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Posts Tagged ‘Colossians 01’

>What could be lacking?!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged on January 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church – Colossians 1:24 (NIV)

I have been cogitating this scripture for a while now (it is actually the search that recently led me to start my Joy Journey) and I think I may have found my sought-after understanding, today in my lunch quiet time.

When Jesus died on the cross he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and we, who care about the accuracy of such things, believe the afflictions Jesus suffered were complete with nothing lacking for an unhindered relationship with God.

So what could Paul have meant when he said he was filling up that which was lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the Church?

The answer is in looking at the context from Colossians 1:21 through Colossians 1:29. I don’t think Paul was talking about salvation, but the fulfillment of his own “dispensation” (Greek word, here, meaning “stewardship”) of the word of God. (Colossians 1:25).

Jesus did his work in his flesh (Colossians 1:22), now Paul is completing in his flesh the remainder of afflictions required for the distribution of the good news about that “Mystery” Christ enabled.

Jesus did his required part, in his flesh, purchasing the reconciliation (Colossians 1:22), and Paul is gladly doing the remaining work to make it known to all. (Colossians 1:24-25).

Christ’s work is complete, and continuing at the same time. Complete in Him, continuing in us as we fulfill our stewardship of the Mystery!

– Fritz

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>Asking the Wrong Questions

Posted in Sermon Seeds, tagged on January 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Colossians 1:13 KJV)
We don’t understand the gospel because we don’t understand the real problem.

God offers forgiveness and redemption from sin and we say, “I don’t need that, I need God to make my marriage work, or to keep the bank from repossessing my car or house, or to keep my kids out of trouble.”

We say, “I don’t need deliverance from selfishness, I need more friends, God, give me more friends!”

We say, “I don’t need to be diligent and study more, I need better grades, God, give me better grades!”

We say, “Sin is not my problem, I need God to work in my life, where is all that benelovance God promises; why is he not answering my prayers?!”

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>What we DO changes how we THINK.

Posted in Sermon Seeds, tagged on December 26, 2009| Leave a Comment »

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And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled…” (Colossians 1:21)

We tend to think we are rational beings; acting according to our thoughts, ideals, and goals. Instead, I have come to believe that, except in rare instances, we think according to what we do.

What we think is, actually, changed by what we do.

I have had friends, and pastors (not always the same thing), who were philosophically opposed certain activities and actions until they started doing them, and then those activities were OK and to be viewed in a new light.

This can work negatively and positively:

Negatively, if we start doing what we know is wrong we will eventually come to see it as not so bad, and then to be fully embraced. It is like a wedge which opens a small gap at first and, once started, continues until it is fully implanted in ways we never thought we would allow.

Also negatively, if someone wrongs another, the perpetrator will, eventually, start thinking of the other as deserving those actions. The blame balances out the initial guilt felt by the perpetrator and serves to justify their actions.

The good news of the Gospel is that those who are alienated from God (and others) in their minds (thoughts) by wicked works (deeds), can receive forgiveness, through being joined to Christ Jesus, and have their minds renewed, their works forgiven, and their relationships restored.

We can, then, put this same principle to work positively:

  • To feel love toward someone difficult to love, do loving deeds to them – it will affect your thoughts and actually make them easier to love;

  • To feel closer to God in a “dry” season, do Christ-like things – it will affect your mind and your thoughts will improve.

-fal

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