Be Wise

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
BE WISE
Col 4:5
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
NIV
If I ever wanted to be on the stage, that is being an actor in a play, I need not go to Broadway. No not on my life, for I am already on stage. The outside world is watching my every move. None believers know how I am suppose to behave, sometimes even better than I do. Why is that? I know that God put the knowledge of himself into every being, but some, the outsiders choose to suppress that knowledge with their own evil ways. But they still know about him and watch me to see if I behave like I and suppose to. So I need to be wise in my behavior so that when I have an opportunity to speak about the gospel message I have a credible voice. Outsiders, none believers, do not listen to hypocrisy. They know the choice they made and are up front about not believing in having to accept Jesus to be saved. But they will not listen to my voice if I shout it from the rooftops if I do not live my life without hypocrisy. I must walk the talk, it is that simply. Then I can speak when I have an opportunity and what I say may well be heard, as long as the Holy Spirit has gone before me and convicted them of their need for salvation. That is truly being wise in how I act toward them. I need to hear from God, when, where, who and how to make the most of every opportunity. Yet I must be ready, living in such a manner what I have to say is valid in their eyes. The truth is still the truth, but it must be delivered in truth.

Right or Wrong

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
RIGHT OR WRONG
Col 3:25
25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
NIV
This is a hard pill to shallow. What does this mean? God will repay me for my doing wrong. I understand this is part of the slave doing for the master part. I understand the concept here that an employee should work with all his heart for his employer and that is he cheats his employer that is wrong and God will see that, and repay him for his wrong. But how does he do that? God simply cannot show favoritism or in order words I understand he does not respect one person more than another. All people including me are the same in his eyes. I also understand he does not count the outward circumstances of my life, but counts the condition of my heart. If my heart is right, then I will do what is right. If the condition of my heart is wrong, then I will do what is wrong. I am going to make mistakes, a nice word for sin. I know I am not perfect; I am going to fail him, another nice word for sin. Is that considered the wrong here? I have to identify with Paul here. The things I want to do (the condition of my heart) I don’t always do and the things I don’t want to do( not the condition of my heart) I do at times. My heart is in the right place at least most of the time. Wait a minute, how can that be? What am I saying here about myself? Do I really change the condition of my heart? I don’t think so, but how do I do what is wrong if the condition of my heart is bent toward what is right? I am just a man, like all others. This has to boil down to the simple fact that accepting Christ into my life is what is right and thus traveling with God allowing him to work in my life is good and just. On the other hand, refusing Christ is simply the wrong thing to do and anyone who refuses will be repaid for making the wrong choice. Ever person has that right to that choice; God does not favor one over another. I think I feel better now. But I still have to work.

Rewarded

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
REWARDED
Col 3:24-25
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
NIV
I know this was a part of the thought of the last verses about doing whatever as for the Lord, but I wanted to leave this thought about my inheritance from the Lord as a reward a separate idea. I am overwhelmed just thinking about the fact I have an inheritance coming from my Lord. When I think of the inheritance people leave to others, the amounts of money and possessions, I see how dismal it all is compared to this inheritance I will receive from my Lord. Now I know people are intending those gifts for good, and the intentions are an honorable thing. I have things, items I have already pasted on. Things my grandfather left to me, and they have meaning. I do not think I am dismissing the idea and the significance of human inheritances. I am, however, in awe what I will be inheriting from my Lord. I know my reward is great; it is far above and beyond what any person could ever leave to me. This reward, this inheritance is eternal life. Eternal life in the new city of Jerusalem with a dwelling place in it made for me by Jesus himself. I simply cannot imagine how great that is going to be. I do envision what this city will look like as I have been given a far description by the Apostle John in his revelation. I can see in my mind’s eye the glory and magnitude of this city. I am wowed by it. To think this is my inheritance, my reward and not because I desire it. This reward has nothing to do with how good I am either. True, I must do my level best, to live a life pleasing to my Lord. True, I must work at whatever I do as though I am doing for Jesus. Yet, nothing qualifies me for this inheritance except Jesus himself. Nothing I can do would meet the requirements to receive this inheritance, this reward, except accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. For that act of faith, for that submission to his Lordship in my life, I am rewarded.

Work

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
WORK
Col 3:22-24
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
NIV
Clearly I am not a slave. Clearly slavery is not a part of the society I live in and so how do I apply this verse to my life. Should I just pass it by and dismiss it as one of those verses which was intended for the people of that time? Not on my life! That whatever I do part surely has meaning for me. Not to mention applying master as employer and me as employee. Now granted I am self employed and thus I must obey myself. But I am still stuck with this whatever I do part, and working at it with all my heart, and working as though I was working for the Lord not men, or even myself. So how do I do that? As I look back over my life, I have to ask have I done that and I have to answer; I think so. But what about now, I am sort of backing off a bit. I know I am getting a little older and I have always said, I don’t think the Lord ever intended man to retire. I really do not want to retire either, I do enjoy my work. I guess I simply have to be a little prudent about how I do my work in today’s economy. But the fact remains I have to do what I do and do it as though I am doing it for my Lord rather than for myself. That does put things in perspective.

Family

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
FAMILY
Col 3:18-21
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. NIV
It would seem this is a section of the scripture which a lot of guys quote when they want to exercise authority over their wives, but I am not too certain about this. It has always been a thought in my mind about responsibility not authority. I see myself as having to stand accountable for my family. If, in fact, God installed me as the spiritual head of my household, and as Joshua states that we must make a choice but for him and his household he will serve the Lord, I too must choose for my household. It is not for me to follow my wife but for her to follow me. I have the responsibility to lead my family in the ways of serving God. Of Course I am not to use a leash or harness dragger her to God, I am to love her, and within the context of the love of Corinthians 13 harshness just does not fit at all. I also am to be the leader of my children, now I have to say I did not, turn over the responsibility of my children to my wife either. I had to been involved in leading them to the Lord, being an example of Christ to them. But all these verses still speak to the heart of the man of God. I am to be the leader not the follower, I have the responsibility and therefore I must have the authority. Now if I am the man of God I am suppose to be then my wife will have absolutely no problem submitting to my leadership. Even though my children are all grown married and have children of their own, I still must be the leader, showing Christ in my life. I know I such not be directing them, and have authority over them at this point, but I still must lead in the Christ like attitudes and still love my wife and not embitter my children. I cannot see at what point I should stop that. I pray that God will always give me the spiritual wisdom and strength to be the man I am in need of being.

So Much for Self

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
SO MUCH FOR SELF

Col 3:17
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
NIV
So much for taking credit for anything, that is for sure. It just doesn’t get any plainer then this. I cannot stand there and claim I have any talent, any ability, any accomplishments, anything at all on my own. Everything I am, everything I say, everything I do is because Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life. It is because his word is dwelling richly within. It is simply because of the power of my Lord and Savior that I can do or say anything. I am amazed at some of the things I am able to do, or say either in preaching, teaching, or writing. I am amazed because I know in my heart how unable I am. I have no training, no education in those fields, yet God is using me and because I have none, he has all. I give him all the credit, all the glory, all the honor and praise for whatever I am able to say and do. There just isn’t any question about this at all. I know it. I am in awe ever time he uses me. Not in awe of me, but him. I ask myself, why me? Why does he what to use me, then I realize it is because I have nothing, I have no ability, and it is completely because of him, therefore he does get all the credit. Thank you Father!

Richly

DEVOTION
COLOSSIANS
RICHLY
Col 3:16-17
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
NIV
Is there a difference between the word of Christ dwelling in me and dwelling in me richly? Never really thought about that, but it is time to do just that, think about it. There certainly seems to be this action of teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, and of course doing that while I am singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in my heart to God. I suppose it would be quite impossible to accomplish all those things, if the word of Christ simply just dwelled in me but not richly. I suppose I could go through the motions of teaching. I guess I could try to admonish others with wisdom, but I think those two would fall flat. I do enjoy greatly singing the psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. I enjoy singing when I am alone in my car driving down the bylaws of my territory. That, of course, is the best place I sound good. But still I enjoy singing in church with my fellow believers as well. I am lifted in his presence at those times and I am filled with gratitude because of Christ and what he did for me. At those times I do feel as though his words are dwelling in me richly. I am feeling blessed and loved by God. It is almost as if I am walking side by side with him. I need this richly part so much in my life because I also know he has called me to teach and admonish. But this is for everyone else too. Everyone has been called here to teach and admonish as well. It is for everyone. How does that work? It does require each and every one of us to continue to have a teachable spirit open to what others have to say as long as they have the word of Christ richly dwelling in them. All I know is that is the desire of my heart. I desire his word to be richly dwelling in me. I need his word to dwell in me richly for without that there is nothing.