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Colossians 4 - Secret Plan

Secrets - they're like fresh-out-of-the-oven steaming, bubbling, delicious smelling pies. They just beg to be dug into, to be opened, to be known.

God had a secret plan from the beginning of time. You can see evidence of it even in Genesis.

Genesis 26:4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.

There is the secret plan. In Abraham's seed the nations of the earth would be blessed. The Apostle Paul explained that the word seed is singular.

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He didn't say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ.

So, if this seed is Christ, then we see that the secret plan to bless the nations of the earth was through him - Jesus.

Colossians 4:3 Don't forget to pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to preach about his secret plan—that Christ is also for you Gentiles.

Yes, Christ is for me - a Gentile!

Thank you Father for including me in the plan. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The secret's out, tell someone. Jan
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Colossians 3 - Marching Orders

As I was reading this chapter I was struck with how these could easily be the marching orders for the Wildmen.

Colossians 3:12-16 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

The first part speaks of the traits we are to embody. They are; tenderheartedness, mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love.

As a result of the list above, we are to live in peace and be thankful.

Then we get to teaching and corporate fellowship; where we are to use Christ's words to teach and counsel. Finally we are to sing to God with thankful hearts.

Yup, sounds like a Wildmen meeting to me.

In case you are reading this and wondering what this Wildmen thing is, check out the web site at http://WildmenMinistry.com.

Thank you Father for my band of brothers. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Live in peace. Jan
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Colossians 2 – Portends and Shadows

In the TV series Babylon 5, there are two 'ancient' races whose job it was to 'shepherd' the younger races as they matured. One race was named the Vorlons. They were the lords of order and discipline. They would ask someone the question, "Who are you?" The other race was known as the Shadows. Their question was, "What do you want?" What neither understood was that neither was really complete without the other. You must know who you are in order to truly know what you want.

Colossians 2:17 For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself.

Early in our story we were given the question of "Who are you?" Unfortunately we corrupted God's creation. We abandoned our true identity as children of God. Therefore when presented with rules to follow, we found that our chosen identity was in conflict with them. In response to the eternal question - "What do you want?" We responded with, "Our own way." However, since we didn't really know who we were, how could we know what we really wanted?

When Christ came to indwell us, he answered the question. He is the answer.

Matthew 4:16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.

To put it a different way, now that our nature has been reborn and Christ lives in us, the answer to both questions is the same.

"Who are you?" - The light of the world.
"What do you want?" - The light of the world.

Come out of the shadows. Come to the light. Become a light.

Father, may I display your son for all the world to see. May I desire your son above anything else. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Peace, Jan
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Colossians 1 - Doveryai, no Proveryai

One of President Ronald Regan's favorite phrases was borrowed from a Russian proverb. He used it at nearly every meeting that dealt with the Soviets. Mikhail Gorbachev once remarked to him, "You repeat this phrase every time we meet."

Doveryai, no Proveryai - Trust but Verify.

So how do you know something is trustworthy? How does someone gain trust? How do you know that they are who and what they say? How do you know that they will keep their word?

I would hope that a Christian would embody these traits. But what if you were not raised that way; What if you were introduced to Christ as an adult? I suspect there would be a learning process.

Colossians 1:9b-11 We ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through every kind of spiritual wisdom and insight. We ask this so that you will live the kind of lives that prove you belong to the Lord. Then you will want to please him in every way as you grow in producing every kind of good work by this knowledge about God. We ask him to strengthen you by his glorious might with all the power you need to patiently endure everything with joy.

Paul is praying for the adult believers in the city of Colosse. He wants God to grant them:

• Knowledge
• Spiritual Wisdom
• Insight
• Good Works
• Strength
• Power
• Patience
• Endurance
• Joy

It is a great list of things to have. However, the reason for him wanting these things for the Colossians is so that they will prove they belong to the Lord.

They trusted in Christ. Paul and Epaphras trusted that a change had occurred in them. However, they must prove it by producing good works. They must verify it.

Proveryai, Jan
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