Titus 2:1-15

I am so thankful for teachers. I send my kids to school every day and am grateful that there are a multitude of people who daily teach my kids. I often look at their work and proclaim I could never do what they do. And that is true, but the challenge of Titus 2 is every leader is meant to be a teacher, and every believer is a leader, so we are all called to be teachers.

As you read through Titus 2 it is hard to make it more than one sentence without the words teach, teaches, and teaching. Similarly, we should probably not make it more than one day without teaching someone. Titus is told to teach everyone “what is in accord with sound doctrine.” He is then called to teach each group in the church the specific ways they are to obey Christ.

A good teacher is familiar with the curriculum. Notice the richness of the message we are to teach in verses 12-14. We are to proclaim the grace of Jesus, his salvation, the righteous living that should flow from our salvation, and the return of Christ. The message we want to proclaim is Jesus! As we interact with people we should be trying to point them to our savior, our king, and the redeemer. So, get ready to stand in front of the class (or one person) and get ready to teach!

Father God, help me to be a teacher for you. Help me to point others to Christ and the relationship he longs to have with every person. Amen. 

How could you equip yourself to be a better teacher for Christ?

Titus 1:1-16

We begin the third pastoral or leadership epistle of Paul today. We move from letters written to Timothy to a letter written to Titus. A man strategically placed on an island to impact it with the gospel. The primary way he was to do this was by raising up more leaders. Paul’s desire was for Titus to multiply himself into the lives of others. He was called to be a leader who made leaders. This is our same calling. We are called to be disciples who make disciples, essentially being leaders who make multiplying leaders. If this is our mission how effectively are you living this out? Are you sharing Christ with others, so they in turn can share him with others?

The work of raising up leaders does not happen overnight but is a long, slow work of life-on-life ministry. The primary emphasis of this ministry in Titus 1 is to correct errors. We swim in a sea of lies and deception that easily drag us downstream from the truth. So, we need Scripture and other believers to point out how to walk in the truth. We need to be this person for others and allow others to be this for us. Any single church is only one generation away from ceasing to exist if they do not raise up the next generation of believers. Therefore, we should seek to be a part of God’s kingdom-building work and follow in the legacy of people like Paul, Timothy, and Titus who raised up godly leaders in the cities where they lived.

Father God, help me to be a godly leader who raises up other leaders in the church. Amen. 

Which one person can you begin intentionally raising up as a leader and how can you do that?

2 Timothy 4:1-22

Flip through a handful of news channels and you will see talking heads spinning the day’s events in a dozen different ways. People tend to zero in on the voices with which they agree and tune out or disparage the rest. In many cases, this allows them to stray from the truth. We only hear what we want and resist the hard truths that we need to hear.

Paul’s warning to Timothy in verses three and four indicates that this human tendency is not just a modern issue. When it comes to the Word of God, it is critically important to not fall into the same trap. This is the beauty of reading through all of Scripture. We expose ourselves to truth, all the truth, and cannot run from it. One of the key truths in 2 Timothy 4 is that Christ is coming back and will judge everyone. This is emphasized in verses 1 and 18. This truth certainly calls for us to have assurance that we will be with Christ for eternity and we need to communicate him to others. We are to be ready, in season and out, to combat convenient lies with the understanding and sharing of God's truth. Paul’s recommendation to Timothy in verse five holds true for all believers, especially today. As we examine both God’s Word and the world around us, we must keep a straight head, seek the truth, and share it with others.

Father God, help me to keep my head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and discharge all the duties of your ministry. Amen. 

Is there an area where you’re you are tempted to accept convenient but inaccurate beliefs?

2 Timothy 2:22-3:17

Someone recently described themselves as being on the struggle bus as they attempt to follow Jesus. Though it is hard, it is worth it. In fact, everything in life that is valuable takes effort, intentionality, and work. We need to commit each day to becoming more conformed to the likeness of Christ. To conform to Christ is to see every area of our lives transformed. We must seek to conform our desires to those of God. This is why we are instructed to flee from the “evil desires of youth.” As we mature our hearts should change. We should learn to love the things God loves and hate the things he hates. Our speech should be transformed. We should not participate in “foolish and stupid arguments.” Our language should be kind and truthful.

Choosing to follow Jesus is never easy. Even more so as we face the terrible times of the last days. The further our world drifts from God, the more we stand out. Yet even if the current of society flows against God, we have the power of God to overcome. Therefore, verses 14-16 describe the power we have in walking with God. We have the truth of God and the community of the saints. God has revealed himself to us and we are not alone in pursuing God. So, do not walk alone. We need both time with God and time with others to mature. So, take time to experience the community that God has made available to us.

Father God, help me to prioritize time with you and other believers as I seek to grow to be more like Christ. Amen. 

What are the spiritual habits you need to persevere in following Christ?

2 Timothy 2:1-21

My kids used to love playing dress up. They would put together costumes and walk around the house pretending they were superheroes and princesses. Costumes may feel like a thing of our past, but Paul essentially challenges Timothy to live in permanent dress-up mode.

Timothy is called to see himself as a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. As a soldier he is to stay focused on the marching orders of God and not get distracted by meaningless activities. How well are you doing at being a soldier—not calling your own shots, but submitting to the will of your commanding officer? Timothy is then challenged to be an athlete. He is to run the race of life according to God's standards and persevere until he is present with Christ. How effectively are you persevering in following God and not getting distracted by the things of the world? Finally, Timothy is challenged to be a hardworking farmer. We are to be working for God and reaping the benefits that come from it. Our joy, peace, and hope should be derived from the work which God is doing in and through us. The hard work God calls us to is never easy but always worth it. So, how well are you farming? Each morning, we should envision putting on our fatigues, placing a straw hat on our head, and lacing up our shoes as we seek to serve God with our lives. We are all called to be “a workman who does not need to be ashamed.”

Father God, help me to effectively be a soldier, farmer, and athlete for your glory today. Amen. 

Which of the three roles that Paul describes do you need to focus on living out today?

2 Timothy 1:1-18

2 Timothy is our second pastoral epistle/leadership book. It continues the theme of 1 Timothy concerning the qualifications and actions of a leader. If you were to write down all the qualifications you think are important for leadership, what would they be? Do they match Paul’s list?

Paul begins his letter to Timothy by describing the importance of faith. Our relationship with God becomes the foundation for us to be able to lead others. Out of Timothy’s faith, Paul calls him to boldly lead others to Christ. There will be influences which try to silence and shame him, but he must not cave to these pressures. Instead, he must remember all Christ has done for him and, out of gratitude, share Christ with everyone he can. The encouragement in this work is that Timothy is not alone. Paul has modeled this disciple-making lifestyle, the Spirit empowers Timothy to live this way, and others in the church are living up to this same calling. The question is: are you doing this?

We will experience pressure to be silent about Jesus. We will want to simply fit in and conform to the attitudes around us, but God has called us to something different. We are called like Timothy to be a disciple who makes disciples and therefore boldly makes Christ known. We are never to be ashamed but instead are to testify about Christ.

Father God, help me to always remember what Christ has done for me. Out of this understanding help me to make you known to everyone I can. Amen. 

What pressures you into silence about Jesus? How can you more effectively testify about him?

1 Timothy 6:1-21

What are you running to? All of us live with a goal and a finish line; the only question is what they are. What is your life's purpose, what are you pursuing, and what is the goal of your life? Leadership demands that we chase after the right things and climb the right ladders.

Paul challenges Timothy to, "Flee from all this (pursuit of wealth), and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." The pursuit of many people is the pursuit of wealth. We are surrounded by people who try to numb their pain with new cars, new homes, new vacations, and new spouses. Yet none of these will satisfy. Only God can meet our deepest needs, so he alone is the one to whom we are to run. One of the themes interwoven throughout 1 Timothy 6 is that of contentment. If we chase after things of this world, it will never be enough. We can always have one more zero in our bank account, the newer car, the longer vacation, a larger house, and more prestige, but if we run after God, we can have him in his fullness. So, as we run through life, run to God. The things we chase very much transform our lives for good or ill. So let us prioritize, pursue, and seek that which matters in eternity. Let us flee from shallow pursuits, to make room for God himself.

Father God, help me to run from the pursuits of this world and embrace things of you. Help me to pursue you and be conformed to your character and likeness. Amen. 

What are you currently pursuing that you actually need to flee from?

1 Timothy 5:1-25

Everyone needs a rocking chair in the kitchen. When my mother was elderly, dealing with cancer, and sitting in a rocker in my kitchen area, she quoted my grandmother who said, “A rocking chair always needed to be in the kitchen.” When I inquired more about the statement, she explained that as a woman aged, she could live with the family, sit in a rocker in the kitchen and still be useful by peeling potatoes, snapping green beans, or shelling peas.

Paul alludes to this same concept in I Timothy 5 when he explains to Timothy the role of the church in caring for widows. Widows’ needs are attended to by the church, but first the family of the widow is to care for her. The characteristics of a widow placed on ‘the list” includes faithfulness to her husband and commitment to good deeds, i.e., raising children, showing hospitality, humble acts of washing the feet of saints, and caring for those in trouble. She was not to have a habit of idleness/laziness or of gossiping or meddling in others’ affairs.

We can take several lessons from this. First, we are to care for others and be committed to doing good deeds. Second, we should consider how well our lives stack up to the qualifications described in this chapter.

Father, as I approach the rocking chair age, keep me attuned to others’ needs and committed to doing good deeds. Amen. 

Which elderly person or someone in need could you reach out to and encourage today?

1 Timothy 4:1-16

We are in a war for truth. Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been spreading lies and enticing people away from the truth of God. His work has never stopped and continues in our lives and those around us. The question is: how are you going to fight amid this battle?

The way we fight in this spiritual war is to walk in and communicate the truth. We need to stand firm on the truth and "point these things out" to believers who are going wayward. The only way we can make sure that we are embracing truth is to compare our beliefs to Scripture. God's Word is and always will be the standard against which all truth claims must be compared. Therefore, we must devote ourselves to private and public reading of Scripture and must "be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them." Notice this is a lifestyle of pursuing truth. We must have a continual intake of truth and an outflow as we share these things with others.

If you have been following the New Testament readings this year you have experienced ten months of truth. My prayer is that you will continue to make this a lifelong pursuit. May we know the truth, live the truth, and share the truth so we "will save both yourself and your hearers."

Father God, give me a passion for truth. Give me wisdom to know and walk in your truth, and the ability to share it effectively with others. Amen. 

How can you more regularly pursue and share truth?

1 Timothy 3:1-16

What are the most critical qualities of leadership? What characteristics should we seek in prospective church leadership? Is it the successful businessman? Is it a wealthy individual or a charismatic person with lots of friends? Paul wants us to understand the necessary qualifications for a person in leadership according to 1 Timothy 3.

So often modern leadership is focused on competency rather than character. If you are talented enough, then all of your foibles will be overlooked. Sadly, we have all seen amazingly gifted individuals who crash and burn because of some moral failure in their lives. This is why Paul wants us to understand the necessity of godly character in the life of a leader. Godly leaders are to be above reproach, faithful, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, gentle, not quarrelsome, etc. These may not seem like impressive qualities or ones noticed from afar, but they are the foundation of a leader. If our lives are like icebergs, then our character is the significant part under the water. Though it may not be visible to all, you cannot be a leader without it. So, if you want to impact the lives of others, which we all should, and want to be a disciple who makes disciples, to which we all are called, then we need to form our character. I encourage you to write down all the different statements regarding character in this chapter and focus on one you want to see God grow in you.

Father God, help me to have a character that reflects yours. Help me to glorify you in who I am and not just what I do. Amen. 

What character trait do you want to see God form in you to be a more effective leader for him?

1 Timothy 2:1-15

If you were to take over a company, what is the first thing you should do? If you were promoted to boss, what should your first act be? If you are a new parent or entering into a marriage, what is the best first step you should take as a leader? Paul in 2 Timothy 2 is going to help us answer these questions.

We might think leadership starts with casting vision or making a loud, energizing speech, but Paul says, “first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.” Paul says the first thing a leader should do is pray. This may surprise us. We often have the perspective of the world that to lead is to do something and prayer is doing nothing. Yet God has a completely different mindset. Leaders are prayers, and praying is leading. If you remember, as we read through the Gospels, there were several times when Jesus went off to pray when the disciples pressed for action. If we are going to lead others, then we must be led by God, and this means we need to spend time with him in prayer. We need to be energized by him, shepherded by him, gain his mindset, and gain his heart. Leadership prayer is not just praying for us but for others. We are to pray for people before we lead them. We should pray for them, for their hearts, for their lives, and for our relationship with them. As we seek to be leaders, as we walk as disciples who make disciples, let us start with prayer.

Father God, help me to prioritize time with you. Help me to seek you, spend time with you, and be led by you. Amen. 

Why do we often think that prayer is doing nothing?

1 Timothy 1:1-20

Our reading of 1 Timothy begins what are called the Pastoral Epistles. The letters of 1&2 Timothy and Titus provide critical instructions for leadership. Since every one of us is called to make disciples and thereby function as leaders, these letters are critical for our understanding and our lives. So, as you begin reading, consider the people and areas of life which God has placed you in leadership and how you can apply these letters to those areas.

Paul begins his instructions with two foundational leadership principles. Leaders are called to speak truth and love well. Leadership is meant to direct people to truth and wisdom, and ultimately to God. Timothy is “commanded” to confront those who are leading people astray. He cannot allow lies to spread or deception to prevail, but instead must make sure that truth is taught and lived. How well are you leading in the area of truth? The second area of leadership is love. To speak truth without love creates an atmosphere of hypocrisy and legalism. In contrast Paul says, “the goal of this command is love.” We are speaking truth so that people will ultimately love God. Even Satan knows the truth as James says, but is without love. Therefore, as we think about the way we lead, we must ensure that we are loving people well while also speaking truth.

Father God, help me to lead in a way that reflects the way you lead me. Help me to speak truth and love others well. Amen. 

How can you better lead in the ways of love and truth?

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

“The Lord is faithful.” Do you believe this statement to be true? Through the ups and downs of life, have you experienced God’s faithfulness? What did this look like?

Understanding God’s faithfulness is one of the key truths for us to embrace about God. Even if everyone else abandons us, God never will. In 2 Thessalonians 3, Paul mentions the wicked and evil, the idle, busybodies, and the disobedient. All these people proved to be faithless. Amid the spiritual failures of these people and the heartbreak this would have caused, it was vital for the church to look to their faithful God.

This same principle is true for us. Friends and family will let us down. We will make poor choices, sin, and let ourselves down, but through it all God is faithful. As Paul finishes 2 Thessalonians, he wants the church to hold on to this core truth. In the face of idle people who do not come to help us, we can remember our active, helping God. God is always working, always loving, and always faithful. The world is in chaos, but God remains steady. Therefore, let us look at him, run to him, and turn to him every moment, because he alone is faithful. Others will fail us, but God never will!

Father God, thank you that you are faithful. Thank you for not abandoning me, but instead always working for my good and your glory. Amen. 

How have you seen God’s faithfulness at work in your life and how can you remember his faithfulness when you experience the faithlessness of others?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

Are you able to survey the brokenness of our world and still have a sense of peace, hope, and joy? Paul was concerned the Thessalonians were becoming “unsettled or alarmed,” so he wrote about their ultimate source of peace —Jesus. The truth which should bring hope into our lives is Christ’s return and his making all things right. Regardless of life's challenges, Christ's triumph is assured. Some in the church were afraid that Jesus had already returned and they had missed it. Paul points out this could not be true because the “man of lawlessness” (Antichrist) had not yet come. The Antichrist will be able to perform miracles, signs, and wonders through demonic power. and deceive the vast majority of the world. Despite the massive following and power of this person, Jesus will be victorious over him with “the breath of his mouth.” The same voice that spoke the world into existence will speak against the lawless one and vanquish him. No matter how powerful the forces of the world may seem to be, they are nothing next to God. Evil may seem to be winning, demonic forces may look like they are unstoppable, but God is the one who will be victorious.

So, the next time you feel anxious, afraid, unsettled, or alarmed let us return our eyes back to Jesus. Let us focus on our savior, redeemer, and victorious one who alone can breathe hope into the most difficult of situations.

Father God, help me not be overwhelmed by the troubles of this world; instead, be overwhelmed by your love, grace, and power. Amen. 

How can we retain our hope in Christ when we look around us and it seems that he is losing?

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

How do you feel about God being a judge and Christ returning to judge the world? Podcast interviewees recently claimed if we got rid of the doctrine of hell and God’s judgment, then it would make Christianity a lot more palatable to our culture. Though easier for people to swallow, they would be embracing a lie. The doctrine of hell and God’s judgment is true and brings hope. Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians was to a church that was undergoing intense suffering, persecution, and trials. He reminded them of God’s judgment because this allowed them to know God would bring trouble upon their persecutors and relief to them. God’s justice is a good thing!

Looking at life from the perspective of eternity gives us the certainty that God will deal justly with all people. Without this doctrine God would be unjust, wickedness would be ignored, and evil would never be eradicated. Though we should be saddened at people going to hell and seek to share the gospel, we also need to believe “they will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord.” By embracing judgment, we understand who God truly is and experience the hope that all evil will one day be gone. So, let us bring others into God’s kingdom and rest in the victory over death, sin, wickedness, and the grave that he has accomplished.

Father God, help me to embrace and believe in your justice and that you will deal with all sin and evil at Christ’s return. Amen. 

Why do we often not want to believe in eternal hell and judgment? Besides it being true, what are the benefits of believing in this doctrine?

1 Thessalonians 5:4-28

Are you the same person during the day as you are at night? Most of us are probably the worst version of ourselves at night. We get tired, grumpy, angry, and just want to be left alone. This is even more true as we consider crime rates, DUIs, and other illegal activity during the day versus at night. Darkness brings out the worst in everyone, which is why, as believers, we are to remember we are “children of the light and children of the day” and live according to our identity.

So, how should children of the day live? Paul ends his letter to the Thessalonians by describing exactly what it looks like. We are to be awake and sober. We are to have our eyes open to what God is doing around us today and the imminent return of Christ to our world. We are also to be appropriately dressed for the day. We are to cast off our pajamas and put on faith, love, and hope. We are to encourage others, rejoice always, pray continually, and walk in thankfulness. Finally, we experience the sanctifying work of God in our lives as we are continually conformed to the likeness of Christ.

Father God, enable me to walk in the ways of the day and of your light today. Help me to cast off anything that does not conform to you, so I can more freely walk in your light and in your ways. Amen. 

Where in your life do you need to live out of your identity as a child of the light and a child of the day?

1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3

Our culture and even Christians view many sins as okay if they do not seem to hurt anyone. This is especially true around sex. Behaviors such as pornography, sex outside of marriage, and homosexual sex are viewed as normal, ordinary, and justified behaviors. Yet Paul points out a myriad of problems with this perspective in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.

To walk in any sexual sin is to avoid God's will. Any sex outside of heterosexual marriage pits that person against God. Notice the clear, concise language in verse 3, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.” God does not want us to allow even a hint of immorality in our lives. These behaviors are in contradiction to God's call for self-control. We are to learn to control our bodies in ways that honor God rather than just caving to the norms of our culture. The things that feel natural and normal to those around us are often the very things that God calls us to flee from. Sexual sin is a "wrong" against a brother or sister. There is no sin which does not cause harm, and this is especially true of sexual sin. Any sex act outside covenant marriage is a sin and therefore, by definition, hurts us and others. Sexual sin, like all sin, will lead us to punishment and judgment from God. So, the next time you are tempted to excuse your sin, remember that it places us in conflict with God and is unloving to others. Instead of rationalizing sin, choose to walk in God's will, the path of sanctification.

Father God, help me to walk in holiness. Help me to never excuse my sin but always choose to follow you. Amen.

Where are you rationalizing or minimizing sin in your life?

1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13

We can all confuse pleasure and contentment with joy. We can become pleasure addicts seeking the next fix or feeling a loss of pleasure when things don’t go according to plan.

There is an experience that is more satisfying than momentary happiness and it is joy. It is not fleeting but a deep state of mind that is obtainable by all believers. Joy is ultimately not to be found in things but in a person. It can be defined as a state of delighting in God and his good gifts. One way Paul found joy was by bringing the Thessalonians to Christ. They were Paul’s pride and joy (2:20). We should find joy in Jesus and in those God has transformed. Paul was in the middle of “stress and crushing difficulties” (3:7), yet his joy had nothing to do with his circumstances. He was focused not on himself but on how God was at work and the changed lives of those around him. Being intimately involved in the lives of those around you may seem daunting and it will involve hard work. As Paul’s example demonstrates it is also a source of joy and celebration. It is joy in the presence of God.

Father God, thank you so much for the joy of seeing people come to Christ. May I overflow with love, have your Spirit’s strength, and be filled with confidence in your presence. Amen. 

How can you more deeply root your joy in Christ and how he is working in the lives of others?

1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8

When you think of a model you might think of a person walking along a runway wearing unrealistic, extravagant, costly clothing. Someone who is attempting to draw attention to themselves. Paul called the church of Thessalonica models but a completely different type. They were models that embodied a life of following Jesus and, in doing so, showed how life should be lived. So, I want you to consider how well your life is a model for others?

The people in Thessalonica modeled a life of service. Paul highlighted the fact that the church in Thessalonica had “work produced by faith…labor prompted by love, and… endurance inspired by hope.” Their model of service flowed out of their faith, love, and hope. These attributes catapulted them to lives devoted to loving God and others. If this is the fuel that leads us to being disciples who make disciples, how full is your tank? Is your faith in God transforming your life and mobilizing you to be used by him? Is your love for God evident in tangible ways of loving others? Is your hope allowing you to value things which truly matter—like people over the material possessions of the here and now? If our faith, love, and hope are not strong, then we will quickly end up serving on fumes. Therefore, let us find the faith, love, and hope that can come only from God so that we can be used by him to love others and change the world.

Father God, give me faith, love, and hope in you. Send me to live out this faith, hope, and love in the way I serve. Amen. 

How would stronger faith, hope, and love help you to become a more committed disciple who makes disciples?

Colossians 3:18-4:18

Jesus said the two greatest commands were to love God and love others. These are not meant to be two distinct realities but rather a love for God that overflows into a love of everyone. Paul’s focus in Colossians 3-4 is on what it looks like to love others well. He wanted the church to understand that their relationship with God should impact all other relationships. How do you see this playing out in your life? Where do you see your love for God transforming your other relationships?

Go through the reading today and circle all the verbs that describe how we should act towards others. We are to: submit, love, do not be harsh, obey, do not embitter, work, provide, pray, be wise, and speak with grace. Imagine how transformative our relationships would be if we exhibited these behaviors. Think about how loved people would feel if we prioritized their needs, and if our language were marked by grace instead of being harsh or bitter. How different would your words be? How different would your actions be if you walked in these ways? Let us be a people that reflects the character, grace, and love of God through the way we treat others. So, when people see us, they can see our loving God in and through us. So, let your relationship with God transform every one of your other relationships.

Father God, help me to love others. Help me to put others before myself in the way I talk and the way I act toward them. May others see you in and through me today. Amen. 

What one relational change can you make to more precisely mirror the commands of Colossians 3-4?

Colossians 3:1-17

Get your mind out of the gutter! This is a phrase you have probably heard many times and potentially even used yourself. Today's passage challenges us not just to get our mind out of the gutter but to get it all the way to heaven. We are to think upon things of God, things which are eternally meaningful and significant. This idea of dwelling upon eternal things may simply seem like a good idea, but it is actually more than that. The rationale given in Colossians 3 is we should think upon things of God because that reflects our identity. We have been raised with Christ, so our thoughts should be on him. We died and our life is hidden with God, so we should set our mind on things of him. Our thoughts (and actions) should ultimately be a reflection of who we are. We are to dwell upon God himself and upon things that accord with his character because that reflects the new person we are.

So, get your mind off sexual immorality, impurity, greed, etc.; instead think upon compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Also, in place of vengeance think upon forgiveness. Who we are in Christ, who God is, and what we have received from him should compel us to think and live as a reflection of these things. So, get your mind out of the gutter and on to God.

Father God, help me to think upon you and things of you. Help me not to live like the world, but instead live in line with who you have made me. Amen. 

How could your thoughts better reflect your identity in Christ?

Colossians 2:8-23

Would you like a warranty on that? Would you like to supersize your drink or make that a meal? Wherever we go we are bombarded by attempts to sell us a newer, bigger, and better version of what we already have. This is not only true of material things, but Colossians 2 tells us there is a similar spiritual temptation to think that Jesus is not enough.

Paul tells the church that Christ is fully God and is the one who makes us full. He is the one who put off our sinful nature, buried us with him, and raised us. Further, he made us alive, forgave our sins, and disarmed the powers of the world. He has given us everything we need. Yet the early church was tempted to be taken captive. There were people in the church and in their world who were trying to take their eyes off Jesus. In our world it comes in the form of believing that our happiness is paramount, that we have the freedom to do whatever we want, or that there is some missing practice outside of Jesus that will unlock true spiritual maturity. Paul wanted the church and by extension us, to understand that all we need is Jesus. Our relationship with God began by placing our faith in Christ and continues as we walk by faith. He is the one who enables spiritual growth, and he is the one through whom we “have been given fullness in Christ.” So, stop looking elsewhere when what you need can only be found in Jesus.

Father God, thank you for what Christ accomplished for me. Help me to find all that I need in you and not look to the world to satisfy. Amen. 

Why do we often feel that Jesus is not enough?

Colossians 1:18-2:7

Have you ever been asked an absurd question like: if you were a tree, what type of tree would you be? Or, if you were an animal, which one would you be? Obviously, the right answer is: who knows?!?!? I am not a tree and I am not an animal; I am a human made in the image of God. Yet Scripture often uses the imagery of plants and animals to help us understand who we are. Read Colossians 2:6 and consider the different illusions to nature that are used. We are told we are like a tree which is to be firmly rooted and built up in Jesus. All the nourishment in our lives is to be derived from him. We are to abide in him, rest in him, and grow out of him. Further, we are to be like a body of water that is overflowing with thankfulness. The banks of our lives are to be continually filled with an attitude of thanks.

As I write this, I am staring at my grandfather’s painting of a pine tree by a large lake. Whenever I look at it, I am reminded of passages like Psalm 1 and Colossians 2:6-7, and the call to make sure d I am rooted in Christ. Let us not be like an artificial house plant with no life, but instead like a great redwood that has grown in a way that points people to the glory and greatness of God.

Father God, help me to root my life in you and overflow in thanksgiving. Amen. 

How can you deepen your roots in Christ? How can you cultivate a life that overflows with thankfulness?

Colossians 1:1-17

One of the most beautiful and succinct descriptions of Jesus is Colossians 1:15-20. This is a helpful passage for us to reflect on as we consider the identity of Jesus. Paul begins by stating that Jesus is truly God and has revealed God in a way that had never occurred previously. No one could see God, but when Jesus took on flesh, he revealed the invisible. Then, as God, Jesus is shown to be supreme over all creation, including us. As firstborn (first in supremacy, not first in birth order), he reigns over everything. He is our God, and he is our king. Do you live with this mentality? Choosing to live in submission to all of God’s marching orders?

He is not only God and king, but also the one through whom all things "have been created through him and for him." Everything is meant to reflect and bring him glory. There is nothing in creation that was not intended to point to him since he holds all things together. There is not a single breath or heartbeat that does not occur because of Jesus' power and grace. His kingship can be seen now but will be fully experienced on his return. Those who acknowledge Christ as king now will have him as their eternal king; while those who reject him will be separated from him forever. Therefore, let us see his rule, submit to his reign, and surrender every aspect of our lives to the reality of his glory.

Father God, help me to submit to the kingship of your Son. Help me not to live for myself but for your glory. Amen. 

Since God holds all things together, including you, how should you respond to this truth in the way you live?

Philippians 4:1-23

The world we live in is a constantly changing environment. The values of the world are always in flux; what is considered moral is up for grabs, and truth changes on a whim. Amid this, we are called to “stand firm.” We are not to be moved; instead stand upon God’s truth.

In Philippians 4, Paul explains the characteristics of a firm foundation. We are to walk in unity and love for others. In a world filled with dissension and hatred, the church is to be an oasis of compassion and kindness. In a world of anxiety and fear, God’s Spirit should produce his joy and peace. No matter the roller coaster of life, we are to “rejoice in the Lord always” and “in everything…with thanksgiving.” He will do this as we place our minds upon the things of God. As we reflect on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, our thoughts will be conformed to those of God’s. His values of joy, peace, truth, and contentment may put us in conflict with the current of the world, but God alone is what will allow us to remain firm. We are to make Christ the rock, the foundation of our lives, and not the sand that is this world.

Father God, help me to stand firm in you. Help me not to look to this world to offer the satisfaction that only you can give. Amen. 

How can you renew your commitment to stand firm in an area of life where you are currently not remaining steadfast?