DECEMBER 9, 2021 READINGS... Colossians 1:24-4:18
In our reading today Paul makes a very important statement that needs to be heard again in our modern churches. He said, “God has given me the responsibility of serving His church by proclaiming His entire message to you”. How many churches and religious movements are based on just a portion, or a favorite part of the Word of God? In far too many it is as if there are portions of Scripture that are either not important, or for those churches, don’t even exist. We pastors are responsible before God to present the WHOLE of the counsel and Word of God. Here is what is true…all the Bible is God’s Word, and needs to be heard and obeyed…the parts we like, and the parts we don’t like. Too many preachers are tickling the ears of their people, giving them only what they want to hear, that allows them to live in sin and disobedience to God and feel good about it. Paul tells us there is a “warning” aspect in the Word of God…yes, even to God’s own children. He reminds us that now that we have trusted in Jesus for salvation…we are also required to continue to follow Him in all things. Anything less is a sin against God, and will harm the follower of Christ.
Paul tells us that since we are raised to a new life in Christ we should set our sights on heaven, where Jesus sits at the right hand of His Father. You have all heard the saying…” Oh those Christians are so heavenly minded, they are no earthly good”. Impossible! The truth is that we are only of any earthly good when we are heavenly minded. It is carnality, and earthly mindedness that is destroying the church…because it makes us weak and ineffective. I have also had people, who desired to continue to live in their sin and claim to be Christian, that they are saved and they can live anyway they wanted. What a lie, straight out of the pit of hell. I had a homosexual “Christian” tell me that God was okay with his being “gay”, for God had made him that way. Blasphemy! Paul tells to put to death the sinful, earthly things in ourselves. Have NOTHING to do with sexual immorality (of any kind), impurity, lust, and evil desires…don’t be greedy, worshiping the things of this world. We are forgiven…but we are not forgiven to sin more, or to attribute to God that which He abhors. We are to live godly lives with our spouse, children, and with our employers. Be in prayer and always be thankful to God in all things.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading or your response to my writing.
TOMORROW’S READINGS… Philemon 1:1-25 & Philippians 1:1-2:11
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