Colossians__1

Scripture  Colossians 1:9-12  We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.  Observation-What does it say?  The town of Colossae is near Ephesus, in present day Turkey.  Paul was most likely writing to the church while he was in prison, either in Ephesus or in Rome.  Though he had never visited the church here, he had heard there was much to be thankful for.  But, there was still area for concern, as they were introducing ideas and practices from other philosophies and religions.  This is a practice that is common to this day.  While it can be innocent in nature, this practice can take away God’s supremacy as we lean on the wisdom of ourselves and other men.  In opening his letter, Paul both praises them for their faith and prays for their wisdom and knowledge to grow deeper.  The knowledge Paul speaks of is not just the possession of facts, but the practical knowledge associated with godly living. Understanding-What does it mean?  When I was in my early twenties, I spent a lot of time wondering and worrying about where my life was headed.  I would have times of prayer where I would ask God to reveal his will for my life, as if He were a GPS that would give me the step by step directions from now until death.  Thankfully God never gave me such a road map, and my faith in Him has grown because of it.  Besides, I probably wouldn’t have followed the directions even if he gave them to me.     I still have times where I start asking the same questions, but they come less often.  I get to move in life  with the assurance that comes with the experiences of God caring for me and providing for me.  Furthermore, I have learned to search God’s word for answers to these questions and often found answers to these questions in practices that God asks us to live out.  God reveals His will for us in directions like those give to the Thesalonians, “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thesalonians 5:18).  We also see this same knowledge given to us through James, Jesus’ brother, when he wrote “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27).   As we seek to follow the directions found in scripture and grow in the knowledge found within, our individual purpose seems to take shape.  Furthermore, as we grow in our faith through this knowledge, the next step becomes less important. This is when God fills us with the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Life Application: Jesus, when I start to feel anxious about the future, help me to look to your word.  Fill me with your peace, which only comes through your knowledge.  Help me to rely on this knowledge everyday, so I can live out your love and share it with my neighbors and with your body, the church.       

 

-Tyler Galloway

Philippians_ 4

 

Scripture  Phillipians 4:4-20  Observation  Paul continues his exhortation to the church in Phillipi. Understanding  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! When I read this passage I instantly knew it was for right now, for today, for the last couple of months. With all the things happening in our world, our country, our community, with all the information circulating and our easy access to take it all in, this passage was for now.  It couldn’t be said better by me or anyone. The point is driven by someone completely filled with the Holy Spirit and his words are so relevant.  Phillipians 4:4-20 (The MSG) 4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!  Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them.  Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! 6-7 Don’t fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.  It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Application  8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious— the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.  Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized.  Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.  Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.  You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity.  Amen!! 

Deborah Lee

 

 

Philippians__3

Scripture

 

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭‬‬

 

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

Paul is writing the Philippians. He is trying to motivate them not to rest on their past accomplishments, not to be satisfied of just being saved by their faith in Jesus Christ, and to push forward and keep growing into the people God has called them to be. It is a call for all who know Christ to stay focused on the prize that awaits us, and to finish the race strong.

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

Keep pushing forward! Keep growing!

 

Did you ever have a goal you wanted to achieve so bad? I know I have. One of them was losing weight and getting back into shape. In order to do that I had to set goals and build a certain discipline in my life in order to achieve that goal. It took hard work, discipline, and dedication in order to accomplish that task. It took me about 3 long months to be able to hit my goal. But what happened once I achieved that goal? I hate to admit it, but I got complacent. I felt I had my younger metabolism back, and I let old habits creep back into my life. Eventually I gained all my weight back (and then some), and now it seems I have to “climb that mountain” again. 😩

 

The reason I share this personal story of mine is so you can learn from my mistake. I know the story I shared is one of physical health, but the same can happen to our spiritual health if we’re not careful. If we begin to be complacent, those bad habits may start creeping back into our lives, allowing the enemy to get a foothold on us and put a strain on our relationship with Jesus. Paul even says a person’s spiritual health is even more important than their physical health.

 

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” -1 Timothy‬ ‭4:8

 

So don’t just be satisfied with knowing our faith is in Jesus, and that we will soon be spending eternity with Him in Heaven. Although that is a great thing, our goal should be to keep pushing forward, to know Him more, and to grow in our faith each and every day. If the whole endgame was to just be saved through our faith in Jesus, don’t you think God would have just snatched us up and brought us to Heaven the moment we accepted Jesus into our lives? Instead, we still have a mission to do. To multiply Christ Followers everywhere (Matthew 28:19-20), to disciple others to grow in their walk with Jesus, and for making sure we too are growing with our walk with Him until the day He calls us home. 😊

 

Life Application

 

Be determined to let nothing get in the way of achieving your goal.

 

Although we haven’t been meeting together physically at church, or even meeting in our GROW Groups, that shouldn’t deter us from pushing forward and achieving God’s mission for us. The church is about the people, and not the building. So we need to ask ourselves, “even with this whole social distancing thing, am I pushing forward achieving God’s mission?” How can I make this happen today? How can I stay connected to God’s people, disciple someone, be discipled by someone, and share the Gospel to someone who is need? It may be challenging, but I know if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen. So now is not the time to be complacent! Even with these obstacles of social distancing, God has given us the technology to still go out there and reach His people and the lost. It’s up to us if we’re willing to take that step forward and to keep growing.

 

-Moses Gaddi