Colossians 3:5-11

Colossians 3:5-11 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 What separates us from God is our sin -- in all of its forms, although we often like to pick and choose certain ones.  Sin separates us, and so in Christ, we are forgiven and redeemed, restored into right relationship with God.  Paul rightly urges us to seek to live in this new status, seeking God in all we do.
  What separates us from others is also sin.  Our broken relationship with God echoes into our broken relationships with one another.  It's little things, like selfishness and anger, and also bigger things, like racism and discrimination -- these separate us.  However, Christ comes for all, and is seeking to restore us to one community as well.  This is why Christ spends so much energy breaking boundaries, reaching out to include others in the community of faith.  The Pharisees are often furious at the ways Christ does this, but Christ has come to restore us to God and to one another.  Therefore, just as we seek to live a life faithful to God, let us live a life faithful to one another another, always seeking to serve.

Colossians 3:1-4

Colossians 3:1-4 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Ever accidentally walk into the wrong bathroom?  Even if it's empty, you know immediately that you're in the wrong place.  Everything just seems off and I never make it more than half a step before I sheepishly back out and wonder how I did that.  There's a giant sign on the door -- how did I not notice?  What was I thinking?
  When we opt for selfishness, for greed, for other sins, it's like walking into the wrong bathroom.  We weren't made for it, and there's usually warning signs on the door -- but we're so caught up in something else that we just keep moving ahead, without realizing that we're headed into foreign territory where we don't belong. 
  So take deep breaths in the world, friends, and spend the time to listen to what God has in store for you.  You have died, and you belong to Christ -- choose to strive for God's glory, not your own, for in Christ is where we belong.  This Lent, join the discipline that draws the heart closer to Christ.
 

Colossians 2:16-23

Colossians 2:16-23 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Every now and again, I realize how many rules I'm putting on the kids.  Seems like we're always threatening them with something.  I never realized how many different ways there were to misbehave until I had children.
  When it comes to faith, it'd be endlessly complicated to think of all the ways we could sin.  The Old Testament law covered a lot of them, but leadership soon determined that there were some that were missing, so interpretation and tradition started to rule the day.  You were always afraid that you'd lost your standing with God.
  When Christ comes along, all of the law is fulfilled.  Christ demands more of us, but it's a heart-centered faith, one grounded in grace.  So whenever someone tries to add something to belief in Christ, we know that it's not Scriptural -- salvation is through Christ alone, and there is nothing else.
  Not that there aren't a lot of things we should be doing for the glory of God, but they're not necessary -- only Christ's saving work on the cross can save us, and God achieved that for us.

Colossians 2:6-15

Colossians 2:6-15
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Is there any greater news than the second half of this passage?  Think about everything that's going on in the world right now -- there's a virus ripping around the globe, a presidential election seems already chaotic, there are economic questions about the future of the globe, and we're all struggling with brokenness in some way, shape, or form, and here we are, promised that though we were dead, Christ makes us alive, canceling the record of our debt through his death on the cross.
  You have been freely raised to life by the gift of Christ.  This is the good news of the Gospel, and may you never cease to wonder at what God has done for you, not because you deserved it, but because God loves you.
  Because of what God has done for you, may your mind and heart pursue him, continually captivated by the story of grace, pursuing Christ at every turn, growing in love and wisdom.

Colossians 2:1-5

Colossians 2:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)

  We're accustomed to being able to solve problems, to figure things out.  If we sit down and think on something long enough, we can usually find a solution, a way forward -- it's rare that a problem doesn't have a solution.  Although there are certainly some out there that have eluded answers -- The Clay Mathematics Institute set out seven math problems in 2000, and six of them remain unanswered. 
  What I love about faith is the aspect that some of it simply cannot be known.  The mystery of Christ and of the Trinity is beyond what our minds can fathom.  We are knit together in love, as Paul says, and there are riches of assurance and understanding of God's mystery, but we can't completely grasp it -- eternity is simply beyond what our limited minds are capable of grasping.  There are treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are bigger than us, and so we reach our minds forward and we fail, despite learning about God and growing closer. 
  I believe that we will discover much when we reach God's final kingdom, when our minds are no longer limited by time and space and we can look upon the throne of God with confidence that comes only from having been declared worthy by Jesus Christ.  In those days, we will understand the full riches of the Kingdom of God, and we will know and be known as never before.
  Until then, we can lose ourselves in the mystery, confidant that the God who is hidden from our full knowledge chooses not only to reveal  himself to us but also to show us mercy beyond what we deserve or can imagine.

Colossians 1:24-29

Colossians 1:24-29 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Now I am definitely not rejoicing in my sufferings, and my flesh is pursuing leisure and comfort, with just enough Jesus to help me sleep better at night or feel better about my anxieties, but I really do it for my own sake, not the church's.  The mystery has been hidden for ages and generations, and I sure hope I find it, because then I'd become known all over the world and get a lot of likes on Instagram.  To them, God chose to make known the riches of the glory of his mystery, but it's enough to focus on feelings, right?
  In so many ways, we live that out, rather than the eternal wisdom from Paul in Colossians.  In so many ways, we take this global mystery that echoes through the generations and make it about us.  But God still is at work, converting our hearts, calling us deeper into ministry, revealing to us the fullness of God's love and peace. 
  There is much that is wrong about the world, and we can focus on that if we like.  I choose to look for what God is doing, to pray for revival here in this time and place, and to lose myself in the presence of the eternal God whose riches far exceed anything we can imagine this side of heaven.

Colossians 1:21-23

Colossians 1:21-23
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Have you ever been presented?  In looking for a job, I spent a lot of time networking -- constantly reaching out to people, meeting with people, all in the hopes that I'd eventually meet someone who knew of a great job that I'd be a good fit for.  If they liked me, perhaps they'd even be willing to present me to the company or manager -- in essence, they're vouching for me that I'd be a good candidate for the position.
  In Christianity, it's Christ who presents us before God.  We don't do so on our own merit -- if so, that would have disastrous consequences.  We wouldn't be able to stand, sit, kneel, or crawl before the throne of God based on our own merit.  No, we were alienated and hostile when we were doing things on our own.  Instead, Christ reconciles us through his sacrifice, and we're presented to God based on his merits, not ours, but because Christ is perfect, we are received as though we are perfect, holy, and blameless.
  Is that a goal worth working towards?  Have I got great news for you -- your only work is to receive what Christ has done for you, to allow gratitude to transform you, and then, based on the wonder of what God has done you'll likely go forth and tell the great news of the Gospel story.

Colossians 1:15-20

Colossians 1:15-20
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Just take a deep breath, and think about this:  The image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation, through whom all things were created, took on every sin you have ever committed and voluntarily chose to suffer a brutal punishment in the effort to restore a right relationship with you and make it possible that you, even though at some point you have rejected God, can spend eternity at peace with God. 
  We sacrifice for what we love.  If you love your family, you'll give up anything for their safety, security, and joy.  If you love money, you'll give up your time and health to pursue it.  If you love reading, you'll stay awake until 3 a.m. just to finish a book (or so I've been told).  God loves you, and Jesus Christ sacrificed himself on the cross because God was willing to pay any price to give you peace.
  Know this, and be at peace, the true, lasting eternal peace that only comes from God.  Peace was secured at great cost, but God thinks you are worth it!

Colossians 1:9-14

Colossians 1:9-14
English Standard Version (ESV)

  In the church, we know how to pray for one another when someone is sick.  We gather our energies and spend time in prayer for healing, for comfort and community, for wisdom, and for peace.  I would guess that the vast majority of our prayer concerns are for the sick.
  But Scripture paints a broad picture of what prayer for one another looks like.  Here in Colossians, Paul is saying that the community is praying for the Colossians to increase in wisdom and understanding, so that their faith may continue to grow.  Paul wants them to be strengthened.  Even those who are strong need continued prayers to take the next step.
  So think about the people in your orbit today.  Maybe it's your boss or neighbor or family members.  Take a second and think about those who are doing poorly and need intercessions, but also pray for those who seem to be doing well and growing in faith and knowledge.  Pray for their continued growth, that they may sense the support and encouragement of the Holy Spirit in all they do.  May we pray for the strong and the weak, for all depend on the power of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:1-8

Colossians 1:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Caleb has been hard at work making cookies during Valentine's.  Whenever I walk into the house, I'm overwhelmed by the smell of cookies, and I start salivating.  Cookies have an effect on me.
  In the same way, the Colossians had the hope of heaven in their hearts, and the effect of that was that they acted out their love for all the saints.  The hope within them drove them to serve others. 
  This is how the Gospel spreads.  When people understand the grace of God in truth, it changes their relationships and their lives, and inevitably the love of God flows out into the world through transformed lives and others are invited in.  So the two questions for us:
  1)  How are you opening yourself up to grow in understanding of the Gospel, so that the hope of heaven may root even more deeply in your heart?
  and 2)  how are you interacting with the world in such a way that the grace that lives within you is shared? 
  We are like water wheels.  The Spirit of God is at work, and as it flows through us, it animates us, transformed us and bringing us to life and action.

Psalm 119:169-176

Psalm 119:169-176 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  We come to the end of the Psalm, but with every ending in God, we reach a beginning.  The deeper we find ourselves in Christ's word, the more understanding we have of the world, the more equipped we are to serve one another, the greater we understand human relationships, the better we see ourselves, the more we recognize the need for a Savior, the faster we are driven back to Christ's word...
  Our plea goes to God, and we pour forth praise, for we are infinitely loved, and the more we grasp how deeply loved we are, no matter what, we will be transformed!  Let our souls live and praise God, for God seeks us, no matter what!!!

Psalm 119:161-168

Psalm 119:161-168 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The story about Daniel that everyone knows is how he spent his night in the lions' den and didn't have a scratch on him.  What's even more remarkable is that his prayer life was so structured, so dedicated, that his opponents knew he prayed with such frequency that they could use that to get him in trouble. 
  The Psalmist is going to praise God seven times a day.  Will you commit to praising God at seven separate times today?  Maybe it's a quiet moment in prayer, maybe you show up five minutes early to something and take that time to praise God.  Think about your day, and hold yourself accountable.  In doing so, may you add structure to your spiritual life and grow more deeply in faith

Psalm 119:153-160

Psalm 119:153-160
English Standard Version (ESV)

  We've all been caught up in the legal dramas -- maybe we've seen too many on television.  Regardless, we feel like we can plead our own cause, as though there's some loophole through which we can sneak.  Maybe, we think, we're not guilty after all!
  What I love about Scripture is that it rarely hides our own sin.  David, Paul, and others have their sins laid bare, read and studied for centuries.  (How would you like for your every weakness to be proclaimed from a pulpit for the next few centuries?)  But the Psalmist here asks for God to look upon the afflictions and still deliver him.  Life is granted according to God's rules, not according to our worthiness!!  God's righteousness and perfection are what conquer sin, not our ability to life properly.
  All of this is meant to ease your anxiety.  It should be convicting, too -- we've been caught cheating on God, but rather than getting kicked out of the house, we're offered grace and forgiveness.  So we should be motivated not to cheat again!  Alas, our hearts still stray, but God is faithful still!

Psalm 119:145-152

Psalm 119:145-152
English Standard Version (ESV)

  How many things do you do with your whole heart?  I do a lot with a divided heart -- even when I'm not aware of it, I'm often drifting in my attentions and my focus, thinking of myself when I should be thinking of others, focused on material things when I should be focused on God.  It's easy to let attention drift.  The heart wanders, and it's easier to let it wander than to call it back, to focus wholly on God, and to let the Holy Spirit lead.
  Try and do one thing with your whole heart today, or let your whole heart lead you for ten minutes.  It's hard.  But start somewhere small.  Open your eyes, and meditate on the promise.God is near.

Psalm 119:137-144

Psalm 119:137-144 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Saturday, we made brownies.  The weekends usually find us baking something, often cookies, and then consuming most of them by the time the weekend is over.  The brownies were finished last night, and I wouldn't say that I demonstrated much restraint around them.  Sunday morning, however, I felt terrible.  I knew I shouldn't eat that many brownies, but they just tasted so good...
  It's the story of so many human failures.  We know we shouldn't, but we do it anyway.  God's law is true, no matter how good violating it may feel in the short term.  The enemy often offers pleasure, and we pursue that, neglecting what we know to be right and true.
  Despite our failures, God is faithful still.  Even when we find trouble and anguish, God delights in us, offering us forgiveness, offering us life, setting us back on the right path and leading us forward.
  May we cling to God's righteousness, freely given, and let that guide us as we navigate the waters of life.

Psalm 119:129-136

Psalm 119:129-136 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Watching a child learn to walk is endlessly fascinating.  For those of us who have been walking for some years, it is taken for granted.  I doubt you spend much time thinking about how to walk, unless you've suffered some debilitating injury or been disabled in some other way.  There is doubtless some section of the brain dedicated to controlling such tasks, but it's cruising mostly on autopilot, which is why it's so starting when we trip -- we were moving right along without thought, and suddenly the entire body has to be prepared for an unexpected change.
  When kids learn to walk, it's all new.  They have to figure out how to balance and use their feet and what moves when.  It's an entirely new adventure, each step a new delight, and there are frequent failings along the way.  What's unbeatable is the sense of the toddler's delight at every advance.
  Sometimes, I like to think of God as a proud parent, holding us up by the arms, teaching us how to walk in our Kingdom-of-God shoes.  They're so new, so different, that we aren't quite sure how to move, and so we stumble every which direction, staggering around like we're dizzy as can be, but God gently supports us, pointing us in the right direction, orienting us so that we slowly learn to walk.  When we reach the Kingdom of Heaven, we'll be ready, because God has been teaching us.  Until then, let's not forget that we can't walk on our own -- only God can do this for us.  But may we have that same toddler-like sense of delight and wonder with each and every step!

Psalm 119:121-128

Psalm 119:121-128 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  There are times when the presence of the Lord seems close, and all is right with the world, because the future is filled with the light of Christ's love.  Despite all the chaos and the gloom that this world can bring, despite the division and the rancor that cloud our society, there is hope, and it is grand.  God is still on the throne, and nothing will ever change that.  I long for the salvation that is to come, and I see signs all around me that illustrate how God is at work.  Do not lose hope, friends!  God is at work, here and now, and there is light and love and the seeds of peace are taking root!  God deals with us according to God's steadfast love!  Be at peace, live in hope, and know that Christ is Lord!

Psalm 119:113-120

Psalm 119:113-120 
New International Version (NIV)

  I'll admit that I like to be liked.  I seek affirmation -- and so it's hard for me to turn my back on anyone, and there's something to be said for embracing and being in relationship with your enemies.  But there also comes a point where we have to separate ourselves from those who are bad influences, who bring temptation or evil into our lives.  We certainly have separate ourselves from those who physically threaten or harm us.  When obedience to God reigns supreme, we lean into the Holy Spirit to discern how best to conduct our relationships so that we may keep the commands of God, those commands to strive for holiness and to love our enemies.  It's a hard balance, and there's a lot of gray areas between the black and white, which is why it's so important that we discuss these things with people we trust.  We're called to be in community, not always to withdraw.  We're called to love selflessly -- remember that Jesus was forgiving the soldiers watching over his crucifixion. 
  Being a people of faith isn't easy, but we will be delivered, and we will stand in awe!

Psalm 119:105-112

Psalm 119:105-112
New International Version (NIV)

  Have you wandered a path in a dark forest?  I ran an evening 10k once, and discovered, much to my surprise, that the batteries in my headlamp were like a fine wine, well aged, only they didn't get better with time.  By the time I was about half a mile from the finish, I was running in the dark in the woods, desperately trying to avoid tripping over any tree roots.  A light for my feet would have been welcome.
  However, even if the lamp had been brightly shining, the tree roots would have still been there, and I may well have tripped over a few.  The presence of light doesn't mean that the wicked don't set snares for us.  The light doesn't keep us from tripping and it doesn't make the opportunities to stumble go away.  What the light does is help us see, and we can then attempt our best to avoid them, knowing we won't miss them all.  We can set our hearts on avoiding the traps, but we will fail.
  When you fall, and you find yourself bleeding and bruised on the road, remember that Christ bled so that our wounds will not condemn us, and Christ suffered the slings and arrows of sin so that we might have hope, even in the darkest moments.

Psalm 119:97-104

Psalm 119:97-104 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  There's a lot of temptation in the world.  Watching the Super Bowl ads last night, they're always trying to influence you're behavior -- not necessarily in a sinful way, but they're influencing you.  Many other things will influence you in a sinful way, leading you to idolatry or greed or lust.  Some of the more obvious things I notice.  Others... can be far more subtle.
  The Psalmist here points out that he keeps his way from every evil way.  That's hard.  Every.  Single.  One.  That takes incredible attention to notice them all -- and it's impossible.  Even when we can avoid the big ones, we can commit sins in the depths of our hearts that only Jesus notices.  But it's still sin.
  Thankfully, we don't have to achieve perfection.  We only need to focus on Christ and give thanks for the grace received through God.  We are called then to respond, to live a life of faithfulness as our attempt to honor God.  May we have the Holy Spirit wisdom to notice all the evil ways around us, and may we choose the narrow and faithful way.