[QTVOTD] Reflect Him today -> Receive His glory tomorrow…

“For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.” Colossians 3:3-4 ->me: This world sees me as dead -> definitely in terms of a cohort to frolic in the worldly sensual pleasures of the flesh and earthly mind. ‘Life is hidden’ my life has become a part of the mystery, the secret plan of God, to be revealed to the world at the end of time. My life is not just hidden with Christ in God, it is actually Christ Himself, my hope of glory. I hope not just for the coming of the Lord but also for the full revelation of what I already am in Him. When the Lord comes I will finally be transformed into who I am IN HIM; fully manifested into how the Father sees me today. Other will see me with Jesus enveloped in HIS glory. HIS glory is what will be reflected. Until then the process of sanctification the Lord is doing in me will help me strive to be representative of that transformation as much as possible here on earth so that Christ can be seen in me. When I think about what I am doing here, in these terms, it makes my focus on learning about Jesus and following Him so much more real and important.

[QTVOTD] How often do you use a landline?

“IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God, and set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2 ->me: In Col 2.20 Paul says we ‘died with Christ’ and here in 3:1 he says that we are ‘raised with Christ’. ‘Died’ represents the act of leaving everything behind (which is the case if we are truly saved). ‘Raised’ represents looking forward and not back -> putting hope, worth, and pursuit on things in heaven…in eternity. When we loose ourselves from the earthly things and focus on the heavenly things, we find ourselves focusing on what we can do for others while we are here since we can’t take any earthly riches with us -> the worth of earthly treasures is the landline phone when I received my smart phone…I don’t go anywhere without my smart phone.

[QTVOTD] A matter of the heart…

“Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]” Colossians 2:21-23 ->me: The regulations mentioned in verse 21 (don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t touch them) are suggestions of the rules of Judaism. Paul is telling the Colossians they no longer need to practice the avoidance of certain things in order to stay ceremonial clean for the Lord to dwell with them. Jesus came and made us pure so that through Him we have audience with the Father (the veil was rent from the top to the bottom). Following these rules might be impressive and communicate commitment or devotion, but because of the heart the focus is on 1) drawing attention to one’s self 2) to feel good about one’s self 3) to gain notoriety through intense acts…God sees no value in them. They are worthless because the effort is focused on the person’s pride or emotional needs rather than to glorify God. Holy Spirit, help me to see things that I do to APPEAR righteous, of FEEL better about myself that I SAY I do for you but in actuality I do them for my own fleshly indulgence; help me to stop and turn the focus on obeying and worshipping my Father in heaven.

[QTVOTD] Who cares what the world thinks…

“If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world?” Colossians 2:20 ->me: I think Paul is talking about how we use the wisdom and common understanding of the world to define our goals and successes. ‘Material Ways’ means ‘earthly ways’. The world’s understanding of how to succeed in life and managing perception based on the world’s view is exactly what Paul is saying we should be against. Why are we playing into the lie that we need to impress, or LOOK like we are humble, or do things that LOOK like righteous living? I have died and been buried with Christ and now belong to Him alone. Why do I put any stake in catering to the world’s perception of being a good person? When I read the word, God is very clear what His standards are, the measuring stick by which we will all be measured and there is no way for us to meet it without Him. The phrase obedience is better than sacrifice takes such a bigger meaning when I see in the context of this verse.  I don’t belong to this world…my home is in heaven above.

[QTEOTD] His presence is everything…

Today there is not a verse but an Experience Of The Day. My time with the Lord today was spent on a 4 mile walk. I spent the first 20 minutes or so praying to the Lord to open my eyes and ears to His will in regards to my family’s time and money. Today was the first time in several months that I felt His presence, very real, in my walk with Him. I have stayed consistent and true to my quiet times learning from His word but today, through prayer and listening, I was blessed to feel that undeniable hand in my life and strong voice today. I cannot stress more how important it is to confess your sin and repent before seeking presence with the Almighty. He is so gracious in His forgiveness but we must acknowledge our shortcomings. I feel so close to the Father during times like today; this is what a relationship with the Lord is all about.

[QTVOTD] Don’t be judged by the Ultra-Spiritual…

“Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,” Colossians 2:18 ->me: What an amazing verse! I love the teaching here which is -> rest on who you are in the body of Christ. You are redeemed by the Redeemer and answer only to Him. Don’t be judged by the ultra-spiritual person who is not only enraptured by their own drummed up visions but has put too much focus on the speculation of or existence of angels, or celebrating the fact that the law was given by them that these people are in effect worshipping those angels instead of the Creator God who designed and formed them. These heavenly minded and super-spiritual people border on idolatry or being unspiritual by embracing ‘the mind of the flesh’. When Paul talks about these people being ‘vainly puffed by their sensuous notions’ he means that their self-inflation amounts to nothing being achieved in the spiritual fruit sense. Lord God, I have known people like this – please help me to discern wise admonishment from inappropriate judgement.

[QTVOTD] Do not be affraid…

“[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].” Colossians 2:15 (AMPC) ->me: Once again we are told to not be afraid and for good reason. This world is filled with evil but I don’t have to fear it. I live in Him who has already won. When God tells us not to fear and that His will is what reigns, we must believe because what He is telling us He will do is small in comparison to what He has already done-made the hardest choice of all; to send His Son to die on a tree for me.

[QTVOTD] Don’t think in our ‘Time’…

“And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.” Colossians 2:13-14 ->me: I have a write up on this, actually it is another diagram. I have it drawn up in my QT Notebook and will take a picture and post it tomorrow on the website. These verses brought another image into my mind that helped me think through us being in “Time” and God being “Timeless” so the fact that we ‘died’ to our sin with Christ on the cross came across in a new way for me.Timeline

[QTVOTD] Leaving behind the clothes taken off before baptism.

“[Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead.” Colossians 2:12 ->me: Our sinful nature, and its power over our lives, was stripped off when we put out faith and

ClothesLeftBehind.jpg

trust into the God who can and has raised His Son from the dead. This same dead-rising power is the power that delivered me from my old life in sin to a new life in His Son and eventually into eternity with Him. Through Baptism we show the world that our old selves died with Christ and now have risen to join a body of believers; that through their fruit of taking care of the poor and losing self to join in the service to others as Christ demonstrated in His life, even unto death, might show the grace of God a

vailable to everyone. Lord God, strengthen my spirit and increase my faith that I may worship You by giving myself to others and losing my pride. Help me to be aware of Your every calling to opportunities placed before me so that I might make You proud by fulfilling my purpose for Your Kingdom.

[QTVOTD] STRUCK!

“And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].” Colossians 2:10 ->me: Last night and today I was thinking about all my reading and how I have put these quiet times out there on the internet and to some of you in texts. I was struck at how similar all of these write-ups tend to be and the set of themes they consistently center around. Through Romans, Hebrews, Isaiah, and now Colossians the message is the same. Jesus in us is the fulfilment of God’s old testament promises and the hope to come. He in us is the comfort, peace, joy, and equipping of all that we need to grow into who God desires us to be. God, in His loving wisdom has put it all in place and as a child of God I am energized to show compassion, exhibit mercy, forgive the unforgivable, and bring others into the heavenly inheritance we have in the Father through the work of His Son on the cross.