Colossians 4:5–Walk Wisely

Colossians 4:5–"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time."

This is one of those concepts that can be so difficult for the Christian to understand–it has been for me at least.  The reality is that non-Christians and those that do not know God do watch the Christian with a critical eye, searching for hypocrisy or weakness of conviction.  It is for this reason (not to mention the other more devotional reasons) that we need to live our lives wisely at all times, but especially in front of non-believers who are watching.  

To be sure, this is no easy task.  But it is a matter of faith and focus more than it is a matter of show.  We are to live wisely for those who would be watching because we desire to be obedient to Christ in every aspect of our lives.  Let us then strive to live wisely and make the best use of the time, recognizing that we are being observed for our Christianity.

Colossians 1:28-Him We Proclaim

Colossians 1:28-Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."

At the heart of Christianity, the center of everything distinctly Christian, is Christ crucified for our sin and resurrected as our Lord.  There is nothing more paramount to Christianity than Christ, and nothing more important to the Christian than striving for maturity and wisdom in His name.  It is, in a sense, our utmost passion and our singular goal: to glorify God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Because of this reality, we should develop a daily practice of seeking after His wisdom, praising His holy name, and confirming our faith with action.  All of this occurs under the tutelage of advisors, spiritual leaders who we trust to point us in the right directions and kep us accountable to the truth of the Gospel of Christ.  That is a good deal of what this verse is about and we should heed its place in our own lives as we press on to be a people of obedience and faith.

Colossians 3:17–Whatever You Do, Give Thanks To God

Colossians 3:17–"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, give thanks to God the Father through Him."

In case you, like I did, read over this verse without taking it in, let me point to the important part: whatever you do...do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Consider the ramifications of such a comprehensive proposition.  There is not supposed to be anything, not a single aspect of our lives that is not to be done for Jesus.  Additionally, this is to be done with thankfulness.  Let us make this verse foundational to our lives as we strive to live out our Christianity with sincerity and effort!

Colossians 2:6-7–Walking In Him

Colossians 2:6-7–"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

This is a call for Christians live a life committed to Christ, and to always remember whose we are.  We belong to Christ; He has purchased us with His blood.  It is this singular truth which rests the whole of Christianity.  Because of this, not only is it vital that Christians would remember who we are as children of the heavenly Father but, even more so, we need to live a life that corresponds in faith to that lineage. This is what this passage is about, challenging us to actually be the children of God that He has called us to be.  Let us, then, make this foundational to how we would live and who we will be in Christ!

Col. 3:15–Let the Peace of Christ Rule

Colossians 3:15–"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful."

This is an exhortation but in the context of this chapter of Colossians it can actually seem like an after though, as if Paul is saying: "Oh yeah, and..."

But I do not believe that is the intention of this verse whatsoever.  God is calling us, quite directly, to let the peace of His Son rule in our hearts.  Now this does not mean merely that we would give some sort of ascent to peace, or even that we would 'try' to be more peaceful.  No!  This is about supremacy; it is about submission.  The point, or the goal, is that we would truly let the peace of Christ reign in our hearts and in our lives.  This means that the peace of Christ will be ever set before us as our guide and our chief, keeping us inline as well as promoting a specific sort of life ethic.  Let us then strive to make this verse a reality in our own lives so as to submit fully to the will of God in Christ!

Colossians 3:17–Everything For Him

Colossians 3:17–"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

There is a principle that is always in play for the believer, and that principle is submission.  It is, in many ways, the very cornerstone of all Christian theology.  Think of the very call to believe unto salvation.  This is a call to submit our faith unto Christ.  Or the exhortation to devote ourselves to loving God with every bit of who we are; again, this is a call to submission.  But the submission does not end with theological assertions; it is a real, a practical submission.  In a real way, Christians are called to give everything, do everything, say everything, all for the glory of God.  There is no compartment of our lives that is to lie outside of that purview of submitting all we are and do to His name.  But what's more profound is that this submission is not done begrudgingly or with grumbling, but it is to be done thankfully and with great adoration.  This is our call and this is our task.

Let us pray to become better at giving everything to Him and doing it all with excellence for the glory of God!

Col. 1:16–All Things Through and For Him

Colossians 1:16–"For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through Him and for Him."

This is one of those 'knot' statements in that it ties a whole host of Scripture passages and theological ideas together.  It can be condensed into a simple phrase: by Him through Him and for Him.  In other words, everything in existence has been created purposely, with specific intent.  That purpose is His, the intent is for Him.  All things, everything is meant for His glory, to His praise and to magnify His holy name.   Additionally, this is a tie that connects the creation of the universe to Christ, as it was always, before the foundations of the earth, for Him.  I find great peace and comfort in this truth.

Praise be to His name!
Amen.

Col. 1:28–Warnings for Purpose

Colossians 1:28–"Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."

Maturity does not come naturally, as some would prefer us to believe.  I speak of maturity in wisdom not physically, because the banana doesn't have to try to become ripe but the wise man does.

Maturity is, in many ways, a learned trait, a practiced perspective.  After all, there are plenty of immature elderly people just as there are quite a few mature young people.  The point, then, for the achievement of maturity is the recognition that it is a goal as much as it is an attitude.  I mean to say that if we strive for maturity with a mature attitude we will, no doubt, arrive at maturity.

Spiritually speaking, maturity in Christ is what we are aiming towards.  It is about obedience but it is also about focus, that we would focus on growing in Christ.  This growth occurs through practice and devotion, the staples of a diet meant to harvest maturity in Christ.  If this is our aim we should set ourselves on the task of studying His Word, praying in thankfulness, and loving God and our neighbors.  In this way and by the grace of God, we will become mature in Him. Which is, after all, our eternal goal.

Colossians 2:9-10–In Him the Fullness of Deity Dwells

Colossians 2:9-10: "For in Him the fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled with Him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

This is a verse about who Christ is: God incarnate.  But it is also a verse about the fact that we who are in Christ are jointly filled with Christ.  This is a beautiful proposition: that the Christ who is the fullness of deity fills us.  It turns out that this is the reality of the Christian existence, that the God who created and sustains the universe also inhabits us with His Holy Spirit.  In this way, we can accurately attest to deity dwelling within us by virtue of Christ's indwelling Spirit residing inside of us.  It is thus a good thing to remember who Christ is and who, in fact, we are in Him.

Colossians 2:9-10–The Fulness of Deity in Christ

Colossians 2:9-10: "For in Him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

Jesus is more than a man: He is God incarnate.  This is such a fundamental component to the Christian message and we would do wise to learn it, to root our lives in its truth, and to preach it for it is an instrumental part of the Gospel.  God, the Divine Almighty Himself, became a man so as to make a bridge for humanity to relate to Him.  Sin and the grave were overcome by the sacrificial and atoning death of Christ.    We should never forget this truth but we should let it form the basis of our Christian lives.

Mining the Gold of Col. 3:1-5

Paul, in Colossians 3:1-5 writes, "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and you life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears you also will appear with Him in glory.  Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

Without question, this is convicting and challenging.  Paul is indicting believers.  It should be noted that he is clearly exhorting those who are believers to devote themselves to God in seeking the things that are above and to put to death their fleshly natures.  This is one of the most concentrated, clearest, and comprehensive presentations of the Christian life-ethic, carried forward through 4:6, in the whole New Testament.  Because of this, it seems a good sequence of verses to briefly take apart for their worth.

At the onset, though this is universal teaching, it is a contingent one: "If you have been raised with Christ," contingent upon belief in Christ Jesus.  Though this may seem trivial, it is of significance when we think about whom these verses address and who is to do these things.  Because Paul is addressing believers it tells us two very basic but important things.  The first is that this sort of radical life focus and ethic is for believers alone.  And secondly, as a result of the previous assertion, believers should not expect unbelievers to live up to God's ethical standards.  Even more so, unbelievers not only will be unable to understand what Paul is asking, they will be utterly unable to fulfill it.

Also, a note about the order here; Paul says, "Seek the things that are above," then, "Set you mind on the things above," and then, "Put to death, therefore." The natural reading of this is somewhat progressive, as in, first seek the things of God, then dwell and think about those things, and then put the sinful self to death.  Although this may seem trivial, it could refer to developmental stages of belief.

If one has come to faith in Christ, through belief and confession, then they are just beginning to seek the things of God.  Whereas someone who has believed and sought should be to the point of contemplating the things of God, the things that have been sought.  Once these things have occurred, that person's desire to live godly will be paired with the equipping that comes from understanding and pursuing God.  These are not necessarily separate events but could be simultaneous.  It is more important to indicate that they are separate aspects of belief.

This is a great passage of Scripture from one of the most beautifully concise books in all of Scripture. Its brevity is only surpassed by its density and theological weight.  The Holy Spirit made no mistakes in the inspiration of Scripture, however, sometimes we, as interpreters, need to slow down our reading as to take in each passage for its worth.  When we take on this sort of hermeneutic we will be surprised constantly at the beauty and design of Scripture.