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It was during the fifth month that the Temple had been burned; throughout the years of the Exile, the Jews had remembered that disaster by fasting and grieving 2 Kings 25:8-10; Ps. Bindi irwin, cuddles up to boyfriend chandler powell, in rome.

What did it mean for him to be a servant of the church and of the gospel. Pray that God will give you all the energy and grace you need to carry you through the zip, and that you will bless others by your patient reaction in any circumstance. If the Colossians and Paul have learned anything from their experience with the gospel, this is it. We live in a world that gives us all kinds of messages about what true love is. In March of 2004 we traveled to Jackson, TN to watch the SNU Crimson Storm play in and ultimately win the NAIA Division I national tournament. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Our suggested extra reading today is Psalm 18:7—19. We offer youth that cover many different Bible study caballeros. There are also dating devotionals from first-person narratives--testaments secretly buried around the Auschwitz grounds, written by prisoners.

What set their faith apart? If you are reading a news article about persecuted Christians in China, Egypt, or elsewhere, that would be a great time to pray for the people in the article. They like to hear themselves talk.

3 Things True Love Is - Exodus 12 is really the climax of the first eleven chapters of Exodus, which record the efforts of Satan to thwart God's redemptive plans and God's sovereignty.

That question needs to ring continually in our ears because we missionary types are usually highly motivated self-starters. If we weren't we probably wouldn't have gotten past all the obstacles there are to involvement in global evangelism. Because we're highly motivated we look ahead. We face great temptations to take off on our own power and then wind up asking the Lord to bless activities we've already got going and plans we've already laid out. In the light of Scripture, that's getting things a bit backward, isn't it? Isn't looking to God for power and wisdom and direction the first thing we're supposed to be doing? We wouldn't walk outside on an extremely cold day without winter clothing. We wouldn't walk into a high-paying job interview without giving thought to what we should be wearing. They had to get emptied first before they would get filled. Have we really understood that we likely need to be emptied before He can fill us? Blessed are all who wait for Him! We self-starter types get impatient. We wonder why He hasn't come. It's most likely caused by us. We may incorrectly conclude that the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost as some older English Bible translations say is tardy about moving. We wait in the darkness for a flame we cannot light. God doesn't always come in dramatic ways like He encountered Moses on Mt. Sinai or Paul on the Damascus Road. Open up your life totally to Jesus. Lift your heart toward God. Seek the truth about yourself. Think about what you do that falls short of Christ-likeness and ask for forgiveness. Move to eliminate those behaviors. Ask the Holy Spirit to shine His convicting light on any tucked-away rancor and bitterness in your heart. Ask for forgiveness and cleansing from those attitudes Mark 11:25 Invite the Holy Spirit to take control of your schedule, agendas, timetables and calendars. Realize that waiting on the Holy Spirit doesn't mean aimless thumb twiddling. In your mind's eye, visualize that He has come and is present. He is here, amen. He is here, listen closely. You will never be the same. Our culture engenders a sort of vending machine mentality in us. We want things instantly. Our computers never seem to be fast enough. We insist that stores open more cash registers when there are more than 3 customers in check-out lines. We eat lunch in restaurants that guarantee food on our tables in under five minutes. We want direct flights because we hate to change planes. Because we want to do it all and do it now, we cram far too many things into our calendars. Many of us would have been very impatient after Jesus' resurrection. Having Him tell us to sit around Jerusalem waiting might have bothered us. After a few days in the Upper Room, some of us would have walked out the door. We'd have told the others they could wait all they wanted to. In the end, we would have wound up very disappointed because of our feeling that we couldn't wait on His timing. The breaking up of the fallow ground takes time. The frosts of winter are as necessary as the rains of spring to prepare the soil for fertility. God has to break our hearts to pieces by the slow process of His discipline, and grind every particle to power, and then to mellow us and saturate us with His blessed Spirit, until we are open for the blessing He has to give us. If we'll back off from rushing things and not insist on moving too quickly, we'll gain wisdom. They had been told that there was something new coming. They felt life likely wasn't going to be simply more of the same. As they waited, however, the hours and and days began to slip by. Was there impatience in the air? Had the excitement of the Resurrection turned to boredom as the waiting days went by? Or, is it possible that the atmosphere of the Upper Room crackled with that kind of electricity one senses in people waiting for a championship sporting event to begin? My wife and I have become big fans of the Southern Nazarene University women's basketball team. In March of 2004 we traveled to Jackson, TN to watch the SNU Crimson Storm play in and ultimately win the NAIA Division I national tournament. On the morning of the championship game, there was anticipation within us throughout the day. There was excitement in the air as we arrived at the arena even before they opened the doors to let in spectators. As we waited to present our tickets to get into the arena, we wondered if Katie Snodgrass would do some of her behind-the-back dribbles. We visualized Katie Korfe hitting some three-pointers. We anticipated there would be suffocating defensive moves by Julie Fulbright and Christi Rush. Tragically, we sometimes let ministry and our involvement in church become so routine that there's no longer a sense of shared excitement. Even as we wait on Him, let's be energized by the eager anticipation of what He will do. Every encounter with Him can be an empowering moment. The fulfillment of His promises always means something good even if -- like those gathered in the Upper Room -- we don't know all the details about what is coming. We can be assured, however, that it will be worth waiting for. We need to reflect a bit on the stern warning given in Isaiah 30 to those who develop plans without bothering to ask if they fit the mind and will of God. The discipline of waiting on the Holy Spirit is a powerful reminder to me that I'm not to be the one ultimately in charge. I need to be reminded of that often. When we truly learn to wait on God, we discover how great He is, how immense His love is toward us, how powerful He is and how involved He wants to be in our lives. Years ago Andrew Murray wrote a devotional book called Waiting on God. In these 31 devotionals Murray pours out his message that an adequate knowledge and understanding of the ways of God only comes to those who know how to patiently wait. So, in some ways, our willingness to wait on the Holy Spirit can be a measure of whether we have recognized the real source of power and cleansing and strength. In one of his books, Henri Nouwen recounts a spiritual insight that came to him through a friendship he had struck up with the Flying Rodleighs, famous German trapeze artistes. Nouwen spent a week in Germany with this group of South Africans and Americans. The public might think that I am the great star of the trapeze, but the real star is Joe, my catcher. He has to be there for me with split second precision and grab me out of the air as I come to him in the long jump. The secret is that the flyer does nothing and the catcher does everything. The worst thing the flyer can do is to try to catch the catcher. A flyer must fly and a catcher must catch, and the flyer must trust, with outstretched arms, that his catcher will be there for him. We are the flyer and He is the catcher. We are as dependent on Him as the trapeze flyer is upon his catcher. People may see us and think how great we are but the real star of this is our Lord, not us. On this day, as you swing through the air seemingly far, far above safety, you must trust in the the Lord to be your catcher. Wait for Him; He will be there for you. They place great value in learning to wait on the Holy Spirit even in the leading of a worship gathering. The Quakers don't rush pell-mell through a pre-arranged order of service like we sometimes do. Our Quaker friends expectantly wait for the Lord to lead in ways that can seem very strange to those of us who have carefully crafted orders of service which we distribute beforehand to worshipers. There's a spontaneity about Quaker gatherings. When they gather for worship, there's an attentive waiting for God to move and speak. We're not Quakers and this is not a call to emulate their style of worship. We can, however, learn some things from our Quaker friends about the need to wait on the Holy Spirit. For us, waiting on the Spirit may mean going ahead with our plans with the clear understanding that if and when He breaks in on us, we're more than ready to abandon what we had planned and go with His program and agenda. That's because we value His presence far more important than any of our plans or programs. Maybe we need to ask ourselves: When was the last time God broke in on one of our gatherings? The obvious message of this passage in Proverbs is that it is the Lord who will deliver us from our enemies. This passage is clear in the source of deliverance: It is the Lord. Because it is He who is our Deliverer, it is in the presence of His Spirit that we will find true peace shalom , depth and unity. It can become an excuse for doing nothing or else an excuse for eventually saying that my own human conclusions about something are truly revelations from God. In one of his devotionals in his classic book My Utmost for His Highest. Oswald Chambers uses as a springboard the last verse of John 14. Those are Jesus words to his disciples when he gets them up from the Last Supper table to head to the Garden of Gethsemane where the events that will lead to His crucifixion will start to quickly unfold. When we are getting into contact with God in order to find out what He wants, dreaming is right; but when we are inclined to spend our team in dreaming over what we have been told to do, it is a bad thing and God's blessing is never in it. There are lots of other action verbs in His commands: Seek, go, find, comfort, preach, love, believe, proclaim, reprove, avoid, deliver, bless, protect, control, give, forgive, defend, devote, discern, encourage, teach, lead, follow, fight. Are we quietly waiting on the Holy Spirit because we are convinced that's what God wants? Or, has God already spoken and we're day-dreaming out of a reluctance to do what He has already commanded? I need to prayerfully ask the Spirit's guidance. SNU missions course materials and syllabi Top 10 Devotionals for Teens Send to a Friend via Email Recipient's Email This field is required. Separate multiple addresses with commas. Limited to 10 recipients. We will not share any of the email addresses on this form with third parties. Life in the Real World: 5-Minute Devotions for Teens By Eileen Ritter You may be a Christian, but you still have to deal with the world around you. This devotional offers quick devotions while also giving you Godly advice about friends, family, dating, prejudice, and more. Called to Be: Devotions by Teens for Teens Women's Devotional Books and Bibles Send to a Friend via Email Recipient's Email This field is required. Separate multiple addresses with commas. Limited to 10 recipients. We will not share any of the email addresses on this form with third parties. Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence 2. Women of Faith Daily Devotional Bible Today's Devotionals And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that. Your Favorite Pastors Back to Top Depth in God's Word that energizes your faith Unchanging truths from Scripture to apply to your changing life Practical biblical application for everyday life. Answering the Mysteries devotional from Jesus. Ed Young Thoughts from God's Word that will help you find the strength, resolve, peace and comfort you need at this very moment in your life Daily Answers for Each Day A day-by-day devotional to strengthen your walk with Christ Daily Bible Studies for Students Overcome obstacles to understanding the Bible with these study resources from the NIV Student Bible Weekly Conexion Vertical Devocionales Refrescantes para el Diario Vivir Daily Daily Journey Enjoy this Bible reading plan that will take you through the Old Testament more or less chronologically, along with comments from writers like C. Spurgeon, Matthew Henry, and others. Daily T oday in the Word The word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah. Later, the Jews had been given permission to return to their homeland; a relatively small group had done so in 538 b. The prophet began his ministry in 520 b. His book is highly literary in nature, and conveys a strong Messianic theology. In fact, Zechariah has more to say about the Messiah than any other book except Isaiah, and the New Testament cites or alludes to the book of Zechariah over 40 times. Some of his prophecies have already been fulfilled in or near the first coming of Christ, while others await the end times, which means that the book also has an eschatological or apocalyptic flavor. We want you to see how the images and themes of Zephaniah and Zechariah connect with images and themes elsewhere in Scripture. If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me. These early verses set the tone and summarize the point of what follows: learn from history, repent and do right, and blessing will follow. What was the history? God was faithful to send prophets to warn them, but the nation had refused to listen. Their sin had brought on His anger and the punishment of the Exile. The Hebrew verb overtake is a hunting term--the Word had pursued and caught them v. Is His love then conditional? No, but His blessings are. Repentance and obedience cf. To return to the Lord, the people must turn from their evil ways and pursue righteousness. Such repentance also involved acknowledging the justice of God; that is, admitting that He was right to do as He had done to them. I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. In the meantime, the male cares for the egg, keeping it warm with his feet. Thousands of these penguins gather together for warmth. A large circle of them rotates slowly so that each bird has an equal turn in the warmer center. And all the while each father carefully protects his egg. These visions are highly pictorial and symbolic, and they often include interpretive clues given to the prophet and to us by an angel. In this first vision, Zechariah saw a man riding a red horse, with other horses following his instructions. The picture seems to be of a military patrol, and indeed the horses bring back a reconnaissance report that the world is at peace. Yet how often do they explain how much God hates sin and how severely He intends to deal with it? News of divine judgment has an essential place in evangelism. People have to hear the bad news about sin and death before they can receive the good news about forgiveness and new life in Christ. This follows up on the first vision, in which God assessed the situation and promised judgment. This vision has two parts. In the first, Zechariah saw four horns. Generally, horns symbolized strength--these horns were probably man-made objects, something like trumpets, and possibly crafted from animal horns. They represent the nations which had conquered Israel and Judah, especially Assyria, Egypt, Babylonia, and Persia. In the second part, the prophet saw four craftsmen, who unmade or destroyed the four horns. They represent nations, namely Egypt, Babylonia, Persia, and Greece, who had overthrown or would overthrow the first set of nations. In the fate of these nations, we find a dramatic contrast. How did this drastic change come about? TODAY ALONG THE WAY - How are your evangelism skills these days? The kids are out in the backyard playing. Dad is trying to mend the back fence. Mom steps out on the patio and rings a bell hanging there. How did they know? Its cheerful chimes lifted their spirits and called them to the waiting feast. Some of these specifics apply to the immediate future already past to us , and some to the end times. The prophet saw a surveyor holding a measuring line with which he intended to measure Jerusalem. The measuring line suggested building or establishing, and was thus a symbol of restoration. God was promising that the city would be completely rebuilt. That the city would overflow with people and livestock shows its prosperity. During the millennial kingdom, not only Israel but many nations will be united to God and will be called His people v. This will be the ultimate fulfillment of His world-embracing covenant with Abraham Gen. See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you. When his face appeared at an upstairs window in the burning house, two brave men ran in to carry him out, the last person to be saved from the fire. He even included this verse in an epitaph he composed for himself, recognizing that God had saved him and set him apart for a special work. The metaphor also showed helplessness, that is, the stick could do nothing for itself. The context is itself a second picture, that of a court of law. The man stood silent before his would-be prosecutor, Satan, but the Lord was his defense attorney and spoke on his behalf cf. Next, we see a third picture: filthy clothes. Such clothing imagery has deep historical roots--God mercifully provided garments for the fallen Adam and Eve Gen. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Today, imagine one of the vivid pictures from the Scripture reading. Meditate on it and its meaning in the context of Zechariah. Why do you think God chose to communicate truth to us in this way? During the meeting, an assistant called the business manager out to look at some mail that had just arrived. In the mail was a check for a large sum of money, plus several smaller checks. Together they totalled precisely the amount of money to meet the need! He had known the need already, and had sent the funds in His time. In the fifth night vision, Zechariah saw a gold lampstand and two olive trees. This was a message from God to Zerubbabel, the governor of the returned exiles. He encouraged him to lead the nation to finish rebuilding the Temple, and to trust in Him though the odds seemed overwhelming. The bowl of oil represented the Holy Spirit, fueling the light and present in abundant supply. The two olive trees likely stood for Zerubbabel, the political leader, and Joshua, the religious leader. By showing both the royal and priestly lines, this symbolism furthermore implied the Messiah. As we know from the historical books of the Old Testament, the nation responded to God with obedience and rebuilt the Temple, completing the project by 516 b. They listened, trusted, and obeyed! The wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. They might put attention-getting ads on the radio or television. Relaxing on the beach, you look up and see a banner ad towed by a small plane. On occasion, you might even see an airplane using smoke to write a message in the sky. When God wanted His people to get the message, He sent His prophet Zechariah a vision of a scroll flying across the sky! Two specific sins are condemned: stealing a violation of the eighth commandment and swearing falsely or perjury a violation of the third commandment. Since the people were no doubt guilty of more than this, these are probably just a few examples of their sinful behavior. Sinners will be banished from His presence--the equivalent of spiritual death. Go for it today! This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land. The books include construction plans for gas chambers and crematories, prisoner lists, and rare photographs. There is an almost day-by-day calendar of events, along with notes on how few of the 8,000 guards were ever brought to justice. References are given from war crimes proceedings, records, and memoirs. There are also quotes from first-person narratives--testaments secretly buried around the Auschwitz grounds, written by prisoners. Zechariah saw a basket, normal except that it was larger than usual. We know this because it held a woman, who symbolized wickedness. Her destination was Babylon, and the picture of her basket on a pedestal or in a house v. Is the Bible sexist? A possible reason is simply that the word wickedness v. Or perhaps the reason is that in biblical figurative language, God is male while His people are female--for example, the church is called His bride. In it, he saw four chariots, pulled by different colored horses, between two bronze mountains. Commentators have speculated that red means war, black means famine, white means violence or conquest, and dappled means pestilence or plague cf. Judgment will satisfy His justice and give His Spirit rest v. When Today in the Word arrived in the mail, you may have been quite surprised! Yet God knew, and had sovereignly planned these devotionals just for you. Here is the man whose name is the Branch. Against a society of warring states, King Arthur tried to establish a united England. His knights of the Round Table lived by the code of chivalry that obligated them to defend the weak, to show mercy to their enemies, and to use their strength in the cause of goodness. Those who are familiar with the legends know that King Arthur ultimately failed in his quest. But the legends also say that one day the King will return! This vision of a just and righteous kingdom is shared by the biblical prophets. One day, God will send a perfect King whose kingdom will never fail. The symbolic action narrated here follows the eight night visions, and probably belongs with them in an outline of Zechariah. God instructed the prophet to collect gold and silver from three donors probably lately-returned, prominent exiles who wanted to help rebuild the Temple , have a craftsman named Josiah or Hen fashion a crown, and place it on the head of the high priest, Joshua. Afterwards, the crown was to be kept as a memorial of this prophecy. What did this action illustrate and foretell? It heralded the future Advent of Messiah, the Branch, in whom the offices of king and priest would be united v. TODAY ALONG THE WAY If you wish, sometime in the near future plan a supplementary worship time for your church group or a group of friends. Pick songs that celebrate the Advents of Christ--both of them. Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. They did acts of righteousness just to be admired by others. They tithed their spices but neglected true obedience. They exalted themselves and loved to be shown honor. They were like their forefathers, who persecuted the prophets. Why was Jesus so hard on them? Since they were leaders, they had led others astray. And in centering their religious life around themselves, they had missed the point of worship. God is the center of true worship! About two years after the night visions, the people of Bethel sent a delegation with a question: should they fast and mourn in the fifth month or not? It was during the fifth month that the Temple had been burned; throughout the years of the Exile, the Jews had remembered that disaster by fasting and grieving 2 Kings 25:8-10; Ps. But the Exile was over, they had returned home, and the Temple was being rebuilt, so they were a bit confused about how to behave. Furthermore, other prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, had already condemned the nation for this same sin, so they should have already known the answer to their question v. Is it for show, for your own ego, or to assuage guilt feelings? Or is it a loving, obedient expression of intimacy with your Savior and joy in His presence? Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Fans hurled racial slurs and mailed death threats, opposing pitchers threw beanballs, and even some of his own teammates started a petition against him. One man who stood by him was shortstop Pee Wee Reese. At one game, fans sitting close to the field abused Robinson mercilessly, and it looked as if he might be near the breaking point. The crowd fell silent. Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese showed the courage to stand for what was right, even when the majority opposed them. Similarly, Zechariah exhorted the Israelites to pursue righteousness, even when many were practicing hypocrisy and self-centeredness. The emphasis, as we can also find in other prophets, was on justice, mercy, and compassion v. Specifically, the people should not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, or poor people, nor should they think evil of others v. These extend the command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves Lev. The failure of the pre-Exilic Israelites to obey God in these areas and others was what had led to the Captivity and Exile vv. Strong phrases are used here--they refused, stubbornly turned their backs, stopped up their ears, and hardened their hearts. Their behavior was willful and intentional, not an accident or the result of ignorance. The metaphor of a whirlwind reflected the scattering of the Jews throughout the world, also called the Diaspora. Did God speak to you during this time? Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain. They can hang their entire body weight off one toe, and climb up nearly any wall, no matter how slick or polished. It uses millions of tiny foot hairs to adhere to surfaces through weak molecular attractive forces. Each foot hair ends in about a thousand even tinier pads at its tip. These pads are arranged in precise geometric sizes and shapes and determine the level of stickiness. The total adhesive power of an average gecko would support 280 pounds! In the reading, we see farmland that is abundantly fruitful, and old people and children enjoying life in the midst of safety and plenty vv. God loved Israel and had pledged Himself to her in an everlasting covenant relationship. He will bring His people home, and return to Jerusalem to dwell with them vv. In the big picture, we see a strong contrast vv. As the people looked to the past, they saw judgment; as they looked to the future, they saw blessing. Whereas previous times had been hard, the future held fruitfulness and comfort. This week, obtain a commentary on Zechariah at your local Christian bookstore or church library. Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you. But what happened next was certainly not usual. A small boy put the offering plate on the floor and stepped into it. When asked what he was doing, he replied that he had no money, so he wanted to give himself to God instead. The pastor scolded him for disturbing the service and sent him back to his seat. But God had a plan for that boy, and took him at his word. His name was Robert Moffat, and he became a pioneering missionary to southern Africa! The blessings themselves will show His presence, and people of many nations will seek the Lord in Jerusalem vv. In truth, every Christian is a witness, a light who attracts others to Jesus Matt. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch. Living in this important ancient center of commerce and trade, its citizens trusted in their wealth and military strength. The island fortress had walls 150 feet high, and the city also boasted a strong navy. Assyria had tried to conquer the city for five years, but failed. Then for 13 years, Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians had thrown their armies against the city, but Tyre had remained independent and prosperous. In light of this history, it took tremendous faith and guts for Zechariah to prophesy the doom of Tyre and other enemies of Israel cf. Chapters 9—11 constitute a single prophetic oracle, one of two that occupy the rest of the book. Alexander the Great defeated or destroyed the nations mentioned here, including his conquest of Tyre about 333 b. How did he do it when others had failed? Amazingly, Alexander and the Greek army bypassed Israel and completely spared Jerusalem and the Temple! TODAY ALONG THE WAY Tyre seems to have been a society quite confident in its physical strength and material goods. Surely we as Americans are tempted by this same attitude! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation. He will proclaim peace to the nations. Nearly 10 billion electronic messages are sent worldwide every day! It is also a good way to transport the goods and services of the 21st century: ideas. What qualities would characterize the coming King? He would behave righteously and act to save or redeem His people. He would be gentle, but also powerful--powerful enough to bring peace to the whole earth! This specific prophecy was fulfilled on Palm Sunday, during the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem v. What would the King do? He would fight on behalf of His people, using them as a bow or sword against their enemies v. He would free the prisoners cf. And He would disarm the nations and end all war--a prophecy to be fulfilled in the Millennium. The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. After accidentally drilling into an abandoned shaft, nine coal miners were trapped 240 feet below ground in a nearly flooded tunnel. More than 100 workers drilled day and night in a race to save them. Would they be in time? After about 80 hours of drilling, pumping air in and water out, and technical problem-solving, the rescuers finally reached the trapped men and pulled them up to safety through a special rescue tube. Continuing from verse 13, we again see the Lord marching forth as a Divine Warrior to save His people cf. This metaphor is often accompanied in Scripture by thunderstorm imagery, showing the superior, supernatural, utterly different nature of His battles. The bowl simile in verse 15 is particularly rich and complex. In one picture, they were a flock, implying that He was their Shepherd, a familiar and comforting metaphor of care, guidance, and provision cf. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Our suggested extra reading today is Psalm 18:7—19. As in our main reading, the Lord is pictured as a mighty, supernatural warrior coming in power and glory to save His people. From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler. If even one stake or length of rope is out of place or not set securely, the tent will sag lopsidedly, rip, or even collapse. God was angry with false prophets and deceiving leaders--the people needed to listen to their true Shepherd, not to be led astray by empty lies. There are also many pictures of strength and victory here. The nation will overthrow their enemies v. This homecoming will bring back Jews to the Promised Land from every corner of the earth vv. The most powerful images in this chapter refer to the Messiah, Jesus Christ v. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. This Jesus is a man touched with the feeling of our infirmities, a man who knows that we are made of dust, a man tested in all points as we are, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. This first of two oracles now concludes on a negative note: Messiah would come, but incredibly, He would be despised. For most of the chapter, Zechariah lived out a two-part object lesson. In the first part vv. In the second part vv. Why would Israel be punished so severely? Because the flock detested him--that is, the nation would fail to recognize and accept their rightful Shepherd. TODAY ALONG THE WAY If you have time, do some additional Bible study today. Read John 10, the passage about Jesus being the Good Shepherd, and make a list of connections and parallels between this chapter and Zechariah 11. Two main areas that should stand out are the shepherd imagery and the Jewish rejection of their Shepherd. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child. Back in the distance, you see a red traffic light. Between you and the traffic light is another red light, this one flashing on top of a police car headed your way. No one can resist His sovereign power v. Just as drunken men are overcome by alcohol, so the wicked will be overcome by divine judgment. With their eyes opened to the truth, they will repent with sincere and godly sorrow. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Spend some time in prayer today rejoicing in your Savior. Through the lens of Scripture, behold Him, confess to Him, praise Him, and meditate on His greatness and love. He paid the ultimate price for your salvation--He gave His life that you might have eternal life! A fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. Often the area, which includes many mountains, goes without rain for several years, and on average receives only. Rainstorms that hit the tropical forest on the other side of the Andes generally cannot rise high enough to do the same on the Atacama side. Some sections of this high, cold desert have not experienced rainfall for over 400 years! The cleansing from sin will involve an end to worship of other gods, and an end to false prophecies vv. Even family members of such sinners will have God as their first and all-consuming priority cf. Jesus quoted the lines about the Shepherd being struck and the sheep scattered as fulfilled in His arrest Matt. TODAY ALONG THE WAY The long-awaited One has come! The Living Water is available today! Are you excited about this message? Have you shared this good news recently? The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. Open, Andre Agassi won one of the hardest-fought, come-from-behind victories in recent tennis history. After winning the first set against Todd Martin, he dropped the next two sets on tiebreakers. After three hours and 23 minutes, he finally won the fifth set 6-2 to clinch his fifth career Grand Slam championship. During the battle of Armageddon, the nations will fight against Jerusalem, and at first will be winning. But then the Lord will arrive, fight, conquer, and make the city safe forever vv. These might be angels, but are more likely believers. TODAY ALONG THE WAY As we see in both the Old and New Testaments, Jesus is coming again! The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. The nations who attacked Israel will be struck with a plague, and will give up their wealth. Best of all, the entire world will come to worship the one true God at the Feast of Tabernacles vv. Why the Feast of Tabernacles? It was the last and greatest festival on the Jewish calendar, a time of joy and thankfulness. Why do the book and this second oracle end with pots and pans vv. TODAY ALONG THE WAY About any subject, but especially in regard to the Messiah and the end times, what new things did you learn this month? What spiritual truth or principle have you come to understand for the first time? Simple, yet it will take eternity for us to worship Christ. Colossae was a city located in the Lycus River Valley in Asia Minor modern Turkey , about 100 miles east of Ephesus. Its location has been identified, but it has never been excavated. Focusing on the centrality of Christ, the epistle appears to have been written to combat a heresy. Epaphras, very likely the planter and pastor of the Colossian church 1:7 , knew the heresy threatened the purity of the gospel and the spiritual lives of believers in his congregation, probably a mix of Jews and Gentiles. Scholars are not sure exactly which imprisonment, but scholar Douglas Moo identifies Rome as the most likely location, meaning that the book was probably written around a. As we study the letter to the Colossians this month, pray that the Spirit will renew your commitment to the truth of the gospel and the truth of who Jesus is. Pray that this truth will make a difference in how you live as a committed follower of Christ. Simple, yet it will take eternity for us to worship Christ. Colossae was a city located in the Lycus River Valley in Asia Minor modern Turkey , about 100 miles east of Ephesus. Its location has been identified, but it has never been excavated. Focusing on the centrality of Christ, the epistle appears to have been written to combat a heresy. Epaphras, very likely the planter and pastor of the Colossian church 1:7 , knew the heresy threatened the purity of the gospel and the spiritual lives of believers in his congregation, probably a mix of Jews and Gentiles. Scholars are not sure exactly which imprisonment, but scholar Douglas Moo identifies Rome as the most likely location, meaning that the book was probably written around a. As we study the letter to the Colossians this month, pray that the Spirit will renew your commitment to the truth of the gospel and the truth of who Jesus is. Pray that this truth will make a difference in how you live as a committed follower of Christ. Some forms of radical Islam may entice martyr-murderers with similar dreams, but Christian hope is the power to love, not kill. Christian hope produces life-givers, not life-takers. The crucified Christ calls his people to live and die for their enemies, as he did. Jesus unleashed a movement of radical, loving, risk-takers. Paul elsewhere referred to faith and love as part of the armor of God that should be worn by Christians 1 Thess. Paul had never actually been to Colossae 2:1. Since these things are true for all believers, this epistle is written for us as well! We, too, have heard and believed, want to keep growing in Christ, and trust in God to guard our salvation. Apply the Word Paul wrote of thanking God in prayer for the Colossians v. Praying for specific individuals and groups is a good habit. If you are reading a news article about persecuted Christians in China, Egypt, or elsewhere, that would be a great time to pray for the people in the article. Another idea is to pray for a specific Facebook friend every time you use that social media website. Some forms of radical Islam may entice martyr-murderers with similar dreams, but Christian hope is the power to love, not kill. Christian hope produces life-givers, not life-takers. The crucified Christ calls his people to live and die for their enemies, as he did. Jesus unleashed a movement of radical, loving, risk-takers. Paul elsewhere referred to faith and love as part of the armor of God that should be worn by Christians 1 Thess. Paul had never actually been to Colossae 2:1. Since these things are true for all believers, this epistle is written for us as well! We, too, have heard and believed, want to keep growing in Christ, and trust in God to guard our salvation. Apply the Word Paul wrote of thanking God in prayer for the Colossians v. Praying for specific individuals and groups is a good habit. If you are reading a news article about persecuted Christians in China, Egypt, or elsewhere, that would be a great time to pray for the people in the article. Another idea is to pray for a specific Facebook friend every time you use that social media website. Colossians 1:3-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 I thank my God every time I remember you. Josef Gabor grew up in communist Czechoslovakia, under the dark shadow of Stalin's Soviet Union. Gabor was told that religion was weakness and was taught communist doctrine by his father. His mother, though, was a follower of Jesus Christ. She took Josef and his brother to church, which was a three-hour train ride away. Despite the distance and danger of going to church, Josef Gabor remains grateful to God for a mother who helped bring him to Christ. For many years, Gabor served with Trans World Radio, and is currently the director of Youth for Christ in Central Europe. Yesterday we saw how gratitude flows na-turally from seeing God's power to break the bondage of evil. In today's passage, we find that gratitude similarly flows when we see the gospel's worldwide spread. These two truths go hand-in-hand, because the gospel always brings freedom and healing wherever it goes. It's possible that Paul never visited the church in Colossae. But when Epaphras, who was probably converted through Paul's ministry, brought news of the good things that were happening in this small church, Paul was filled with gratitude. Notice the triad of faith, love, and hope in verses 4 and 5. Together, these offer evidence of the gospel's transforming power. The news that gospel was spreading into this part of the world now part of modern-day Turkey filled Paul with praise and thanks, because it confirmed that the good news of Jesus Christ was indeed increasing around the world. Paul had the same response when he learned about the effects of the gospel in the Thessalonian church, one of the first churches that he planted in Europe. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Both yesterday's and today's Bible readings show that gratitude is an essential part of the gospel. When the gospel comes into people's lives, thanksgiving is evidence of its transforming power. But it's also the case that when we hear about the spread of the gospel, we're filled with thanksgiving to God. Today would be a good time to learn more about the gospel's spread and power. A Colossians 1:6—8 Last year was the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible. Believers and unbelievers alike acknowledge the powerful influence of the KJV throughout Western culture and history. Many readers find that the archaic language still conveys a sense of the beauty and majesty of Scripture. In fact, the KJV is the best-selling Bible translation of all time! The story of the King James Version is just part of the ongoing story of the worldwide spread of the gospel. The church at Colossae was apparently planted by Epaphras vv. This connection also alerted the Colossians, in an apostolically authoritative manner, that they needed to heed Epaphras and reject false teachers. Apply the Word One excellent book about the 400th anniversary of the KJV is The Legacy of the King James Bible by Leland Ryken Crossway, 2011. He recounts the historical story of the KJV, including the translation itself and also its influence in education, government, religion, and art. Colossians 1:6—8 Last year was the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible. Believers and unbelievers alike acknowledge the powerful influence of the KJV throughout Western culture and history. Many readers find that the archaic language still conveys a sense of the beauty and majesty of Scripture. In fact, the KJV is the best-selling Bible translation of all time! The story of the King James Version is just part of the ongoing story of the worldwide spread of the gospel. The church at Colossae was apparently planted by Epaphras vv. This connection also alerted the Colossians, in an apostolically authoritative manner, that they needed to heed Epaphras and reject false teachers. Apply the Word One excellent book about the 400th anniversary of the KJV is The Legacy of the King James Bible by Leland Ryken Crossway, 2011. He recounts the historical story of the KJV, including the translation itself and also its influence in education, government, religion, and art. Colossians 1:9—11 Images of roads and journeys and the theme of pilgrimage are central motifs in the Christian life. The idea is that we, like the Israelites in the Exodus, are on our way to somewhere better. While on our way, we have choices to make, lessons to learn, people to serve, commands to obey, injustices to suffer or make right, and praises to sing. Such a life was at the center of his prayers for them. To be filled with the knowledge of God is to be controlled by it. Therefore, the outcome of this prayer would be a God-pleasing life—a high calling indeed! What does a God-pleasing life look like? In verses 10 through 12, Paul lists four characteristics. This is not something we can do on our own. We must rely on the Holy Spirit. Colossians 1:9—11 Images of roads and journeys and the theme of pilgrimage are central motifs in the Christian life. The idea is that we, like the Israelites in the Exodus, are on our way to somewhere better. While on our way, we have choices to make, lessons to learn, people to serve, commands to obey, injustices to suffer or make right, and praises to sing. Such a life was at the center of his prayers for them. To be filled with the knowledge of God is to be controlled by it. Therefore, the outcome of this prayer would be a God-pleasing life—a high calling indeed! What does a God-pleasing life look like? In verses 10 through 12, Paul lists four characteristics. This is not something we can do on our own. We must rely on the Holy Spirit. Colossians 1:9-14; 2:6-7 I will give you thanks forever. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States. Moreover, Lincoln's writings, as well as those of other American leaders long before him, frequently reflect a deep sense of gratitude to God, both for His providence in national matters and in their own lives and families. It's evident that thanksgiving extended beyond a national holiday to lives that were characterized by gratitude to God. Thanksgiving as a lifestyle has been a recurring theme in our study this month. This is particularly evident in Colossians. In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul indicates that he is praying that the Colossians would be filled with God's knowledge, so that they might live lives worthy of the Lord. Then he lists four characteristics of such a life: believers are to be fruitful, maturing, empowered, and thankful. The order of this list suggests that the more we progress in our walk of faith the more thankful we become. This is repeated in Colossians 2, where Paul links spiritual growth with overflowing thankfulness. To live a life worthy of the Lord is to live with the constant awareness of God's grace. Both of today's passages also link thankfulness with growing in the essentials of our faith. If you aren't already attending a Bible study, commit to making that a priority as well. Colossians 1:9-14 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. He was flown to the United States and given a new identity. Bridges points out that although this pilot had the same physical characteristics and personality traits after his experience, his new identity allowed him to live a new life. He was delivered from a totalitarian regime, and able to enjoy all the benefits of living in a free society. We went from guilt to forgiveness, from slavery to freedom, from weakness to strength, and from total spiritual poverty to an eternal inheritance. Instead of worrying or being fearful, our emphasis should be on thanking God for all these gifts. Besides expressing our thanks with words, we can show God our gratitude by the way we live for Him and grow in our faith. This was the prayer Paul had for the Colossian Christians. We can know the will of God for our lives, and knowing what He expects from us comes from Spirit-directed reading and study of the Word. The result of this will be seen in our lives. Jesus said His Father was glorified when we bear fruit Jn. Keeping the right spiritual perspective also results in endurance and patience v. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Back on December 12, we talked about special Christmas gifts you can give to your family and friends. Pray that God will give you all the energy and grace you need to carry you through the season, and that you will bless others by your patient reaction in any circumstance. Colossians 1:9-23 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. By comparison, the largest diamond ever found on earth was only 3,100 carats. The star is actually a crystallized white dwarf, the leftover core of a star that has burned out. How much would such a diamond be worth? It boggles the mind. Paul felt exactly this way about the incredible, incalculable worth of Jesus Christ. In today's two readings—again drawn from epistles written during his first imprisonment—Paul celebrated this truth. A theological library could be written on these passages, but we will focus on one question: What does a life filled with Christ look like? A life filled with Christ is one filled with blessing and lavished with grace. After all, God predestined and chose us to be adopted as His children. He loved us so much that He sent His Son on a life-costing, life - giving mission of forgiveness and redemption. Our lives, too, should be characterized by love, grace, and forgiveness—doing as well as speaking gospel truths to those around us. God's purpose in choosing us is to make us holy and blameless, to the praise of His glory. We believe and hope in these spiritual realities, and already enjoy the Holy Spirit as a guarantee and firstfruits of the inheritance to come. A life filled with Christ is one governed by the knowledge of God's revealed will, that is, His plan of salvation. Having crossed over from death to life in Christ, we should continue walking with and growing in Him. We should live righteously, worthy of our salvation—that is, to please Him. This will assuredly bear fruit in our lives, including endurance, patience, thankfulness, and joy. TODAY ALONG THE WAY If you find that you can better relate to fiction, pick up a copy of Paul: A Novel, by Walter Wangerin Jr. In this engaging and substantial modern novel, Wangerin takes into account the latest historical and cultural scholarship on the first century and writes from an imaginative, faith-filled perspective. He is the hinge of history. At that time, people believed that white light was the purest form of light, and thus that colored light was somehow impure. To test this belief, Newton shone a beam of sunlight through a glass prism. The prism separated the light into a spectrum of colors, showing that white light is actually composed of many different colors. Newton concluded that these colors, also seen in rainbows, are the fundamental colors seen by the human eye. His test changed our view of light and color and is one of the best-known experiments in the history of science. And the primary reason we have to give thanks to God is for His plan of redemption—how He saved us from death by sending His Son to die in our stead vv. The light-versus-dark imagery captures the complete contrast between two realities. These two realities have opposite power structures, opposite beliefs to live by, and opposite outcomes. We were spiritually dead and headed for damnation—there was absolutely nothing we could do to move ourselves from one domain to the other. Only God could rescue us, which He graciously did even though it meant the sacrifice of His beloved Son. Christ died and rose again, winning the victory over death and making possible forgiveness of sin v. Spend time today thanking God that His Son made your redemption possible, and that His Spirit lives in you. This is the greatest gift; let us live out our gratitude to the Giver! Colossians 1:12—14 The famous scientist Isaac Newton graduated from Cambridge University in 1665. At that time, people believed that white light was the purest form of light, and thus that colored light was somehow impure. To test this belief, Newton shone a beam of sunlight through a glass prism. The prism separated the light into a spectrum of colors, showing that white light is actually composed of many different colors. Newton concluded that these colors, also seen in rainbows, are the fundamental colors seen by the human eye. His test changed our view of light and color and is one of the best-known experiments in the history of science. And the primary reason we have to give thanks to God is for His plan of redemption—how He saved us from death by sending His Son to die in our stead vv. The light-versus-dark imagery captures the complete contrast between two realities. These two realities have opposite power structures, opposite beliefs to live by, and opposite outcomes. We were spiritually dead and headed for damnation—there was absolutely nothing we could do to move ourselves from one domain to the other. Only God could rescue us, which He graciously did even though it meant the sacrifice of His beloved Son. Christ died and rose again, winning the victory over death and making possible forgiveness of sin v. Spend time today thanking God that His Son made Colossians 1:13 Exodus 12:1-42 He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son. After the town where she lived was bombed, Japanese soldiers were sent to kill any survivors. Aylward led the survivors, including many children, on a long march through perilous terrain. Miraculously, many survived this harrowing escape and caught the last train for freedom. There's something very compelling about rescue operations, the greatest of which is surely found in the story of the Exodus. Here we see a pattern of God's redemptive work. Just as He chose one man, Abraham, through whom He would bless all the peoples of the earth, so now He chose this nation, Israel. But before this nation could be a blessing, they would have to be freed. Exodus 12 is really the climax of the first eleven chapters of Exodus, which record the efforts of Satan to thwart God's redemptive plans and God's sovereignty. The book opens with the cruel plot to crush the Jews through forced labor 1:11 , but the Jews continued to increase. Then the Pharaoh ordered the murder of all Jewish baby boys, but God intervened again 1:15-20. The story of Moses' birth Ex. God's protection of His people is tied to His covenant promise to Abraham Ex. Exodus 12 describes the final plague. Although this plague was to fall upon every firstborn in Egypt, the Lord provided a substitution for the Israelites: a spotless yearling lamb, whose blood was to be spread on the outside doorframe v. In this way, the plague would pass over the Israelite households v. As we read this account, it can be difficult to see how this was a blessing to the nation Egypt. But notice that many other people, presumably Egyptians, left with the Israelites v. They likely saw the power of God and wanted to join His people. Keep in mind also that God's purpose for rescuing the Israelites was to make them a great nation that would be a blessing to all the nations around, including Egypt. TODAY ALONG THE WAY It's not hard to see how the Passover prefigures our Lord Jesus Christ. Like the sacrificial lamb, whose blood offered protection, His death upon the cross offers salvation. Luke 4:18 says that Jesus came to set the oppressed free, but the oppression here is not physical bondage to a foreign power, but spiritual bondage to the Evil One. By His death and resurrection, Jesus has made possible the greatest rescue operation in the history of the universe—the rescue of a lost person from the realm of darkness Col. Colossians 1:15—20 is often considered the climax of this epistle because of its doctrinal and poetic qualities. This means that although God is a spirit and cannot be seen, Christ became human and made it literally possible to see God. This is also a way of saying that Christ is fully God. He spoke it into being and continually sustains it cf. His preeminence covers the entire created realm, including supernatural beings, a truth that will be applied specifically in chapter two against the false teachings spread in Colossae 2:18—19. Since Christ is the creator and ruler over all creation, then He is the One to whom we as stewards of creation must give account Gen. He made it all, and He will make it all new Rev. It can be invigorating and convicting to realize that He is the One holding everything together, that He stands at the beginning and end of history as its Alpha and Omega, and that in Him we actually see God. Colossians 1:15-29 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. This helped in future identification. A heresy in the early church called Gnosticism taught that all matter was evil and only spirit was good. Therefore, the Gnostics concluded that since God was good, God could not become man, nor could He be the agent of creation of matter. Some cults today still teach a variation on this ancient heresy. He had to die, and in order to die He had to be a man. In Colossians 1 we see affirmation that Jesus is God and man. Jesus was there when God created the earth John 1:1. Then Paul reminds us that Jesus was also fully human; His physical body died so that we can be reconciled to God v. Because of the blood Jesus shed on the cross, we are forgiven of our sins. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Colossians 1:21—23 sums up the heart of the gospel: we were alienated from God because of our sin, but Christ died and rose again to present us holy before God. Colossians 1:15—20 is often considered the climax of this epistle because of its doctrinal and poetic qualities. This means that although God is a spirit and cannot be seen, Christ became human and made it literally possible to see God. This is also a way of saying that Christ is fully God. He spoke it into being and continually sustains it cf. His preeminence covers the entire created realm, including supernatural beings, a truth that will be applied specifically in chapter two against the false teachings spread in Colossae 2:18—19. Since Christ is the creator and ruler over all creation, then He is the One to whom we as stewards of creation must give account Gen. He made it all, and He will make it all new Rev. It can be invigorating and convicting to realize that He is the One holding everything together, that He stands at the beginning and end of history as its Alpha and Omega, and that in Him we actually see God. Colossians 1:15-20 Genesis 1:26-31; Just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. So far the 2006 exhibition has sparked similar enthusiasm. Seeing these amazing relics illustrates how the ancient Egyptians believed that Pharaoh was the very image of god. We've looked at Jesus' humanity, and its importance for salvation. We'll continue this focus for several more days by concentrating upon Jesus as the perfect human being. We begin by considering humanity as made in the image of God. As we've noted, ancient Egyptians claimed that only a Pharaoh could be the image of God. Old Babylonian myths said humans were created by lesser gods who were tired of the duties to serve and feed the higher gods. How different is Genesis 1:26-31! As the culmination of God's creativity, human beings were created in His own image and likeness, stressing that humans are like God in important ways, although they are not God. Created as male and female, we see that relationship is one way humans are in God's image. We also see that God uses language to reveal Himself to humanity, and language distinguished humans from the rest of creation. Finally, God entrusts humanity with responsibility, showing that human morality is also part of the image of God. Yet the Fall marred humanity's ability to image God. As the perfect human being, however, Jesus images God perfectly. Recall from John 1 that in Jesus we behold God's glory. In Him, we behold the fullness of deity and the reconciliation that He is bringing about throughout all creation. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Colossians 1:15-20 offers exciting parallels between God's work in creation and His work of redemption. In creation, Adam and Eve together bore God's image. In His incarnation, the perfect human being Jesus Christ perfectly images the true God. And because of His resurrection the firstborn from the dead, v. How do our churches and fellowships reflect His image, and how we might more fully bear His image to a fallen world? Colossians 1:15-23; Revelation 1:5 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. These people tend toward positions of leadership because that was the role they filled among their siblings. Firstborns tend to be orderly and goal-oriented, and they tend to assume responsibility early. The biblical role of firstborn is well-developed in the Old Testament. The firstborn received both privilege and responsibilities; for example, the firstborn was to receive a double portion of the inheritance Deut. By the time of the New Testament, the term firstborn began to refer to something that was supremely important, and was no longer simply confined to birth order. This is probably what Paul had in mind when he wrote Colossians. In Jesus, all creation holds together v. The term firstborn well expresses this total supremacy of Jesus. Not only is Jesus paramount over all the created world, He is also supreme over the re-created, or resurrected, world v. Just as Jesus is preeminent over the created world, so also He is chief over the resurrected world. As believers, we have been reconciled to God through Jesus. TODAY ALONG THE WAY When the elders and angels in heaven beheld the Risen Lamb, the Firstborn from the Dead, they broke into spontaneous worship Colossians 1:18—20 Paul pictured the church as one body that consists of many parts see 1 Corinthians 12. In the same way, a diversity of people and spiritual gifts is exactly what the church needs to thrive. The key, of course, is a head. Without a head to run the show, a body is just a corpse. In the case of the church, the Head is Christ. Because of Him, death has lost its sting and the gift of eternal life is ours. In everything Christ has the supremacy. We were in a state of war with the Almighty, and peace needed to be made. The state of war ended, thanks to the sacrifice of the Victor Himself. Paul celebrated the identity and mission of Christ in order to remind the Colossians of the Person and truth who had transformed their lives, and to call them and us to worship and live worthy of Him. Apply the Word Every believer has one or more spiritual gifts that are to be used in service to the body of Christ, the church. These gifts are given and cultivated by the Holy Spirit. A variety of gifts is necessary for the health of the church see 1 Cor. Are we using our gifts to participate in the life of the church? Just as our gift of salvation should prompt us to live in gratitude, so also our spiritual gifts should encourage us to live in service to God and others. Colossians 1:18—20 Paul pictured the church as one body that consists of many parts see 1 Corinthians 12. In the same way, a diversity of people and spiritual gifts is exactly what the church needs to thrive. The key, of course, is a head. Without a head to run the show, a body is just a corpse. In the case of the church, the Head is Christ. Because of Him, death has lost its sting and the gift of eternal life is ours. In everything Christ has the supremacy. We were in a state of war with the Almighty, and peace needed to be made. The state of war ended, thanks to the sacrifice of the Victor Himself. Paul celebrated the identity and mission of Christ in order to remind the Colossians of the Person and truth who had transformed their lives, and to call them and us to worship and live worthy of Him. Apply the Word Every believer has one or more spiritual gifts that are to be used in service to the body of Christ, the church. These gifts are given and cultivated by the Holy Spirit. A variety of gifts is necessary for the health of the church see 1 Cor. Are we using our gifts to participate in the life of the church? Just as our gift of salvation should prompt us to live in gratitude, so also our spiritual gifts should encourage us to live in service to God and others. It measures 23 feet long by 13 feet wide, and pictures a garden of paradise through intricate floral patterns and geometric shapes. While the preceding verses position Christ with reference to people, these verses position people with reference to God. Due to sin, we were disconnected from our Creator and in a state of rebellion against Him. Paul located this rebellion in our minds, because in this epistle his emphasis is on knowledge and truth and their consequences. The relationship was transformed. How did this miracle occur? And the fact is that this miracle is still occurring. Letting God do His work in us is what faith is all about. If the Colossians and Paul have learned anything from their experience with the gospel, this is it! Does He hold first place in our thoughts and feelings? Is He preeminent in our marriage, family, work, and play? Is He glorified above all else in our words and actions, including in our leisure, media, and music choices? Is He honored and worshiped as Head of the church and of every dimension of our lives? It measures 23 feet long by 13 feet wide, and pictures a garden of paradise through intricate floral patterns and geometric shapes. While the preceding verses position Christ with reference to people, these verses position people with reference to God. Due to sin, we were disconnected from our Creator and in a state of rebellion against Him. Paul located this rebellion in our minds, because in this epistle his emphasis is on knowledge and truth and their consequences. The relationship was transformed. How did this miracle occur? And the fact is that this miracle is still occurring. Letting God do His work in us is what faith is all about. If the Colossians and Paul have learned anything from their experience with the gospel, this is it! Does He hold first place in our thoughts and feelings? Is He preeminent in our marriage, family, work, and play? Is He glorified above all else in our words and actions, including in our leisure, media, and music choices? Is He honored and worshiped as Head of the church and of every dimension of our lives? Colossians 1:24—27 From a big picture perspective, the Bible is a single book, with God as the Author and the main story as His plan of salvation. The plot unfolds something like a mystery. The original crime took place in the Garden of Eden, with Adam and Eve as the guilty perpetrators. But when and how would this promise be fulfilled? As history unfolds in the Old Testament, characters are introduced, prophecies made, and more clues given. His Son Jesus became a man, died for sin, and rose again so that we could be saved from the penalty of death. What did it mean for him to be a servant of the church and of the gospel? Part of what it meant was that he had counted the cost. Paul suffered for the sake of the church v. This was a serious responsibility, for the gospel was the revelation of a wonderful mystery v. Since the Colossian congregation likely included both, the believers there understood the racial and cultural dimensions of the gospel-empowered reconciliation found in Christ. He did it all—we can add nothing. If you need encouragement through a period of suffering, write Philippians 3:10—11 on a card to review throughout the day. Our participation in suffering also assures us that we will share in the power of His resurrection! Colossians 1:24—27 From a big picture perspective, the Bible is a single book, with God as the Author and the main story as His plan of salvation. The plot unfolds something like a mystery. The original crime took place in the Garden of Eden, with Adam and Eve as the guilty perpetrators. But when and how would this promise be fulfilled? As history unfolds in the Old Testament, characters are introduced, prophecies made, and more clues given. His Son Jesus became a man, died for sin, and rose again so that we could be saved from the penalty of death. What did it mean for him to be a servant of the church and of the gospel? Part of what it meant was that he had counted the cost. Paul suffered for the sake of the church v. This was a serious responsibility, for the gospel was the revelation of a wonderful mystery v. Since the Colossian congregation likely included both, the believers there understood the racial and cultural dimensions of the gospel-empowered reconciliation found in Christ. He did it all—we can add nothing. If you need encouragement through a period of suffering, write Philippians 3:10—11 on a card to review throughout the day. Our participation in suffering also assures us that we will share in the power of His resurrection! Colossians 1:24—27 From a big picture perspective, the Bible is a single book, with God as the Author and the main story as His plan of salvation. The plot unfolds something like a mystery. The original crime took place in the Garden of Eden, with Adam and Eve as the guilty perpetrators. But when and how would this promise be fulfilled? As history unfolds in the Old Testament, characters are introduced, prophecies made, and more clues given. His Son Jesus became a man, died for sin, and rose again so that we could be saved from the penalty of death. What did it mean for him to be a servant of the church and of the gospel? Part of what it meant was that he had counted the cost. Paul suffered for the sake of the church v. This was a serious responsibility, for the gospel was the revelation of a wonderful mystery v. Since the Colossian congregation likely included both, the believers there understood the racial and cultural dimensions of the gospel-empowered reconciliation found in Christ. He did it all—we can add nothing. If you need encouragement through a period of suffering, write Philippians 3:10—11 on a card to review throughout the day. Our participation in suffering also assures us that we will share in the power of His resurrection! Colossians 1:28—2:1 Information technology is at the core of contemporary society. Kao proved that information can be efficiently carried by light through glass fibers. Boyle and Smith developed an electronic eye device that is now used in most digital cameras. If your cell phone can take pictures and send them to your computer, these three men are the ones to thank! Communication was also a passion of the apostle Paul. His desire was to preach the gospel of Christ with every ounce of energy he could muster and God would give him. Christ was proclaimed; then those who believed would need further admonishing and teaching in order to grow in Him. He wanted to make sure the Colossians understood both how energetically he labored on their behalf and how none of the credit and glory should go to him, but rather to his Lord 2:1. Christ has done all the work and should receive all the glory! If God has called you to take action for Him, He will also provide the endurance for you to obey. If you need to take a step of faith today, thank the Lord for His sustaining grace that makes your obedience possible. Paul had spent his life in pursuit of this treasure, in possessing it, and in giving it away—all at the same time! And only then would they truly grasp the mystery of the gospel. The mystery is Christ Himself v. Christ has always been the bottom line. Anyone who says otherwise is a false teacher offering a false hope v. But the complete meaning of our relationship with Christ and what it means to live out the gospel still need to be fully explored by us. He delighted in what he heard from Epaphras, but he was concerned that their commitment to the truth and person of Christ was being corrupted. Apply the Word When you tell children Christmas is coming, their eyes light up in anticipation of gifts, decorations, and special foods. As you look forward to worshiping the Lord with other believers tomorrow, remember that these treasures have incomparable value and are worth everything we have to give and more Matt. Colossians 2:6 Colossians 1:9-14 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. He was flown to the United States and given a new identity. Bridges points out that although this pilot had the same physical characteristics and personality traits after his experience, his new identity allowed him to live a new life. He was delivered from a totalitarian regime, and able to enjoy all the benefits of living in a free society. We went from guilt to forgiveness, from slavery to freedom, from weakness to strength, and from total spiritual poverty to an eternal inheritance. Instead of worrying or being fearful, our emphasis should be on thanking God for all these gifts. Besides expressing our thanks with words, we can show God our gratitude by the way we live for Him and grow in our faith. This was the prayer Paul had for the Colossian Christians. We can know the will of God for our lives, and knowing what He expects from us comes from Spirit-directed reading and study of the Word. The result of this will be seen in our lives. Jesus said His Father was glorified when we bear fruit Jn. Keeping the right spiritual perspective also results in endurance and patience v. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Back on December 12, we talked about special Christmas gifts you can give to your family and friends. Pray that God will give you all the energy and grace you need to carry you through the season, and that you will bless others by your patient reaction in any circumstance. He may give intellectual assent to the claims of Christ and may have had emotional religious experiences; however, he is not truly converted until he has surrendered his will to Christ as Lord, Savior and Master. He desired to proclaim the gospel, so that his hearers would understand and receive it, so that their understanding and faith would grow, so that their righteousness would increase, so that the truth would continue to spread and bear fruit all over the world, so that one day the entire body of Christ would be presented holy and blameless before our Lord. The Colossians had received Jesus as Savior, and their rescue into the kingdom of light was indeed a marvelous miracle. Paul used three phrases to describe following Christ in this way. Plants without roots wither and die. In the same way, Christ must be our source of life. False teaching is human-centered rather than Christ-centered, and results in captivity rather than freedom. Apply the Word Scripture uses tree and plant imagery to describe us as followers and worshipers of God. When we are rooted in Christ, we will see His fruit in our lives as a testimony to His sustaining work to transform us to be more like Him. Colossians 2:6-7 I will give you thanks forever. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States. Moreover, Lincoln's writings, as well as those of other American leaders long before him, frequently reflect a deep sense of gratitude to God, both for His providence in national matters and in their own lives and families. It's evident that thanksgiving extended beyond a national holiday to lives that were characterized by gratitude to God. Thanksgiving as a lifestyle has been a recurring theme in our study this month. This is particularly evident in Colossians. In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul indicates that he is praying that the Colossians would be filled with God's knowledge, so that they might live lives worthy of the Lord. Then he lists four characteristics of such a life: believers are to be fruitful, maturing, empowered, and thankful. The order of this list suggests that the more we progress in our walk of faith the more thankful we become. This is repeated in Colossians 2, where Paul links spiritual growth with overflowing thankfulness. To live a life worthy of the Lord is to live with the constant awareness of God's grace. Both of today's passages also link thankfulness with growing in the essentials of our faith. If you aren't already attending a Bible study, commit to making that a priority as well. Colossians 2:6-23 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. We meant to lose a few pounds and serve more at church, and for a couple of weeks, our resolutions paid off. But we turned the corner to February, then March, and our best intentions have failed us. It's often easy to begin a project, resolution, or task—but much harder to continue and finish. The same is true for us spiritually, especially in the realm of faith in Christ. We do not depend upon our performance to begin this race; neither can we trust our own efforts to run this race. Yet churches find it so easy to fall into the trap of legalism. Where we begin in faith, we try to continue by works. The Colossians faced this kind of heretical teaching in their church. In other words, he didn't want them exchanging faith for a works-oriented Christianity. He aims to help them see the contrast between trusting in Christ and trusting in rules. Genuine salvation and sanctification happen because of Christ alone vv. He is God v. He is the source of our spiritual vitality and growth v. Our only hope for holiness is to stay connected with Christ. Everything—from the initial moment of salvation to our final sanctification—depends upon our union to Christ. The body must stay vitally connected to the Head. The result was harsh condemnation against believers. What they said seemed right. TODAY ALONG THE WAY It's much easier to follow rules than to follow the Rule Maker. That's why churches fall prey to legalism. Rules don't require that we think, pray, or keep learning. They are static and manageable. We are meant to feel in control when we master the rules. Following Christ, the Rule Maker, might be less predictable—but it's certainly more fulfilling and the only way to grow spiritually. Identify your own tendencies towards legalism and confess that as sin to God. Colossians 2:9-15 Ephesians 3:7-13 Through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. So far Ephesians has explained God's wonderful mystery that Gentiles, once separated from God and without hope on account of the Law's regulations, have been brought near to God, because Jesus' death has done away with the division between Jew and Gentile. The Law no longer determines human identity. Because of Jesus' shed blood, human identity is first and foremost determined by one's relationship to Jesus. Why has God allowed this access? We find several reasons offered in Ephesians. First, God loves Jesus and this love graciously overflows to all those who are included in Jesus see 1:6. Second, God has done this to bring glory to Himself see 1:12, 14. Third, God did this in order that through the church His own great wisdom would be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms vv. Christ now holds ultimate authority over them Col. God worked within the Law to open access to Himself and in so doing showed those powers the extent of His own wisdom. TODAY ALONG THE WAY The government may use your Social Security number and your bank may use your checking account to identify you. But where does your identity truly come from? Perhaps you've defined yourself by job status or appearance or even personal relationships. First and foremost, however, our identity should be rooted in our status as children of God through the saving work of Christ. This is an identity that no one on heaven or earth can ever steal from us see Rom. For in the heart of such a man the Word becomes so powerful that he will conquer death, the devil, sin and all adversity, like Christ himself did. Because of who Christ is and what He did, we ourselves have been given His fullness v. What does this mean? Paul explained it using two of the most powerful symbols in Scripture. The first was circumcision v. The second symbol was baptism v. Colossians 2:13—15 Meditating on the Cross and the atonement of Christ during a recent Easter week, writer Philip Yancey shared several insights. In a sense, the flow of the book repeats itself here. All the credit for this goes to God. He is the one who gave us life and forgave us. He is the one who conquered all at the very moment it appeared all was lost v. God could do all this because of the Cross. It was the final, once-for-all sacrifice. The greatest act of love in human history is beyond the romance of chocolates and candlelight. Colossians 2:20-3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. I turn from my wisdom as well as from my folly and flee to you, the wisdom of God and the power of God. There is no neutral ground, no corner of life we may selfishly reserve for our personal pleasures. Free time is not free from our calling as disciples of Christ. One certainty is that in our pursuit of genuine rest, beauty, and pleasure, we need to leave behind worldliness and legalism. Worldliness and legalism are merely human and completely useless for discipleship. We, on the other hand, want a life based on truths and practices that are eternal, divine, and effective in our ongoing spiritual journeys. Perhaps you used to enjoy reading biographies, or knitting, or putting jigsaw puzzles together, or playing your trumpet, or boating in a local lake. Colossians 2:16—19 The audience gasped in horror. After enjoying a concert by renowned violinist David Garrett, they watched him trip, fall down a flight of steps, and land on top of his violin case. When he opened it, he found the instrument in pieces. The violin was a nearly 300-year-old Stradivarius, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the time, experts said it would take at least eight months to fix and might never sound the same again. The false teaching faced by the Colossians seems to have been a mix of legalism, paganism, Judaism, and mysticism. Christ-followers are supposed to have diedto these inadequate philosophies! The Law had specified clean and unclean foods, but those days were gone. Now that the reality, Christ, has fulfilled these symbols, there is no point in judging others about whether they observed these things. People who continue to pursue such things or who pass judgment based on them are arrogant v. They parade their false piety before others and delight in spiritual sensationalism. They like to hear themselves talk. The spirit of legalism is the tendency to turn faith into a set of rules to follow or a set of experiences to avoid or crave. Since the rich treasure of Christ and the gospel are ours, why would we settle for such empty counterfeits? As Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter have become identified with and defined by our consumerist culture, believers face challenges in maintaining the spiritual significance of these days. We should all be reminded of the godly qualities of charity and humility in these matters. One reason for this is that as our memory fades, we no longer remember the source—the misinformation gains credibility as we forget where we heard it. The syncretistic false teachings that were causing an uproar in the church and leading some away from true faith were like weeds in a garden. He reminded them of the genuine gospel in our key verse for today. It was a spiritually necessary act that paid the penalty for human sin. Apply the Word Once again, the errors Paul condemned are not only historical but current concerns. We all need to embrace wisdom and the need to make choices according to kingdom values, but strategies of avoidance or asceticism cannot be made into general rules for everyone. To do so dishonors the discipline of freedom in Christ Gal. Colossians 3 Colossians 3:1-4 Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. They spend long trips on buses, stay in hotels apart from their families, and play in less-than-ideal conditions on the field. And when the month of September arrives and the minor-league championship playoffs begin, some of the best players are promoted to their respective major league teams. Many of these players only see limited playing time, being used as last-minute substitutions in meaningless games. One might think that a player would rather compete in intense playoff games in the minors, but that isn't how the players feel about it. In the words of former pitcher and current baseball commentator Steve Stone, 'When you're in the minors, all you're thinking about is wearing a big-league uniform and playing in a big-league ballpark. Paul tells us to have a similar mindset towards our life on earth. He tells us to set our hearts, minds, emotions, and thoughts on 'things above. Focusing on eternity is a great formula for a healthy spiritual life, but it's possible to read these verses and go off in one of two extreme directions. The first is to assume that the apostle is talking about some kind of dreamy, hazy 'other worldly' state of mind in which we float around in the clouds. The other extreme is to assume that Paul is advocating a grit-your-teeth, hard-nosed kind of Christianity you grind out in your own strength. Both extremes are far-removed from reality. Paul is telling us to live in a manner consistent with who we already are, citizens of heaven. He's saying that since reality for us is located 'in the heavenly realms' Eph. Focusing on things above makes perfect sense for people who have died to their old way of life, and who now draw their life from Jesus Christ. You don't have to ignore earthly concerns to anchor your mind on the things of Christ. But it does mean that daily concerns don't drive or control you Christ does. TODAY ALONG THE WAY If our minds and hearts are set on the things of Christ, this ought to be evident in some very practical ways. Consider your checkbook and your schedule, for example. It can be very enlightening to go back through your check register for the last six months or so and see how much your use of money reflects a Christ-first focus. It's also revealing to step back and look at your schedule for the upcoming week or month in the same light. Take time to review both of these today. What set their faith apart? If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Up to this point in Colossians, Paul had laid a powerful doctrinal foundation, explaining clearly and beautifully the person of Christ and the message of the gospel. He had also used that doctrine to expose and condemn the syncretism and false teaching that was infiltrating the Colossian church. Now he turned his full attention to the flip side. If the heresy had gotten it all wrong, then what is an authentic godly lifestyle? The rest of the book answers this question. This means our whole person, including thoughts, feelings, choices our will , and creativity our imagination. The weak alternative is to be preoccupied with and live for things that are only temporal, earthly, and human v. Faith that strives for this orientation is the surest path to spiritual growth. We would rather be home v. A good book, some good music, or time with Christian friends might be the spiritual pick-me-up we need. Colossians 3:1 Ephesians 1:15-23 Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Contestants had to choose one of three doors, all of which concealed various prizes. Suspense mounted as a contestant deliberated between a known prize and the possibility of a better one behind Door Number One, Door Number Two, or Door Number Three. Sometimes life can feel a bit like this game show. He wanted believers to be so focused on what was eternally theirs through their relationship with Christ, that they would become less distracted by things that would eventually pass away. Paul wrote Ephesians from a prison in Rome. It increases our appreciation for his heavenly focus and his prayer that believers would also be focusing upward. In Christ, we have been chosen and called as believers Eph. Colossians 3:1-4 Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. They spend long trips on buses, stay in hotels apart from their families, and play in less-than-ideal conditions on the field. And when the month of September arrives and the minor-league championship playoffs begin, some of the best players are promoted to their respective major league teams. Many of these players only see limited playing time, being used as last-minute substitutions in meaningless games. One might think that a player would rather compete in intense playoff games in the minors, but that isn't how the players feel about it. In the words of former pitcher and current baseball commentator Steve Stone, 'When you're in the minors, all you're thinking about is wearing a big-league uniform and playing in a big-league ballpark. Paul tells us to have a similar mindset towards our life on earth. He tells us to set our hearts, minds, emotions, and thoughts on 'things above. Focusing on eternity is a great formula for a healthy spiritual life, but it's possible to read these verses and go off in one of two extreme directions. The first is to assume that the apostle is talking about some kind of dreamy, hazy 'other worldly' state of mind in which we float around in the clouds. The other extreme is to assume that Paul is advocating a grit-your-teeth, hard-nosed kind of Christianity you grind out in your own strength. Both extremes are far-removed from reality. Paul is telling us to live in a manner consistent with who we already are, citizens of heaven. He's saying that since reality for us is located 'in the heavenly realms' Eph. Focusing on things above makes perfect sense for people who have died to their old way of life, and who now draw their life from Jesus Christ. You don't have to ignore earthly concerns to anchor your mind on the things of Christ. But it does mean that daily concerns don't drive or control you Christ does. TODAY ALONG THE WAY If our minds and hearts are set on the things of Christ, this ought to be evident in some very practical ways. Consider your checkbook and your schedule, for example. It can be very enlightening to go back through your check register for the last six months or so and see how much your use of money reflects a Christ-first focus. It's also revealing to step back and look at your schedule for the upcoming week or month in the same light. Take time to review both of these today. Colossians 3:1-4 Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. They spend long trips on buses, stay in hotels apart from their families, and play in less-than-ideal conditions on the field. And when the month of September arrives and the minor-league championship playoffs begin, some of the best players are promoted to their respective major league teams. Many of these players only see limited playing time, being used as last-minute substitutions in meaningless games. One might think that a player would rather compete in intense playoff games in the minors, but that isn't how the players feel about it. In the words of former pitcher and current baseball commentator Steve Stone, 'When you're in the minors, all you're thinking about is wearing a big-league uniform and playing in a big-league ballpark. Paul tells us to have a similar mindset towards our life on earth. He tells us to set our hearts, minds, emotions, and thoughts on 'things above. Focusing on eternity is a great formula for a healthy spiritual life, but it's possible to read these verses and go off in one of two extreme directions. The first is to assume that the apostle is talking about some kind of dreamy, hazy 'other worldly' state of mind in which we float around in the clouds. The other extreme is to assume that Paul is advocating a grit-your-teeth, hard-nosed kind of Christianity you grind out in your own strength. Both extremes are far-removed from reality. Paul is telling us to live in a manner consistent with who we already are, citizens of heaven. He's saying that since reality for us is located 'in the heavenly realms' Eph. Focusing on things above makes perfect sense for people who have died to their old way of life, and who now draw their life from Jesus Christ. You don't have to ignore earthly concerns to anchor your mind on the things of Christ. But it does mean that daily concerns don't drive or control you Christ does. TODAY ALONG THE WAY If our minds and hearts are set on the things of Christ, this ought to be evident in some very practical ways. Consider your checkbook and your schedule, for example. It can be very enlightening to go back through your check register for the last six months or so and see how much your use of money reflects a Christ-first focus. It's also revealing to step back and look at your schedule for the upcoming week or month in the same light. Take time to review both of these today. Colossians 3:1-4 1 Peter 2:4-9; Colossians 3:1-4 You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house. The merchant sold the diamond to King Louis XIV of France in 1668. Many of its owners experienced bad luck and even death, which led to the association of the gem with its unfortunate legend. Over the years, the diamond passed through the hands of royalty and wealthy businessmen, and along the way, it was recut and shaped to its present 45. Although now a fraction of its original weight, the diamond is still a magnificent treasure on permanent display in the Smithsonian. Precious stones do not go unnoticed. They are valued, displayed, treasured, and fought over. In Colossians, our value is linked to Christ. Paul explains that since we have been raised with Christ into a new life v. To be hidden means that our own selfish desires are submitted to Christ. We are invisible, so that Christ can become visible in our lives. The word hidden also carries with it the idea of protection. When a gem is very valuable, it is often hidden to protect it from theft or destruction. Our lives, our very identity, is hidden safely in Christ. No one can take or destroy what is safely hidden with God. Together, our precious gem becomes transformed into something immensely valuable to our Creator. TODAY ALONG THE WAY Our lives and our identities are hidden in Christ—protected and being transformed to be more like Him. Spend time in prayer today asking the Holy Spirit to show you any areas where you are tempted to shine your own light or promote your own identity. Sometimes we do this out of fear or in order to feel in control. Ask the Lord to help you remember that when you are hidden in Christ, you are safe and fully loved. Colossians 3:1-17 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Many people would come to tears of joy as they relived the greatest memories of their time here on earth. In Colossians 3, though, Paul changes the direction completely. Instead of This Is Your Life, Paul says that Christ is your life v. And those things of the past, all the passing events that attracted the focus of Ecclesiastes, really have become meaningless. It all begins with our thoughts and our attitudes. So we are to put our hearts and our minds where our Lord is v. We are raised with Him, and our thought life should follow suit. We need to stop digging up our old selves and all the evil practices we are prone to vv. How meaningless would it be to be raised from that spiritual death—and yet constantly trying to return to the grave instead of enjoying the righteousness of Christ? Notice a couple of other points.