These devotionals will serve as a guide for your time with the Lord
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Opening Prayer
-- Song: "Christ In Me"
Devotional #40: "The Fullness of Jesus"
Scripture
Colossians 2:6-23 (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[a] 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. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.[c] 16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,[d] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations-- 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Devotional #40: "The Fullness of Jesus"
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”
As Paul engages the false teachings at Colossae, he reminds the people that nothing is lacking in Jesus. Throughout history people have denied the deity of Jesus, believing him to be nothing more than a man. Paul affirms the divinity of Jesus here as he did in 1:19, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…”. Jesus’ divine nature is also essential to His work of reconciliation. “…and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven making peace by the blood of the cross.” Even more stunning is that Paul states that we have been “filled in him.” In our union with Christ, we lack nothing in this life. We are reminded that Jesus is the head of all rule and authority and in our union with him, we too live under his power and protection. Questions
Devotional #41: "Jesus Paid It All!"
Scripture
Colossians 2:6-23 (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[a] 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. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.[c] 16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,[d] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations-- 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Devotional #41: "Jesus Paid It All!"
Judaizers taught that Gentiles (non-Jewish people) first had to become Jewish proselytes before they could come to Christ. Their doctrine was a mixture of grace (through Jesus) and works (keeping the Jewish law). Paul refers to these people in verse 11, “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.” Judaizers also insisted that the certain laws of the Old Testament remain in effect for all Christians! We should not eat certain foods. We should observe certain festivals. If not, then our salvation was in peril. Yet Paul insists that these laws have been fulfilled in Christ. Jesus followed all of these laws for us, because we were powerless to do so. “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh….” (Colossians 2:13). Jesus has indeed “cancel(ed) the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).
When we fail as Christians, no one has the right to say that we to do something to make-up for our failings, like recite the Lord’s Prayer 100 times, or give a certain amount of money. Jesus has paid for it all and we can come to him in faith! Questions
Devotional #42: "Baptized in Jesus"
Scripture
Colossians 2:6-23 (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[a] 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. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.[c] 16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions,[d] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations-- 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Devotional #42: "Baptized in Jesus"
Paul emphasizes the newness of the New Covenant by explaining that the act of circumcision has passed away, replaced by baptism. “…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
In our union with Christ, we have spiritually died with Jesus and have been raised together with him. Baptism is the outward sign of this reality. Our water baptism symbolizes our washing and new birth into a new life with Christ. Gone is our old connection to the first Adam and the subsequent connection with death. Gone is our old life and living for self. We have been washed and made anew in Jesus. As people belonging to Christ, we strive to recognize that we belong to our Savior, rooted and built up in the faith. Question
Baptism implies that we now live a life with an entirely different purpose, the old is gone the new is here. In what ways has the Holy Spirit changed you from your old life to your new?
Prayer Time
(Closing prayer by head of household) -- Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
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