When you read the Bible, you get to get a glimpse of just how church history and church planting started. The persecutions, beatings and all the hardships that the Apostles had to go through, and it makes you appreciative of what we enjoy now, which is the fruits of their labour in the Lord. It’s this that gets me thinking if we will also leave a legacy for the next generations to come, if they will get to know more and more about Christ, or will everything get absorbed by the world? If you’re a christian, I pray that you will stand out from the crowd and be known as ‘a man or woman of God,’ who stood for what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and leaving a legacy.
Apostle Paul left a legacy and we are all enjoying his labour. He starts off chapter two by writing just how he’s been contending for the church in Colossae and Laodicea (Laodicea is part of the 7 churches mentioned in the book of Revelation) that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love and that, they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ. Before Jesus was arrested, He made a prayer in John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” There is only one God, and Jesus Christ is His beloved Son – This is the mystery that many people are still trying to figure out and in ‘whom (Jesus) are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge.’ Beloved let us be careful that ‘no one will deceive us by fine-sounding arguments.’ They argue, because they do not understand, and when you do not know the word very well, people of the world and other religions will try and confuse you, therefore, get rooted and grounded in God’s word, that no matter what they bring your way, you will stand firm and even convince them to come to Christ.
How then do we attain spiritual fullness in Christ? “continue to live your lives in Him (Jesus), rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.”
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” There are so many myths, methodologies and theories that have been told since time memorial, but all of them have being based on man and named after the person who founded it. That’s what Paul is urging us to be careful with that no one takes us captive (a prisoner) through deceptive myths and philosophy, “for In Christ, all the fullness of the Deity (God) lives in bodily form and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.” You and me have been brought to fullness, completeness in Christ Jesus, who is the ‘head over every power and authority.’
“In Him (Christ) you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ.” Romans 2:29, says “Circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.” Circumcision of the heart is allowing yourself to be changed by God from the inside out, becoming a new person, putting away every works of the flesh, and this is through, “having been buried with Him (Christ) in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”
When you and me were dead in our sins and in the uncircumcision of our flesh, God made us alive with Christ. This is too profound for me! We were made alive in Christ, when we were dead and buried in our sins and with an uncircumcised heart, how did He do this? “He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross,” – simply amazing. Not only have your sins been forgiven child of God, but your legal charge sheet of indebtedness has been cancelled and made null and void and nailed to the cross! No wonder Jesus said, “it is finished,” in John 19:30, no one could see with their naked eyes what He had just accomplished, but He completed His course and purpose sent by God the Father. Not only did He cancel the charge against us, but He “disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” The devil thought that he had destroyed God’s plan by poisoning the minds of the leaders and people back then to nail Jesus on the cross, little did he not know that, all this was part of God’s ultimate plan – to bring victory from what seemed like a hopeless situation. The death of Jesus on the cross, disarmed (took away from) the powers and authorities of our accuser the devil and all other principalities by triumphing (a great victory/achievement) over them by the cross – Hallelujah!
How then should we live? “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a new moon celebration or a sabbath day.” As Paul says, these are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Jim Reeves sung ‘This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.’ Food, partying and fun are things that really don’t matter, what truly matters is ‘have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour?’ everything else is meaningless!
“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you… they have lost connection with the head from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to God.” Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Don’t allow yourself to be disqualified by people who have already lost contact with God, they are out to condemn you, so that you will loose hope and become like them.
Our world keeps changing and every other day rules are laid out, that leave you wondering if someone made them when they were in their right mind, and we who do not believe in them, but condone such rules are labeled as racists, however, some believers have accepted them, terming it as ‘changing times. Not only should you not conform to the patterns of this world, but “since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch! These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.” 2Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” therefore, now more than ever we shouldn’t allow regulations that have ‘an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, and lacking any value in restraining sensual indulgence, rule our hearts and minds.
You decide, which way to follow, the ways of the world, or Christ Jesus, The Hope of Glory - it all comes down to choices!
Memory verse Colossians 2:13-14 "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
Blessings!!
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