Maranatha Grace Church

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Book of Colossians Challenge – Day 1 – Colossians 1-2 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)

We have completed the Books of Philippians Challenge, our new Challenge is the Book of Colossians. Please read Colossians 1-2 on Day 1 of the Challenge and Colossians 3-4 on Day 2 of the Challenge

On April 1, 2016 we will start the Book of Leviticus Challenge in the Old Testament (2 Chapters a day) as a prerequisite to the Book of Hebrews Challenge in the New Testament.

May the Lord richly bless you!

Hello:

Book of Colossians Challenge – Day 1 – Colossians 1-2 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)

²⁴ Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:24-28)

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known (Jeremiah 33:3). They say that “knowledge is power.” Since we are living in the age of great scientific discoveries, does that mean we are living in the age of power? Yes and no, depending of what kind of power that we are talking about, physical or spiritual!

In time past time God had invited his people to call unto him so he can tell them great and hidden things. He is still inviting us to come to him the source of all knowledge and wisdom. Our time is the time of open secret.  ^“The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people (v. 26).

“Christ is in us, the hope of glory.” It is an open secret, but it is still a mystery. To realize fully that God loves us so much that Jesus died on the cross for our sin is overwhelming. To know that Christ is in us “with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in us (v. 29)” is beyond human comprehension.

May the Lord richly bless you!

Hello:

Book of Colossians Challenge – Day 2 – Colossians 3-4 (Please click on the blue links to be directed to the Readings)

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your^[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6)

The Bible is a manual for life we often say, and this is the truth.  One can argue that Colossians 3 is the CliffNotes of the practical part of the book. If we read the whole chapter a few times, it is very likely that we will all agree that concrete instructions for the good life is found there. I have never seen such “wisdom to live by” condensed in one short space.  

In Colossians 3, there is wisdom for the family, mother, father, and the children. You find wisdom for the church, for the society, for the political system. Can you imagine our world, if those principles expounded in Colossians were applied by humanity? Husband and wife living in perfect harmony, an ideal family environment for the children. Great relationship between the leaders and the people. What a world?

All these are possible if we turn to Christ. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (v. 2). When we put our minds on things that are above, we get automatically the things that are below. This is a great spiritual truth, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33)”

May the Lord richly bless you!