For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of Gods mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority... (Colossians 2:1-10 New American Standard) Have you ever felt that you were walking alone in your faith? Have you ever felt that your faith had little value to your life? I hope not. But, many of us have had times when we have questioned things. Paul wanted those times of questioning to be few and far between. So from a prison he wrote to believers in Christ to encourage them to grow stronger in their faith. Some of those Paul wrote to were people he had never even met. Its hard enough for me to write a simple email those I love, but to write to someone that I had never even met—while imprisoned—would be a tough task. That is the result of faith, however. When we walk in faith we will do things that others will find odd. Why? The world does not understand the things of God. That is why! Can the world understand Christs command that we offer our other cheek to someone who has already struck once? Can the world understand that when we see a need in someone elses life we are constrained in Gods love to act? Can the world understand that we are called to love not hate, to forgive not avenge, to respect not criticize? What is more is that even though we are never called to condone sin, we are certainly never called to be judge of the sinner either. On the contrary, we are called to offer Gods grace and restoration to them because we were once in the same shoes as they are. The only difference between them and us is that we have repented of our sins and have been redeemed and restored by the love of God. This message of the restorative love of God is what we must take to those who need it most. And who is it that needs it most? They are the ones—whoever and wherever they may be—who are still lost in selfish sinful living. So what could be so wrong or out of place to take what someone needs to him at a time when he needs it most? We are supposed to practice agape love toward our neighbor. According to 1 John 3:16, that is the kind of love that we ought to offer others because it is the same love that Jesus offered to us. But also, as Paul did in the passage above, we are to offer encouragement to others that they might attain the wealth of full assurance and understanding that comes only from understanding Gods plan in their lives. That plan holds all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and an eternal reward for those who faithfully seek it. That plan is simply living in a healthy relationship with Jesus our Lord. No philosophy resides in that relationship. No deception can be found in it. Traditions of men pale in the light of that relationship. The selfish principles of this world do not stand up against that relationship. Even better, the strongholds of sin are torn down by that relationship with Christ! Where, then, is the stumbling block to nurturing this wonderful relationship with the fullness of deity that prevents a person from being complete? Ill offer this answer. It is we believers who are the biggest stumbling block. Far too often we do not live up to what we profess to believe. We simply do not practice what we preach. We do not live what we profess. And when we dont, we give no reason for those who are mired in selfish sinfulness to desire a relationship with God or carry on to understand the depths of the treasures that He has awaiting them. So, lets plant our feet firmly in each step of our faith. Let us honor God and love Him with all our hearts, minds, and strength. And let us do this not just today, but everyday. Show the world that our God lives and that we are complete in Him, because “in Him we live and move and have our being.” (See Acts 17:28) Have a wonderful day in His grace! Ron #intoadeeperfaith #rondougherty #devotional #biblestudy #radioprogram #missionsradio
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:10:03 +0000