Category: Daily Prayers

 

Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind.

–Colossians 2:18

Twelve years ago, Jefferson Bethke released a spoken-word poetry performance entitled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus.” Within two weeks, the video had more than 16 million views on YouTube. Bethke’s poem clearly struck a nerve with modern audiences, even though his message was at least two thousand years old. Though there’s no record that the apostle Paul ever performed spoken-word poetry, in his letter to the Colossians, Paul explained why he hated man-made religion but loved the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

In our study of Colossians, we’re in the heart of Paul’s letter to a church that was being infiltrated by false teachers. These false teachers weren’t Satanists or occultists; they were professing Christians who said the gospel of Jesus Christ is essential but not enough.

One group of false teachers was trying to add human philosophy to the gospel. They said, “You need Christ, but you also need human wisdom.”

A second group, the legalists, was trying to add rituals and regulations to the gospel. They said, “You need Christ, but you also need to adhere to the Old Testament laws and festivals.”

A third group of false teachers was trying to add mysticism to the gospel. They said, “You need Christ, but you also need a mystical, supernatural experience with God to be a truly spiritual Christian.”

In Colossians 2:18, Paul issued this warning against mysticism: “Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind.”

The Greek word translated as “defrauding” in this verse is an athletic term. It means to give a judgment against, the way a referee or an umpire makes a judgment in a sporting event. You probably know what it feels like when a team you support is on the wrong end of one of those calls. If a call by the referee ends up costing your team the game, you feel like you were cheated out of a victory.

Similarly, Paul was saying to the Colossian Christians, “Let no one rob you of the prize that belongs to you.” The prize is knowing that all is right between you and God and that you have everything you need to live the Christian life. Don’t let anybody rob you of that prize by saying you need an additional mystical experience. In Christ, you have everything you need.

 

When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” (Genesis 19:15)

God sent two angels to Sodom to inspect the city and to remove Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family before the Lord’s judgment came.

One significant reason the judgment of God was coming against Sodom and Gomorrah was because of their depraved sexual immorality, which included homosexuality (Genesis 19:4-5). In Ezekiel 16, God later condemned and rebuked the great sin of Judah in the latter days of the divided monarchy. God compared Jerusalem to the ancient city of Sodom, saying they were like sisters.

Ezekiel 16:48-50 describes some of those shared sins: pride, idleness, and injustice to the poor. Yet, those were not the only sins of Sodom that made them targets of judgment. Instead, those were the sins of Sodom also shared by her later “sister” Jerusalem. The Genesis text makes it plain that God was also grieved by their sexual violence and immorality, which is included Ezekiel’s list of sins under the words committed abomination(Ezekiel 16:50). In addition, Jude 1:7 clearly states that sexual immorality was one of the sins God noted at Sodom and Gomorrah, connected to going “after strange flesh.” The open and approved practice of homosexuality was one of the many sins of Sodom, Gomorrah, and their neighbor cities.

The morning dawned on the day judgment would come, and the angels had to beg Lot and his family to leave the soon to be destroyed city. The only ones to escape would be Lot, his wife, and his two daughters. Lot’s sons-in-law would be left behind as the angels urged Lot to escape the coming destruction and judgment

In how they urged Lot, these angels may serve as a pattern of evangelism.

The angels went after Lot, going to him and his house. Believers might wish that sinners would come to them, and some will. But Jesus didn’t say, “Sit back in church and let sinners come to you.” Jesus told His disciples to go out to all nations, preaching the gospel and making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).

The angels warned Lot of what was going to happen, and in plain words. Today, it’s common to mock the “hellfire and damnation preacher,” but there is an appropriate place to warn others of God’s coming wrath (Colossians 3:6). Evangelism can and should include warning.

The angels urged Lot, urging him to flee destruction. The angels didn’t make a lifeless appeal, saying “Come or don’t come, we really don’t care.” With great passion and urgency, they did all they could to persuade Lot and his family. Our evangelism should have a note of urgency and passion, working hard to persuade others for Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Dear believer, let these three things mark your sharing of the gospel. When you find evangelists who do these things, support and encourage them.

 

The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God.

–Romans 14:22

This week, we’ve been looking at the problem of legalism in the Colossian church. Now let me point out two important principles from this passage for us today.

First of all, we ought to deal with other Christians on the basis of grace, not the law. Romans 14:13 says, “Let us not judge one another anymore.” In those areas the Bible is silent about, we are to quit judging other people. If you feel it’s wrong for you to drink alcohol or gamble, then I’m happy God has led you to that conviction. But don’t make your conviction somebody else’s command. We ought to deal with other people on the basis of grace.

Second, we need to differentiate between legalism and obedience. Somebody might read this passage and think, That means I’m free to do whatever I want to do because I’m under grace, not the law. No, we are to obey God’s commands. Even though the only Old Testament laws that apply to us today are the ones repeated in the New Testament, there are some rules we follow–not to earn our salvation but to merit God’s favor in our lives. God says if we follow His principles about morality, attitudes, and family, we’ll have better lives than if we disobey those principles.

We’re also to obey those whom God has placed in authority over us. For example, if you’re a teenager, don’t tell your parents, “Pastor Jeffress says it’s okay for me to have a can of beer.” Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” If your parents say you can’t have alcohol, that means no alcohol.

We’re to obey governing authorities as well. Romans 13:1–2 says, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. . . . Those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God.” In the United States, the law says you’re not to drink under the age of twenty-one. We are to submit to that authority. It is the same way with our spiritual leaders and our employers. Obeying God means obeying those who are in authority over us.

Remember this: grace is not the freedom to do what we want to do. Grace is the freedom to obey God out of love rather than fear. So many Christians are still living as slaves to sin and slaves to the law. If you’re a Christian, you are free from the burden of trying to earn God’s approval. Instead, you are free to serve God out of genuine appreciation for all He has done for you.

 

The Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

–Galatians 3:24

What’s the cure for legalism? How do you solve the problem of legalism in your own life or in the church?

In Colossians 2:17, Paul gave two answers to legalism. He wrote that food, drink, festivals, and special days “are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.”

The first answer to legalism is understanding the law. Paul said the Old Testament law was “a mere shadow.” The shadow of something is always inferior to the object of the shadow, isn’t it? That’s true of the law. The law was an imperfect representation of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The purpose of the law was not to make people holy–nobody became perfect by keeping the law because nobody could keep the law. Instead, James said the law was like a mirror we look into to see how dirty we are (James 1:23–24). And Paul said, “The Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).

The purpose of the law was to bring us to Christ, the only one who can make us clean, but it was an imperfect representation of Christ. We need to understand the limitations of the law. It was simply a shadow of what was yet to come.

The first answer to legalism is understanding the law, and the second answer is understanding Christ. Paul said in Colossians 2:17 that the law is a shadow, but “the substance belongs to Christ.”

Let me illustrate that for you. Let’s say you come home from work one day, and as you’re walking up the sidewalk to your front door, your mate and your children run out to greet you. But instead of hugging and kissing you, they hug and kiss the shadow you’re casting on the sidewalk. They’re on the ground embracing your shadow while you’re standing there by yourself.

Wouldn’t that be ridiculous? Why would they hug your shadow rather than hugging you? You are the real person; the shadow is an imperfect representation of you. But that’s what Paul was saying: the law was simply a shadow of Jesus Christ, an imperfect representation. Now that Christ is here and we have wrapped ourselves in His righteousness, why would we ever go back to depending on that imperfect shadow? That’s the cure to legalism: understanding that the law is a shadow, but Christ is the substance.

 

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
James 4:2

How many times have we heard or said these words: “All you had to do was ask”? What keeps us from asking? Fear of being denied, not wanting to impose or intrude, or thinking we are asking for too much?

The apostle James pointed out the same irony in his epistle: “You do not have because you do not ask.” In his case, his words were a rebuke to his readers because they were using carnal means for getting what they wanted or needed instead of asking God (James 4:1-2). And when they did ask, God didn’t provide because their motives in asking were worldly (James 4:3). Jesus talked about asking God in a more positive light: “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you…. For everyone who asks receives” (Luke 11:9-10). And don’t just ask once; the Greek form of “ask” is literally “keep on asking.”

If you need something today, bring your request to God—with confidence you will receive His answer (Hebrews 4:16).

Most Christians expect little from God, ask little, and therefore receive little, and are content with little.

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This concept is both easy and hard for me. God knows what I need, when I need it, and how much I need of it. God knows! And yet, Scripture tells us we do not have because we do not ask. We don’t want to ask for that which is not in line with God’s purpose and plan for our lives. However, we don’t know God’s exact purposes and plans for us today save whatever we do in thought, words, and actions we do for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. When it comes to worldly possessions (a house, car, appliances, and other stuff I think it is ok to ask God about it and then open your hearts and minds to how the Holy Spirit will speak to you about it.  It is good for us to ask and wait and listen and see God’s hand in it. We should ask with a heart that leaves room for God’s plans and purposes for our lives. “God, I am thinking and would like to have or need ????.  I do not want to ask this outside of your will.  Give me eyes to see and a heart of understanding in this matter and I will be content with what You do and how You do it.”

When it comes to matters of financial, relational, and physical health, of course, these are matters and concerns we should bring before our Lord God.  We are concerned about our needs or the needs of others and it is very good for us to seek our All-Powerful God. In this seeking and asking we are communicating with our heavenly Father. It keeps us ever mindful of His presence, it honors Him, it builds our faith, and it gives us peace to have it in the hands of God.

When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, on the third day in the wilderness, they grumbled about the need for water and food. They saw all that God had done to get them to this beginning of their exodus and yet they said it would be better to return to Egypt than die out here.  They did not ask God for water and food. They grumbled.  How much better would it have been to ask? “Dear God, You are awesome in power and might. You are the Creator of all there is. We seek Your help and supply of water and food and thank you in advance for what you will do and wait to see your mighty hand at work.”

I think the problem with asking for things from God has to do with when we prosper or lack much.  Do we go shopping and ask God to lead us on our thoughts and show us how to spend wisely? Do we ask to see the specials? Do we ask to limit our purchases to essentials and not be tempted to buy what we don’t need? Do we ask to be led to purchase something to be given away to someone in need?

We do well to desire to be in communion with God at all times and for all reasons. Choosing to be in the presence of God at all times will affect our lives in ways that honor and glorify Jesus Christ. Choosing to go about your days and weeks with little to no desire for the presence of God will also affect our lives and leave us void of purpose and satisfaction.

 

Hebrews 3:7-11

 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

Frankly, turning your heart away from Jesus has very real implications not just for eternity, but for your life here on earth as well. If you look at Hebrews 3:7-19, you’ll see four serious consequences of turning your back on Christ.

Each consequence is actually a step in a progression leading you further and further from God:

Step 1

Separation from God (v. 12). God is truth, and when we fail to believe truth, then we follow a lie. And a lie—by its nature—is separate from the truth. In a very real sense, our sin separates us from God.

Step 2

We fall victim to sin (v. 13). As we allow sin to separate us from God, we begin to fall victim to the “deceitfulness of sin.” Simply stated, sin is tricky. Sin masks itself and never presents itself as it truly is. Because we are separated from Christ, our hearts become cold and we allow ourselves to be deceived by sin.

Step 3

Our hearts grow hard (v. 15). As sin’s poison cuts to our soul, our hearts—which may have once been soft and tender—become spiritually calloused, like hard, dead skin. When we allow ourselves to be deceived by sin over and over again, and we wander far from God, we are no longer able to sense His prompting or guidance in our lives.

Step 4

We become rebellious against God (v.15). When we allow our calloused hearts to go unchecked, embracing sin rather than being convicted of it, we are actually in a state of rebellion against God (v. 15). This rebellious heart causes us to further sin against God, and God will not tolerate it. The result is spiritual death.

You see, my friends, there are ramifications and consequences for our disobedience to Christ, both in this world and in eternity. But there’s Good News! You don’t have to live a life of callousness and rebellion. We serve a God of second chances, and even today your heart can be softened. Regardless of where you’ve been or what you’ve done, you can surrender your life over to Him and begin a relationship with Jesus. He’s ready to welcome you with open arms!

 

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6

Toddlers love to launch out on walks by themselves. They walk ahead of their parent without looking back—except when they do look back. Without fail a toddler will glance backward or even stop and turn around as if to say, “Are you still with me?” Once assured of the parent’s presence, he forges ahead.

We are like toddlers in that we need to be assured of God’s presence, especially during difficult times. We can’t turn around and see Him, but we can read the promises of His presence in Scripture. When the Israelites were about to invade the Promised Land, Moses assured them that God would be with them (Deuteronomy 31:6). The psalmist David wrote that God was with him even in “the valley of the shadow of death” where “goodness and mercy” were always following him (Psalm 23:4, 6). And Jesus said, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).

You are never alone if you belong to Christ. He is there to share your burdens and guide your steps.

I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light.

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How many times do we walk alone each day without giving a single thought to the presence of God, listening for the Holy Spirit’s leading, or being concerned with honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in all our thoughts, words, and actions?

We may be thinking about not doing something or doing something that seems right in our own eyes for the purpose of being made right before God. In some way, we think we can do enough good or not do enough bad to help out our standing before God.

We are justified, cleansed, purified, adopted, born again, made new, and filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit by and through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for our sins. We can’t add to this. This free gift is by God’s grace, mercy, and love. We can easily agree to this, yet we attempt to add to our worth before God by what we do or not do.

I think the root cause of this has to do with being neglectful and complacent with God’s Word and conversely mindful of our purpose on this side of eternity, to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all thoughts, words, and actions. This lukewarm path makes the light of justification in Jesus Christ grow dimmer and dimmer to the point where we think we need to add to it. Not only does this light grow dimmer, but the sanctifying growth in our lives by and through the Holy Spirit’s leading fades into nonexistence. Self-examination without the influence of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit will lead us to think about doing or not doing certain things as a means to being more worthy of being justified before God.

If we are to walk in the presence of God, let us keep our eyes on Him. Let us read His Word with desire and hunger to know more and more about His grace, mercy, and love. Let us grow in this understanding and learn to discern the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Let us purpose deep within our hearts and minds to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all thoughts. words, and actions.