In The Word
Read: Colossians 1:24-2:7
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am supplementing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions in behalf of His body, which is the church. 25 I was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His power which works mightily within me.
You Are Built Up in Christ
2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. 5 For even though I am absent in body, I am nevertheless with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your orderly manner and the stability of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 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.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
We are all given a stewardship from God. We all have a responsibility to do well with what God has given us. This is not going to be easy. It will involve, at times, suffering on our part. I find that in today’s Christianity many people want to do well with what God has given them, but they are not willing to pay a price to accomplish it. I call this cheap Christianity. I’m not talking about our salvation, but about our calling and our responsibility that we are given after being saved. We are not saved to live for ourselves, but for God and His purposes. His purposes are twofold: to reach out to others to be saved and to disciple those that have gotten saved. When we Christians come to this understanding, then we can experience the richness of Christ. We spend so much time laboring for our own preservation that we have forgotten about why we are still here. All of our labor should be for the glory of God to be shown to others. We can do this when our focus is correct and when we are laboring in the strength of Christ and not our own. This will only happen if we stay firmly rooted and growing in our faith. Don’t allow the philosophy of man or your inner flesh to talk you out of your responsibility to steward the call of God on your life. Be grateful that God is even allowing us to be involved. Be willing to do what it takes, even if that means paying a price of suffering for the cause of Christ.