From Death To Life

Have you considered what it means to be dead? I know, it sounds morbid, doesn’t it? But are you dead now? Were you previously dead? Do you know others who are dead, even as they walk through life on this earth? Do you know what it is to be truly alive?

We don’t think of being dead. Many do not even want to speak of the time their life on this earth will come to an end. Nor do they want to speak of their parents’ lives coming to an end. Yet, we all will experience at some point. But are we dead in the hear and now?

Anyone who is separated from God is dead, even if they are walking, talking, and breathing. This is what the Apostle Paul is talking about in today’s passage. Being dead in our trespasses, or sins, means we are separated from God. Without reconciliation, we remain dead and are doomed to eternal punishment. Yet, we cannot be reconciled on our own. We need help.

God has reconciled us to him through the cross of Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus dying for us on the cross, our sins have been forgiven. In that act, Jesus made us alive in Him. We are truly alive and will live forever with Him. The life He has given us is far beyond anything we can imagine. Unfortunately, too many of us live in the everyday muck and mire without realizing we have been made alive. Because of Jesus, we can live above the fray. We can live the abundant life He promised us.

I pray we all know we are dead without Jesus. I pray we know that Jesus makes us truly alive. I pray each one of us know we have been reconciled to God and will live with him forever. You are dead without Jesus. Jesus makes you truly alive. You are reconciled with God. You will live with God forever.

Colossians 2:13-14 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.

Captivated

Do you like philosophy? Do you like tradition? Do you like to study science? Do you like to review history? Do you get caught up in any of these so that they dominate your way of thinking? Have you recognized this about yourself? Are you seeking to change it?

There are many topics we can choose to study. Some of them are required for our jobs. Some are required subjects in school. To be familiar with any of them is not a bad thing. In fact, it can be very good for us to be familiar with them. It is when they control us that they become bad for us.

The Apostle Paul warns the church in Colossae not to allow these things to captivate them or overwhelm them. We might even compare it to hypnotizing them. When those things become the focus, we can no longer focus on Jesus. Yet, we need to focus on Jesus so that we follow Him as best we can, and please God in doing so.

Just like the people in the church in Colossae, we can get caught up in the beliefs of this world. We can fall prey to the cunning lure of adhering to worldly principles vice adhering to God’s principles. Our human traditions can trap and strangle us. Those traditions can restrict our growth in faith, if we let them, by becoming our priority.

Paul warns us still today to not allow anything of this world to be made a priority above Jesus. It is very easy to allow that to happen. We can be lured by something that sounds good. Therefore, we need to be watchful, discerning, and seek God’s wisdom to determine our pathway. Only by following the path that God has planned for us will we be truly successful.

I pray we all strive to keep worldly principles from luring us away from Jesus. I pray we remain watchful. I pray each one of us will seek God’s wisdom in discerning the path he has planned for us. Be watchful. Seek God’s wisdom. Be discerning. Strive to follow God’s plan.

Colossians 2:8 Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Walk in Jesus

Do you hold on to what you are taught? Do make every effort to listen, digest the teaching, and discern its meaning? Do you attempt to apply the good things you have learned to your life? Are you thankful you have learned the lessons you have been taught?

Learning and applying what we have been taught can be very beneficial to us. It can help us perform our jobs better. It can help us pass tests for certifications. Applying lessons we have learned through experience can improve our lives and change them dramatically.

The Apostle Paul tells the church in Colossae to continue to follow the teaching they received. They were to continue to walk in Jesus. They were to be rooted in Him. Paul uses the analogy of a tree or crop whose roots grow into fertile soil to obtain the nutrients needed for it grow. As they grew, their faith would not only be established but would grow as well.

As the Colossian followers grew in their faith, they were to be thankful. Paul tells them not to merely give God thanks on occasion but to abound in thanksgiving. They were to be thankful every day. They were to realize that it is God who blesses them with everything they have, not the least of which is the very breath they breathe.

We, too, should follow this advice from Paul. We should learn the lessons we have been taught about Jesus. We should dig into those lessons, discern how they apply to our lives, and grow in our faith. And in all of that, we should thank God for every blessing, from the smallest to the largest. For God blesses in ways we often do not recognize.

I pray we all learn more about Jesus. I pray we apply what we learn about Him to our lives. I pray each one of us is thankful for God’s many blessings and grow in our faith. Learn more about Jesus. Apply lessons to your life. Grow in your faith. Be thankful for God’s blessings.

Colossians 2:6-7 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

A New Foundation

What is your foundation? What is the solid ground you can stand on to be unmovable when the storms of life hit? How do you remain calm amidst the chaos around you? Do you have a foundation? Do you have solid ground you can stand on?

Storms come into our lives. They come in various forms. They may come in health issues, relationships, on the job, and even within the church. Having a strong foundation and solid ground to stand on so we can withstand those storms is critical.

Jesus told the parable of the foolish man who built his house on the sand contrasted by the wise man who built his house on the rock. We have heard it a hundred times. We understand its meaning. Yet do we put it into practice by choosing to make Jesus our cornerstone, our strong foundation?

Unfortunately, there are many people in this world who do not, even some Christians. Even those who say they believe buckle under the weight of life’s troubles. Why? They are not standing on Jesus. We can argue it all we want. However, the proof is in our actions or lack thereof. For when we stand on Jesus, the storms of life will not cause us to crumble, even if we may get blown about a bit.

I pray we all choose to stand on the cornerstone, the strong foundation of Jesus Christ. I pray we not only understand it but put it into practice. I pray each one of us will withstand the storms of life because we are leaning on Jesus. Make Jesus be your cornerstone. Let Him be your strong foundation. Withstand the storms of life with Jesus.

Isaiah 28:16

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 

“See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, 

a tested stone, 

a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: 

‘One who trusts will not panic.’”

Sitting At Jesus’ Feet

How easily are you distracted? Do you bounce from one shiny object to another? Do you jump from one topic to another in your conversations? Do you get wound up when preparing for a party or family dinner? Do you get stressed when you have more to do than you can get done?

Distraction seems to be the name of the game these days. We are distracted by entertainment. We are distracted by social media. We bounce around like Mexican jumping beans going from one thing to the next and our conversations follow suit. And all of this stresses us out.

Martha was stressed out. She felt overwhelmed trying to get dinner ready for Jesus. It’s possible some of His disciples were with Him. Martha, ever attempting to be the good hostess, was putting together dinner for all of them. She was making a sauce for the bread to be dipped in. She was cooking vegetables. She may have been cooking a lamb.

Regardless of what Martha was cooking, she wanted help and thought Mary should be helping her. She got angry enough to go to Jesus and confronted Him. She wanted to know if He cared that she was making all this effort and Mary wasn’t helping. She wanted Him to tell Mary to get up and help out.

Jesus had something else in mind. He used the situation for an object lesson. The lesson? Nothing is important as spending time with Him, not even fixing dinner. Mary had chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him. She chose to learn what He was teaching. We, too, should prioritize learning from Jesus, sitting at His feet and turning our worries over to Him.

I pray we all take time to spend with Jesus. I pray we understand nothing is as important as Jesus. I pray each one of us learn from Jesus and apply those lessons in our daily lives. Spend time with Jesus. Nothing is more important than Jesus. Learn from Jesus. Apply Jesus’ lessons in your daily life.

Luke 10:41-42 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but few things are needed—indeed only one. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Irreproachable

The Apostle Paul had just talked about Jesus being the image of God and the creator of all things in heaven an earth. He had stated that it was through the cross of Jesus that God reconciled everything to himself and the fullness of God dwelled in Jesus.

Paul now states that everyone who had been separated from God due to their evil deeds have now been reconciled. Make no mistake about it, we all commit evil deeds. For anytime we are disobedient to God, it is evil, though we don’t like to say quite like that.

But the good news is we are reconciled because Jesus died on a cross for us. He paid the price we could never pay. And Paul goes beyond reconciliation and states that we are presented as holy and blameless and irreproachable. What?! Imagine that! Because of what Jesus has done for us, we are now beyond reproach. Does that give us license to do whatever we want? No.

Paul qualifies our status before God by stating we much continue to be steadfast in our faith. Remember, faith is far more than belief. James states in 2:19 that even the demons believe and shudder. Yet, they have no faith. They are opposed to God. Our faith must be more than mere belief that God exists or belief that Jesus died for us. Faith includes belief, trust, and a commitment to God. Therefore, grow your faith so that you may continue to be beyond reproach when standing before God.

I pray we all know we are separated from God without faith. I pray we know that Jesus reconciled us on the cross. I pray each one of us will continue to grow our faith in Jesus. Jesus reconciled you to God. You are holy. You are blameless. You are irreproachable. Grow in your faith.

Colossians 1:21-23 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a minister of this gospel.

Creator Jesus

How we view Jesus is important. It changes our relationship with Him. We often hear Him called our Savior, and it is true. Some call Him brother or friend. But are there other ways to view Him? There are many of them. Let’s take a look at a few briefly and delve deeper into one.

In Isaiah 9:6, He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Many of His disciples called Him Rabbi or Teacher when He was with them. In John 1, He is called the Word. He is referred to as the chief cornerstone and the stone the builder’s rejected.

Each of us are viewed differently depending on who is looking at us, and Jesus is no different. Getting to know Him in these different ways improves our relationship with Him, allowing it to go deeper. We all have parents. When we see them only as a parent, we have one view of them. However, when we see them as a man or woman who has needs, a professional who is good at their job, and get to know their history, it changes our perception of them. By diving deeper into who our parents are, we grow deeper in relationship.

The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Jesus told the disciples that if they had seen Him, they had seen the Father. We can see the Father through the gospels and the picture painted of Jesus. Paul also tells us that everything in heaven and on earth were created through Him and for Him. We speak of God as the Creator, but we don’t often think of Jesus as the Creator. Seeing Him as the Creator gives us a new perspective of Him.

Why is this important? Again, the more we learn of Jesus, the deeper our relationship with Him can go. The deeper our relationship, the more in awe we become of Him. The more we understand about Him, the more we love and honor Him. So, how do we deepen our relationship? We read and study our Bible, especially prophecies about Him and the New Testament.

I pray we all choose to know more about Jesus. I pray we decide to read our Bibles. I pray each one of us will deepen our relationship with Jesus through understanding who He is. Read your Bible. Know more about Jesus. Understand better who He is. Deepen your relationship with Him.

Colossians 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.

A Green Olive Tree

Do you continue to grow? Are you flourishing in life? Are you blooming where you are planted? Or are you stunted? Are you stagnant? Are you dormant, waiting for something to awaken you? Do you want to grow? Do you want to flourish? Do you want to feel alive and bloom?

It has been said that we are either growing or dying. We are either active or standing still. We are fresh or stale. We are being renewed or fading away. We are brightly colored or colorless. We have a choice to make. It one that only we can make.

We can choose to grow, be active, be fresh, and be renewed. Or we can choose to die, stand still, be stale, and fade away. Many will disagree. They have been beaten by life. They have chosen to give up and to surrender to the world. But others will refuse the world by choosing God. They will trust that God has work for them to do and he will provide the resources for them to do it.

It is those who choose God who come alive. They are like the green olive tree in God’s house. They are vibrant and ready to bear fruit. Is it because of something they have done? Nothing more than their choice to choose God. It is God who blesses them with nourishment and causes them to grow. He is the reason they are vibrant, have the positive outlook, and they become the magnet that attracts others. It is all God’s work in them that makes them the green olive tree.

I pray we all choose God. I pray we trust God to work in our lives and provide what we need. I pray each one of us will experience the nourishment of God and each grows into the person God wants us to be. Choose God. Trust God. Experience God in your life. Be who God wants you to be.

Psalm 52:8

But I am like a green olive tree 

in the house of God. 

I trust in the steadfast love of God 

forever and ever.

Fill the Void

Have you seen the effects of a famine? Have you felt sorry for the people experiencing it? Have you done anything to help those people? Have you considered what it would be like to live through a famine? How would you and your family survive a famine?

Famines are devasting to a population. The lack of food and water takes a both a physical and mental toll on people. It can cause people to do things they would not normally do. Violence can break out to control what little food and water is available.

What if the famine was not food and water but of hearing God’s Word? Imagine the results of people not listening to God’s guidance and instruction. Imagine how people would decide to do whatever they wanted. Imagine the lies people would tell, the crime committed, the violence, the shamelessness, the degradation of society. Are we seeing it today?

How can we bring relief to such a famine? We can speak God’s Word. That does not mean we all must be preachers. We can merely speak God’s Word in answer to situations people are experiencing. We can quote or paraphrase God’s Word in response to questions or during our conversations. We can use the wisdom in God’s Word to advise others.

We may be experiencing a famine of sorts of God’s Word being spoken. There is a shortage of pastors to preach God’s Word and care for God’s people. With such a shortage, we need more followers of Jesus to step into the void to speak God’s Word to those in need of hearing it in everyday life. Each one of us can help fill the gap.

I pray we all choose to address the famine of hearing God’s Word. I pray we use God’s Word to speak wisdom to others. I pray each one of us care for others and use God’s Word to give advice. Speak God’s Word. Fill the void. Use God’s wisdom. Care for people. Apply God’s Word to everyday life.

Amos 8:11

The time is surely coming, says the Lord God, 

when I will send a famine on the land, 

not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, 

but of hearing the words of the Lord. 

Walk God’s Path For You

Do you want to see or hear God communicate with you? Do you wonder why it seems that God is silent? Have you looked for God in places you don’t expect him? Are you willing to open your eyes to new possibilities of seeing God? Are you willing to open your ears to hear him?

God communicates to us in a variety of ways. He often uses things we don’t expect. He uses people we don’t expect. He may communicate with us through situations we don’t expect. Many times, it is not that God is not communicating but we are not being observant.

God used a basket of fruit to communicate to Amos. We likely would never think of God communicating to us by using a basket of fruit. God used something bright, colorful, and plentiful to communicate a future of sorrow. He compared and contrasted the bountiful with the bad way the rich were treating the poor.

God pointed out how the rich were taking advantage of the poor and needy. He called out their cheating the scales to rob the poor of what little they had. In the process, God warns the rich that they will fall, that they will be destroyed. He tells the rich that they will mourn their cheating ways.

We can avoid being called out by God by obeying him and seeking to hear his messages. Obedience is by far the most important. Yet, hearing God speak to us through the many ways he chooses to do so is important so we can stay on the path he has laid out for us to walk. Rather than God scolding us, he will praise us as we obey and listen to him.

I pray we all seek to see and hear the many ways God communicates with us. I pray choose to obey God. I pray each one of us will choose to walk the path God has prepared for us. See God communicate. Hear God communicate. Obey God. Walk his path. Live the life God has for you.

Amos 8:1-2 This is what the Lord God showed me: a basket of summer fruit. He said, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.”