that they were "set apart for the purposes of God."













To what extent are we citizens of another country? As we go about the business of our lives, do we remember that we are also citizens of the Kingdom of God?


Prayer: Lord God, thank You for Jesus, and for the peace that He can bring, even in a troubled world. May I live in hope and learn to cast all of my cares upon Him. Amen.

Listen and Learn

Read Jeremiah 44:1-10

In these verses, the last of our readings from the book of the prophet Jeremiah, we have God's pronouncement against His people who were living in Egypt.

They would not listen (v.5). Again and again God's warnings had come to the people of Israel through the Law and the Prophets, but they had refused to heed and had gone on in their wicked ways. God then gives two reasons why they should have listened to His voice and turned from their sin. First, they were only punishing themselves (v.7) by bringing evil and sorrow upon the land and upon their families; and, second, they were provoking Him (v.8) and bringing punishment upon themselves for their sin.

They would not learn (v.9). The history of Israel was a long catalog of sin followed by punishment, and repentance followed by favor. Over and over again the lesson had been repeated, at individual, tribal and national level, but all to no effect. "They have not humbled themselves... nor have they feared, nor walked in My law..." (v.10). God's steady, persistent teaching had been met by a proud mind, a stubborn, hard heart, and wayward feet.

Are our failures more frequently due to the fact that we will not listen, or that we will not learn?

Prayer: Lord, open my ears to hear Your Word, my heart to receive it, and my hands to do it. For the sake of Christ my Lord. Amen.

Image: Jeremiah prophesying.