April 3rd, Friday: Colossians 1-2

Col 1
It was a fellow by the name of Ephaphras, one of Paul's converts who founded the church in Colosse.
Paul had never been there personally.
While in prison in Rome, Paul heard that false doctrines were being introduced in the church.
So he wrote this letter to warn the believers and to establish them in their faith.

In Colossians 1, we'll see the hope before you.
These people were going to heaven.
They've heard the Word and trusted the Saviour.
And given evidence of their love for God and God's people.
So God qualified them.
They did not save themselves.

We'll read about the hope beneath you.
Hope is the foundation on which you stand when all else around you is shaking.
The city of Colosse was located at an earthquake area.
So Paul's admonition was especially meaningful to them.
The false teaching and the false teachers wanted the saints to shift their foundation.
But Paul pointed the church to Jesus Christ as Saviour and to the eternal God Creator and to the Head of the church.
What a perfect foundation for your hope!
Your hope is placed in the right foundation.

The hope within you.
You know, heaven is more than a destination.
It is a motivation because Christ lives within.
It is a living hope that affects how we think and act all day long.
Because Christ is within us, we need not fear what is ahead.

Col 2
Paul wrote to the Colossians: 'You must never allow anyone to come between you and Christ. In Him is all wisdom and knowledge, and all the fullness of God.
And you're complete in Him.
So why accept a substitute?'

Let no one deceive you.
Religious systems seems so inviting and their leaders seem so persuasive, aren't they?
But if you follow them, you will substitute man's ideas for God's truth.

Let no one cheat you.
Here the thief is man-made philosophy and tradition – pleasing to the world but rejected by the Lord.
If you have all fullness in Christ, why substitute man's empty philosophies?

And let no one judge you.
Legalism is the robber here.
Stealing your liberty in Christ and making you live by religious regulations instead of by God's grace.

And then let no one defraud you.
Here the culprit is religious mysticism, that replaces spiritual nourishment from Christ with empty but exciting religious experiences.
You have in Christ all that you need.
So beware of substitutes.