The Wonder of It All

This week has been a bit hectic, but I have had these thoughts in my head since Thursday out of Colossians. It is Colossians 3:15. The thoughts deal with Christ Jesus ruling my heart.

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

Frankly, this thought is with me a lot; not in so many words, but always in concept.  I am often, if not always thinking about the indwelling Spirit.  When I look at this verse, I realize this is the foundation of my new life.

I was called, and I accepted Jesus as my savior and redeemer as well as my ruler and king. I was called to the body of the church, His children, of whom He is the head, and I am thankful.

As I thought about this over the last couple days, I stayed mostly in Colossians but bounced back and forth mostly working through Paul’s letter.  I began with Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV).

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Verses 12 – 14 take my breath away.  They remind me that I am a child of God and I should, as such, operate in love.

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV) ¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

I cannot help but be drawn back to John 13:34-35 when I read this.  Christ very succinctly said the same thing.

 John 13:34-35 (ESV) ³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

God wanted us to live in harmony with one another; to love one another.  It was not just to make our lives better, which it is certain to do, but to brighten our light to the world.

Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV)

I went on from to verse 14 – 17 and was lifted by the passage.

Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV)¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul reminds us that all our actions should be done, “in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” We should consider no other way of doing anything. How are we to do that?  That makes me think of Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 (ESV) ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The Holy Spirit through Paul tells us.  I go a bit further in Colossians and Paul defines how our household is to run.

Colossians 3:18 – 4:1 Rules for Christian Households

I read this so many times, and all I thought of was the husband, wife, and children.  I could not relate to the bond servants and the masters, but if you have a job, you have a boss.  You may be a boss.  If you have your own business, your customer is your boss.

As I considered this passage it applies to my life as much today as it did then.  I may no longer work, but I did, and I still go places like restaurants and doctors’ offices where I am served.

Colossians 3:18 – 4:1 (ESV) Rules for Christian Households

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 provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵ For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

¹ Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

The family is the same now as it was.  Paul offers great council.  As for the bondservants and others; there are a lot of people that fill service rolls from employees to waiters and everyone in between.  All deserve fair treatment, no matter who is having a bad day.

Reflections

I look back at these verses and this great council, and the first thing I see is all the times I fell short, and all the times that I am sure I will fall short again.  That is why that nourishing that new heart and the new man that we are is so important.  Un-nourished that heart can wither like an unwatered flower.

Closing Thoughts

As I close this writing, there are two passages in Colossians that come to mind.  The first is in chapter 2

Colossians 2:6-10 (ESV) ⁶ Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

This passage reminds me to hold fast always to the Lord and remember I must take care not to be deceived.  To do this, I must know Gods Word and trust in the guidance of the indwelling Spirit remembering Romans 12:2

The other passage is in Colossians 4

Colossians 4:2-6 (ESV) ² Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. ³ At the same time, also pray for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— ⁴ that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. ⁵ Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

I love this passage.  Verse two is pray.  Verse 3 and 4 pray for Paul, so he is effective.  I pray for others that they may be effective.  Verse 5 is to walk in wisdom in the world, and 6 let your speech be gracious, seasoned with salt, so you may know how to answer each person.

I am so thankful for God’s Word.  I could not move without it anymore.  I wonder how I ever did.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your sound counsel through your Word by the hand of the Holy Spirit.  Thank you for giving me understanding that I could not have without you.

I pray Lord that today and every day I might remember this council and show it in how I treat others and speak to those I meet that do not know you.

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!