Colossians 4:17 "And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it."
This command was not recorded solely for he benefit of Archippus. Every child of God should pay careful attention to this verse. A life lived without fulfilling what God has given us to do is a wasted life indeed.
But what is this ministry which we have received of the Lord? I think most people would argue that they don't feel God has necessarily given them any one particular ministry. At least, God's never told them in so many words! It's lame arguments like this that show how little we understand of God's call to ministry.
The word ministry here means:
"Service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others. Of those who by the command of God proclaim and promote religion among men. The ministration of those who render to others the offices of Christian affection esp. those who help meet need by either collecting or distributing of charities. The service of those who prepare and present food."
I love the last part of the definition. We don't know exactly what Archippus' ministry was, however it could have been as simple as preparing and presenting food to those who needed it. The point here is - don't overthink the question of "what ministry have I received of the Lord?" This kind of question leaves us waiting motionless for some kind of revelation about whether we should go into overseas missions or become a pastor. When instead, God wants each and everyone of us to render to others the offices of Christian affection, to meet the needs of others.
This is your ministry, this is my ministry. Let us go and fulfill it!
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Laboring Fervently
Colossians 4:12 "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."
Labor Fervently: "To enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games. To contend with adversaries, fight. Metaph. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers. To endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something."
This brother in Christ took prayer very seriously. He was, at all times, praying like he was in a contest, contending against enemies, struggling, zealously striving to gain his goal. Have you ever even seen someone pray like that, let alone prayer like that yourself?
In order to get to that kind of prayer, it takes a couple things. First, it takes a completely unselfish love for other people. Epaphras wanted the Colossians to experience and stand in God's will so bad. It was an overwhelming desire for his fellow Christians, he cared so much about them. Second, it takes faith. You don't face difficulties and dangers, you don't enter a contest and contend with adversaries if you don't believe 100%. If you're not fully convinced of what you're dealing with, there is no reason to put yourself out there like that. Third, it takes dedication.
I don't know about you, but I want a prayer life like that. I want my prayers to God to matter, to impact the world! What would have to change for this verse to start describing your prayer life?
Labor Fervently: "To enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games. To contend with adversaries, fight. Metaph. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers. To endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something."
This brother in Christ took prayer very seriously. He was, at all times, praying like he was in a contest, contending against enemies, struggling, zealously striving to gain his goal. Have you ever even seen someone pray like that, let alone prayer like that yourself?
In order to get to that kind of prayer, it takes a couple things. First, it takes a completely unselfish love for other people. Epaphras wanted the Colossians to experience and stand in God's will so bad. It was an overwhelming desire for his fellow Christians, he cared so much about them. Second, it takes faith. You don't face difficulties and dangers, you don't enter a contest and contend with adversaries if you don't believe 100%. If you're not fully convinced of what you're dealing with, there is no reason to put yourself out there like that. Third, it takes dedication.
I don't know about you, but I want a prayer life like that. I want my prayers to God to matter, to impact the world! What would have to change for this verse to start describing your prayer life?
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Redeeming the Time
Colossians 4:5 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."
In case you hadn't noticed, I like definitions. The words used in the Bible have such rich meanings waiting for those who will dig into them! The word "walk" here means, "to live, to regulate one's life, to conduct one's self, to pass one's life." However, my favorite part of the definition is, "to make due use of opportunities."
So the first part of this verse could be phrased, "Pass your life making due use of opportunities in a manner of devout and proper prudence in intercourse with men not disciples of Christ, using skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth to the unsaved."
Now, with that in mind, we look to the second part of the verse. A short, simple phrase, but so much in it! The concept of redeeming is not a common one in today's parlance. However, in Bible times it was a vivid picture. "Redeeming" means, "by payment of a price to recover from the power of another, to ransom, buy off. Metaph. of Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of his vicarious death. To buy up, to buy up for one's self, for one's use. To make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own."
Imagine - your time is held captive and a payment must be made in order for it to become your own. Your time is held captive, held ransom by your flesh and the world. And they do not want to let it go. We must redeem that time, or in other words, we must buy it back, ransom it back, so that we can use it for God's glory (fulfilling the call in the first part of this verse).
How do we buy it back? What is the currency we use? Zeal.
Think on that today.
In case you hadn't noticed, I like definitions. The words used in the Bible have such rich meanings waiting for those who will dig into them! The word "walk" here means, "to live, to regulate one's life, to conduct one's self, to pass one's life." However, my favorite part of the definition is, "to make due use of opportunities."
So the first part of this verse could be phrased, "Pass your life making due use of opportunities in a manner of devout and proper prudence in intercourse with men not disciples of Christ, using skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth to the unsaved."
Now, with that in mind, we look to the second part of the verse. A short, simple phrase, but so much in it! The concept of redeeming is not a common one in today's parlance. However, in Bible times it was a vivid picture. "Redeeming" means, "by payment of a price to recover from the power of another, to ransom, buy off. Metaph. of Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of his vicarious death. To buy up, to buy up for one's self, for one's use. To make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own."
Imagine - your time is held captive and a payment must be made in order for it to become your own. Your time is held captive, held ransom by your flesh and the world. And they do not want to let it go. We must redeem that time, or in other words, we must buy it back, ransom it back, so that we can use it for God's glory (fulfilling the call in the first part of this verse).
How do we buy it back? What is the currency we use? Zeal.
Think on that today.
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Bond of Perfectness.
Colossians 3:14 "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
Paul gives a significant list of spiritual fruit that ought to be evidenced in a Christian's life. However, like it always does, it all comes back to love. Paul makes it clear that above everything that he has listed, the most important thing is charity, love, "affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love."
What does it mean that love is the bond of perfectness? This is so cool. The word "bond" here means, "that which binds together, a band, bond. Of ligaments by which the members of the human body are united together." We have all seen those cut-away illustrations of the human body. The muscle/ligament cut-away shows how extensive your ligaments are. The transverse every bit of your being. They underlie all your movements and the very fact that your body is one cohesive unit.
True godly love is the ligaments that holds everything else together. On our journey toward Christ and being perfect like Him, love is the key.
Paul gives a significant list of spiritual fruit that ought to be evidenced in a Christian's life. However, like it always does, it all comes back to love. Paul makes it clear that above everything that he has listed, the most important thing is charity, love, "affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love."
What does it mean that love is the bond of perfectness? This is so cool. The word "bond" here means, "that which binds together, a band, bond. Of ligaments by which the members of the human body are united together." We have all seen those cut-away illustrations of the human body. The muscle/ligament cut-away shows how extensive your ligaments are. The transverse every bit of your being. They underlie all your movements and the very fact that your body is one cohesive unit.
True godly love is the ligaments that holds everything else together. On our journey toward Christ and being perfect like Him, love is the key.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Things Above
Colossians 3:1-2 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."
In Christianity, there is a required perspective that goes against our flesh. Our 5 senses experience the things that are on this earth on a moment by moment basis. It is the easiest thing in the world to let them distract us and capture our attention. And we all know, that which has our attention usually takes our time, and that which takes our time takes our affection.
Christianity requires us looking at life from a different perspective. We must still maneuver this life via our 5 senses in the physical sense, however that is where it ought to stop. The earth has nothing for us. Seek those things that are above, set your affection on them. Let those heavenly things be your driving force and your guide.
What are those things above? They are the things that are right there with Christ sitting on the right hand of God. Therefore, God, His person. Seek Him first. Set your affection on Him first. Then by extension, we know that the things that are above involve God's Kingdom and the eternal souls of mankind.
Am I seeking those things that are above? Where is my time being directed today? Is that a good indication of where my affection truly is?
In Christianity, there is a required perspective that goes against our flesh. Our 5 senses experience the things that are on this earth on a moment by moment basis. It is the easiest thing in the world to let them distract us and capture our attention. And we all know, that which has our attention usually takes our time, and that which takes our time takes our affection.
Christianity requires us looking at life from a different perspective. We must still maneuver this life via our 5 senses in the physical sense, however that is where it ought to stop. The earth has nothing for us. Seek those things that are above, set your affection on them. Let those heavenly things be your driving force and your guide.
What are those things above? They are the things that are right there with Christ sitting on the right hand of God. Therefore, God, His person. Seek Him first. Set your affection on Him first. Then by extension, we know that the things that are above involve God's Kingdom and the eternal souls of mankind.
Am I seeking those things that are above? Where is my time being directed today? Is that a good indication of where my affection truly is?
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Abounding in Faith
Colossians 2:6-7 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
Our salvation was by God's abundant grace through a child-like faith. In this same way, we are to continue in Him. In this same way we are to walk throughout our days here on earth - living moment by moment by his abundant grace through a child-like faith.
He is to be our foundation. Our lives should be established in faith, the fundamental basis for everything we do, ought to be our faith. Now the last admonishment starts to make sense - abound in faith with thanksgiving.
What does it mean to abound in your faith with thanksgiving? The word abound means to "overflow, to super-exceed and have a measure left over." I think we can take this 2 ways. One, that our faith should grow and grow, expanding throughout every part of our lives. And two, that our life itself should abound with faith as its foundation.
How are you walking today? By grace through faith? Is your faith the foundation of your life? Are you abounding in that faith today? Can those around you tell?
Our salvation was by God's abundant grace through a child-like faith. In this same way, we are to continue in Him. In this same way we are to walk throughout our days here on earth - living moment by moment by his abundant grace through a child-like faith.
He is to be our foundation. Our lives should be established in faith, the fundamental basis for everything we do, ought to be our faith. Now the last admonishment starts to make sense - abound in faith with thanksgiving.
What does it mean to abound in your faith with thanksgiving? The word abound means to "overflow, to super-exceed and have a measure left over." I think we can take this 2 ways. One, that our faith should grow and grow, expanding throughout every part of our lives. And two, that our life itself should abound with faith as its foundation.
How are you walking today? By grace through faith? Is your faith the foundation of your life? Are you abounding in that faith today? Can those around you tell?
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Superhuman Power
Colossians 1:29 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."
The way sentences are structured in the Bible, it can be difficult at times to sort out exactly what the writer is talking about sometimes. In this verse you could paraphrase what Paul is saying thus,
"Christ, Who is our hope, is Who we preach to the world. This is the end toward which I am laboring. I am to endeavoring with strenuous zeal along with the help of His superhuman power to do this. And His superhuman power is actively at work, putting forth power, aiding me, working for me."
Do you feel that there is superhuman power working inside you? Are you laboring toward the end which Christ has called you to?
Then ask yourself this - are you satisfied with how you answered the previous questions? If not, what would have to change in your life so that you could answer them in a satisfactory way?
The way sentences are structured in the Bible, it can be difficult at times to sort out exactly what the writer is talking about sometimes. In this verse you could paraphrase what Paul is saying thus,
"Christ, Who is our hope, is Who we preach to the world. This is the end toward which I am laboring. I am to endeavoring with strenuous zeal along with the help of His superhuman power to do this. And His superhuman power is actively at work, putting forth power, aiding me, working for me."
Do you feel that there is superhuman power working inside you? Are you laboring toward the end which Christ has called you to?
Then ask yourself this - are you satisfied with how you answered the previous questions? If not, what would have to change in your life so that you could answer them in a satisfactory way?
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