Day 56: Understanding Christ’s Sacrifice

Colossians 2, 3, 4; 1 Thessalonians 1, 2

Do you believe that Christ is all in all and that He alone is sufficient for all life?  When we were dead in our transgressions and our sinful nature, God made us alive with Christ.  While reading Paul’s letters to the Colossians, I was humbled at Paul’s plight.  The encouragement from Paul should serve the purpose of being united in love and partake in the full riches of complete understanding with each other.

⁶So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:6-8

Paul asks them to have Christ’s sacrifice and gift to exude in all of their actions, words and thoughts.

Dear Lord, How imperfect am I, to still be confined to a worldly life despite your sacrifice.  Help me to truly wash my hands from submitting to the rules of this earth with self imposed worship, false humility and the harsh treatment of my body.  Help me to prioritize those thing that matter – to clothe myself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Allow me to work at the sincerity of my heart and reverence for you alone, not for men.  Teach me to devote in prayer and to be thankful always.  Grant me the peace within to stand firm in your will – spiritually mature and fully assured in my salvation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 55: Pressing On Toward the Goal

Philippians 3, 4; Colossians 1

As someone who accepted Christ later in life, the biggest struggle I have is pressing on.  lately, as I read the instructions written by God – I realize more and more of how much I trule value worldly desires.  As guilt washed over me on a daily basis, on the worldly life I still live, I came across Philippians 3:13.

¹³Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, Philippians 3:13

It was what I needed to know.  The thoughts of perfection and the guilt associated disappeared.  I was comforted by Paul and his humility.  He writes to the Philippians that he himself has not yet attained being perfect.  He focuses on straining towards what is ahead – to press on.  It was a great reminder of God’s awesome grace.

Dear Lord, I humbly ask you to grant me the maturity and wisdom in my faith.  Allow me to not remain focused on confidences and treasures of the flesh – to consider them as rubbish.  Allow me to truly grasp the difference between righteousness found in my own ability but through my faith in Christ Jesus.  Allow me to clearly see that the truly magnificent part of my faith is that you transform my sinning body so that one day, it will be like your glorious body.

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7