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As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: …

Daily Bible Reading “You are Complete in Him” (Colossians 2:1-12)

Posted on September 25, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

You are Complete in Him

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Colossians 2:1-12. Paul tells the Colossians that he wants them to know the great concern he has for them and those at Laodicea. Laodicea was a city of Phrygia, not far from Colosse, and it was the seat of the Christian church.

Even though they had never met him, Paul wanted them to know of his concern for them. He wanted them to be comforted, and knit together in love. His desire for them was that they might have wisdom and knowledge of God the Father and of Jesus Christ.

Paul says he was writing to tell them this because he didn’t want them to let anybody deceive them with enticing words. Paul told them even though he wasn’t physically there with them he was there in spirit. Paul said he found joy in seeing the firm stand of their faith in Christ.

Paul encouraged them since they have received Christ to stay rooted and grounded in the faith and to be overflowing with thankfulness. He warns them again not to let anybody deceive them through philosophy and turn them to the ways of the world, and away from Christ.

Paul reminded them that Christ in His body inhabits the completeness of the Godhead, and that the believers are complete in Him. Paul told them that Christ is the head of all principality and power. He reminded them that they were circumcised through Christ, not by a physical procedure, but by a spiritual procedure, in the cutting away of their sinful nature.

Paul proclaims that we, all believers, are buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in a new life of faith through the mighty power of God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

Daily Bible Reading:

Colossians 2:1-12

1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Things to think about:

What was Paul’s concern for the Colossians?

Why did Paul want the Colossians to know of his concern for them?

Have you been circumcised of the old sinful nature through Christ? If not, why not accept him as your Lord and Savior today?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Colossians which reminds us that when we accepted Christ as our Savior we were circumcised of the old nature and put on a new nature through Him. Help us to stand firm in our faith and not let anyone deceive us. Help us to always show our thankfulness to You for all You have done for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

– Colossians 2:6-7

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If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away …

Daily Bible Reading “The Hope of the Gospel” (Colossians 1:18-29)

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

The Hope of the Gospel

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Colossians 1:18-29. Paul talks about Jesus being the head of the body, which is the church. Paul said it pleased God that all fullness should dwell in Jesus.

Jesus made peace through His blood on the cross and reconciled everything to Him in heaven and earth. Paul tells them they were once alienated and enemies in their minds because of their wicked works. Now Jesus reconciled them through His death on the cross, and made them holy and blameless in His sight.

Let’s look at Philippians 2:5-11:

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul exhorted them to stay firmly grounded in the faith, and not stray from the hope of the gospel, which they have heard. He reminded them that the Gospel had been preached to every creature on earth, in which He was a minister. Paul told them that he rejoiced in his suffering for them, since his job as a minister of God was to fulfill the Word of God in them. How could Paul rejoice when he was in prison?

Paul talks about the mystery of the Gentiles, which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Ephesians 3:6 tells us, “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” Paul says we preach this, warning and teaching to every man, that we might present them perfect in Jesus Christ. Paul worked very hard to preach the gospel, by God’s power working in him even when he was in prison. His desire was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone.

Daily Bible Reading:

Colossians 1:18-29

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Things to think about:

How could Paul rejoice in his sufferings?

What was the mystery that Paul was talking about in this Scripture?

How can we be made holy and blameless in God’s sight?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this Scripture in the book of Colossians where Paul is writing to the church of Colosse. Help us to do as Paul says and keep the faith and hope of the gospel in our lives. Thank You for all the ministers that You have sent to share the gospel, so we might know You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse

from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

– Colossians 1:23

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by Deborah H. Bateman.

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Deborah

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in …

Daily Bible Reading “Walk Worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:9-17)

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

Walk Worthy of the Lord

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Colossians 1:9-17. Paul tells the Colossians that ever since he heard all these good things concerning them, he has prayed for them continually. This prayer of Paul’s is a model prayer. It would be a good prayer for us to pray for the people we care about in our life.

Paul prayed for them to be filled with knowledge of God’s will, to have wisdom, and spiritual understanding. He prayed that they would walk worthy of the Lord, be fruitful, and increase in the knowledge of God. Paul prayed that they might be strengthened by God’s glorious power, have patience, long-suffering, and joy. This is the fruit of the Spirit, which is spoken of in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Paul prayed they would give thanks to God. God made us to be qualified for the inheritance of the saints in light and delivered us from darkness. God delivered us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of light by His dear Son, Jesus, in whom we have forgiveness of sin, through the redemption of His blood. Paul tells them that Jesus is the image of God, who created everything in heaven and earth, both visible and invisible.

God created thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers. All things were created for Him and by Him. God was before all things and by Him all things consist. God is the creator and the sustainer. Even you were created by Him and for Him. We don’t need to worry about the future. God is in control!

Daily Bible Reading:

Colossians 1:9-17

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Things to think about:

In what ways can we acknowledge God as the creator of all things?

Which of the fruits of the Spirit are evident in your life?

How can we walk worthy of the LORD?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father:

We thank You for this Scripture in the book of Colossians. We see this prayer that Paul prayed for the Colossians. He said that they had the fruit of the Spirit. May we have the fruit of the Spirit evident in our life because of You living in our heart and life. Help us to remember that all things were created by You and for You and that You are in control. Help us to have complete trust and faith in You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse

every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

– Colossians 1:10

Featured Book:

by Deborah H. Bateman.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, – Colossians 1:3

Daily Bible Reading “Faith, Hope, Love” (Colossians 1:1-8)

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

Faith, Hope, Love

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Colossians 1:1-8. In the book of Colossians, Paul, an apostle and Timothy, who Paul considered to be his brother in Christ, are writing a letter to the church of Colosse. Colosse was a small Phrygian city near Laodicea, about a hundred miles from Ephesus, in Asia Minor. This letter was written during the time when Paul was in prison in Rome.

Paul starts the letter like he does most of his letters saying, “Grace and peace be unto you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Why do you think Paul starts his letters off with this statement? It is a sort of greeting and a blessing.

Paul tells them that he gives thanks to God and Jesus for them and prays for them always. Paul tells them he heard of their faith in Jesus and the love that they have for the saints.

The faith and love they have is because of the hope they have in heaven, since they heard the Word of truth found in the gospel. Paul says, the gospel is bringing forth fruit in the entire world, as it has in them, because they knew the grace of God in truth.

Paul said he learned all these things about the Colossians from Epaphras, Paul’s fellow servant, who was their faithful minister of Christ. Epaphras told Paul about the Colossians great love in the Spirit.

As we’ve been studying these books of Paul’s letters, I have been thinking about the lost art of letter writing. How many of us still write letters to our friends, family members, or fellow believers? I remember enjoying getting a letter in the mail or a card from a friend or family member, but they are fewer and fewer these days. I am guilty of not communicating in this way myself as much as I used to. I used to send out hundreds of Christmas cards, but haven’t done that in the past several years. Do you still like to get a card or letter in the mail? Maybe this would be a great way for us to encourage one another from time to time.

Daily Bible Reading:

Colossians 1:1-8

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Things to think about:

How could writing letters to fellow believers benefit us as well as them?
In what ways do your actions show you have faith, love, and hope in Christ?

What are some ways we can share our faith, love, and hope in Christ?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this letter in the book of Colossians that Paul wrote to the church of Colosse. Paul tells them that he heard of their great faith, hope, and love. May we be known by our faith, love, and hope in You. We love You, Lord. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse: