Colossians 1
Introduction of letter to Colosseverses 1-2
Paul – an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God
and Timothy our brother
to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ
which are at Colosse
Grace be to you – and peace
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Paul thanks God for the believersverses 3-5
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
praying always for you
since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and of the love which ye have to all the saints
for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven
whereof you heard before in the word of the
truth of the gospel
Epaphras shared the gospel with themverses 6-8
Which is come unto you – as it is in all the world
and bring forth fruit – as it does also in you
since the day ye heard of it
and knew the grace of God in truth
as you also learned of Epaphras
our dear fellow servant who is for you
a faithful minister of Christ
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit
Paul prays for them to get to know God betterverses 9-10
For this cause we also – since the day we heard it
do not cease to pray for you
and to desire that ye might be filled
with the knowledge of HIS will
in all wisdom and spiritual understanding
that you might walk worthy of the
Lord unto all pleasing
being fruitful in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God
Paul prays for them to have the power of Godverses 11-14
Strengthened with all might – according to HIS glorious power
to all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness
Giving thanks unto the Father
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light
WHO hath delivered us from the power of darkness
and has translated us into the kingdom of HIS dear Son
in WHOM we have redemption through HIS blood
even the forgiveness of sins
Paul describes purpose of Christ’s comingverses 15-20
WHO is the image of the invisible God – the firstborn of every creature
for by HIM were all things created
that are in heaven and that are in earth
visible and invisible – whether they be
thrones – dominions – principalities
powers
all things were created by HIM – and for HIM
and HE is before all things
and by HIM all things consist
AND HE is the head of the body the church – WHO is the beginning
the firstborn from the dead
that in all things HE might have the PREEMINENCE
FOR it pleased the Father that in HIM should all fullness dwell
and having made peace through the blood of HIS cross
by HIM to reconcile all things unto HIMSELF
by HIM – I say whether they be things in earth
or things in heaven
Paul preaches reconciliation through Christverses 21-23
AND you – that were sometime alienated and enemies
in your mind by wicked works
Yet now has HE reconciled – in the body of HIS flesh through death
to present you holy – unblamable – unreprovable in HIS sight
if you continue in the faith grounded and settled
and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel
which you have heard
and which was preached to every creature
which is under heaven
Whereof I Paul am made a minister
Paul reveals the mysteryverses 24-27
Who now rejoice in my suffering for you
and fill up that which is
behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh
for HIS body’s sake – which is the church
whereof I am made a minister
according to the dispensation of God which is given
to me for you – to fulfill the word of God
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations
but now is made manifest to HIS saints
to whom God would make known what is the riches of the
glory of this mystery among the Gentiles
which is Christ in you – the HOPE of glory
Paul preaches to mature believersverses 28-29
WHOM we preach – warning every man – and teaching every man in all wisdom
that we may present every man PERFECT in Christ Jesus
whereunto I also labor – striving according to HIS working
which works in me mightily
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of HIS will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. (4137 “filled” [pleroo] means complete, to be or become generously supplied with, to render full, fill to the brim, or to make complete in every particular)
DEVOTION: Paul received word Epaphras regarding what was happening in the church. The word was that the Christians in Colosse loved the LORD and Paul. This caused Paul to pray even more for the church.
When you find out that a group loves you than you want to pray even more for them. We need people who encourage our ministry to be prayed for because the enemy wants them to stop encouraging those who are faithful to the Word of God.
What did Paul pray for this group? One was for them to have a complete knowledge of the will of God for their church and for the members of the church. He wanted the church to be faithful to the Word of God and to the encouragement of those who were in leadership. He knew that the LORD wanted them to reach all those in the city for the LORD. He knew that the LORD wanted the church to work together with a unity that was noticed by the people of the city. He knew that families needed to stay faithful to their wedding vows and raise their children to love the LORD. There are many things that the Word of God teaches regarding what the will of the LORD is for any church.
Secondly, he prayed for them to have spiritual wisdom and understanding. Again he knew that there were many false teachers trying to enter every church to lead them away from the teachings of the Word of God. The only way they could stay true to the Word of God is for them to continually depend on the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of their leaders. If a leader went astray many in the congregation would follow him. So a leader had to have good personal devotional times in the Word of God. Also have a strong prayer life.
CHALLENGE: We need to be praying for churches and their leaders to be close to the LORD especially in the day and age we presently live in as the world is treating believers as if they were the enemy instead of the real enemy who is the devil and his false teachers.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. (3179 “translated” [methistemi] means cause to move, cause to change, to go over to another party, to remove, to put out or to transfer)
DEVOTION: When we are born we are born into the world without Christ. We are dead in trespasses and sins. We are under the power of darkness. This is the world without Christ. We are walking in the wrong direction. It is thought that those who never reach the age of accountability will all go to heaven. It is based on a verse that David stated that he would go to where his son was when he died. He was planning on going to heaven.
Those who reach the age of accountability have to make a choice as to the direction they are going with their life. What age is the age of accountability? It is different for every individual. If you are counting on the fact that you haven’t reached it you have.
Jesus died on the cross shedding HIS blood for our sins. On the basis of the blood of Christ we can be transferred from the power of darkness to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. God the Father makes this transfer. HE wants us to realize that there is only one way into heaven. It is through the blood of HIS Son.
Once we are transferred or removed from the power of darkness we are in the light. Each day and year that light is to get brighter. We are to have the desire to know Jesus Christ better through our study of the Word of God. It is not simple because the Bible tells us that there should be a change that takes place in our thinking and actions.
We are delivered for a reason. The reason is service to Christ because we want to thank HIM for our salvation. Our salvation is never based on our works only on the Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
Many of our family, friends and neighbors are still under the power of darkness. We sometimes don’t understand why the world seems so evil. It is evil because the majority has rejected Jesus Christ and HIS standards for living. We were one of them before we became a follower of Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: Understand that we have been removed from the power of darkness or Satan into the light of Jesus Christ. Spread the light!!!
: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. (129 “blood”[haima] means refers to the seat of life, or red life-fluid in humans and animals)
DEVOTION: Paul is writing to a church that was started by a disciple of his named Epaphras. He is complimenting the church on her faith and love for the LORD. His prayer for the church was that they would increase in knowledge of the will of God. He wanted them to walk worthy of the LORD. He wanted them strengthened in their life of faith.
In verse 20 we have the phrase “blood of HIS cross.” The book of Hebrews tells us that “without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.” The Old Testament sacrifices look forward to Christ coming to shed HIS blood for our sins.
When Adam and Eve sinned, God shed the blood of an animal to give them the skins to wear. Our salvation is based only on the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross for us. Christ shed HIS blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
When the Father looks at us, HE looks through the blood of HIS Son on the cross. HE sees us as cleansed. HE sees us as one of HIS children. And because Christ died on the cross we can spend eternity in heaven with the Father.
This chapter gives insight into all the things that the Father has done for us through Christ. We are part of a family that has been redeemed. As part of this family we have the ministry of sharing this mystery with all those in our world. What is the mystery we are sharing: Christ lives in us. Praise the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Today we face a world that is trying to get into heaven by their works instead of the work of Christ on the cross. Tell them the truth – it is only through the BLOOD of Christ that they can become followers of Christ.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church. (3804 “sufferings” [pathema] means 1: that which one suffers or has suffered. 1a: externally, a suffering, misfortune, calamity, evil, affliction. 1a1: of the sufferings of Christ. 1a2: also the afflictions which Christians must undergo in behalf of the same cause which Christ patiently endured. 1b: of an inward state, an affliction, passion. 2: an enduring, undergoing, suffering. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Paul connects sufferings and affliction in this passage. He teaches that there is more than one purpose for suffering, but that one of the most important is to demonstrate Christ’s afflictions to others. This passage does not teach that the suffering Christian is able to complete Christ’s sacrifice on the cross by undergoing affliction, as nothing else is necessary for the sufficiency of Christ’s afflictions to save us.
However, Paul does grapple with the role of sufferings and afflictions in the life of the believer. He wanted these believers to understand that suffering was a normal part of the Christian life. This runs contrary to what some churches teach now, which is that the believer is to experience the “prosperity” gospel once they become a child of God.
What we need to understand is that God has a purpose in the suffering that He allows to come into our lives. While that sometimes is to discipline us for our disobedience, it often has to do with showing His glory in our lives. As Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 12:3, God is often more glorified in our weakness and suffering. The question is whether or not we are willing to allow God to use us in the very times when we feel weakest.
Remember that Paul was in prison in Rome when he wrote these words. He viewed his own sufferings and afflictions as part of God’s plan to help him empathize more with the suffering that Jesus went through in order to pay for our sins. When we stop and think about how much He has gone through for us, we realize that what we go through is just a small part of what He went through.
CHALLENGE: When you undergo suffering and affliction do you start to grumble and complain? Remember that God never allows suffering to come into our lives except for the express purpose that He sends it. It is usually to make us a better witness and become more like Christ. (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every main in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (5046 “perfect” [teleios] means of full age, brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, full grown, adult, genuine, or mature)
DEVOTION: What does “perfect” mean here? We understand what perfect means in society. It is someone who does something very well. It is like a perfect game in bowling. When you score 300 you have a perfect game. In baseball it would be a game where the pitcher throws a game where no one got a hit on the other side.
That is not what it means here. Here it means someone who is mature in their understanding of the Word of God. They know Jesus Christ on a intimate basis. They are growing in their knowledge of God daily. They are able to lead a life that is pleasing to the LORD.
Paul has a goal to teach every believer to have this type of life through Christ. He wants to warn those who think they have arrived at complete perfection or maturity that they have not reached this point. No one reaches that point in this life. Only Jesus Christ was completely mature during HIS whole life on this earth. Even HE was falsely accused of sin. Yet HE never sinned.
Our goal is to become perfect or mature in Christ through understand who Jesus Christ is when we study HIS love letter to us. The Bible gives us the standard for our service to HIM.
He preached the Word of God to those who were unsaved to help them understand what needed to be done to be saved. To those who were saved he preached so that they would become better followers of Christ.
Warning is necessary because many falsely believe that they have arrived at perfection when in reality it is being full of pride.
CHALLENGE: Too many people in too many churches think that they are God’s gift to the world. The only gift to the world that God gave was HIS Son to die on the cross for our sins.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Give thanksverses 3, 12
Paul praying always for Colossian churchverses 3, 9
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of Truthverse 5
Gospelverses 5, 23
Word of Godverse 25
Mysteryverse 26
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1-3, 6, 10, 13, 15, 25, 27
Will of Godverse 1
Fatherverses 2, 3, 12, 19
God our Fatherverse 2
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christverse 3
Grace of Godverse 6
Knowledge of Godverse 10
Glorious powerverse 11
Dispensation of Godverse 25
Word of Godverse 25
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verses 1- 4, 28
Christverses 1- 4, 7, 24, 27, 28
Jesus Christ verse 1
Lordverses 2, 10
Lord Jesus Christverses 2, 3
Christ Jesusverses 4, 28
Sonverse 13
Kingdom of HIS sonverse 13
Redemption through HIS bloodverse 14
Image of the invisible Godverse 15
Firstborn of every creatureverse 15
Creatorverses 16, 17
Hold world togetherverse 16
Before all thingsverse 17
Head of the bodyverse 18
Beginningverse 18
Firstborn from the deadverses 18, 22
Preeminenceverse 18
All fullness dwellverse 19
Blood of the crossverse 20
Reconcile all things to HIMSELFverse 20
Body of HIS fleshverse 22
HIS sightverse 22
HIS body’s sake (church)verse 24
HIS working in Paul (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spiritverse 8
Love in the Spiritverse 8
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Thronesverse 16
Dominionsverse 16
Principalitiesverse 16
Powersverse 16
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Colosseverse 2
Worldverse 6
Earthverses 16, 20
Every creatureverse 23
Gentilesverse 27
Warning every manverse 28
Teaching every manverse 28
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Power of darknessverse 13
Sinsverse 14
Alienatedverse 21
Enemiesverse 21
Wicked worksverse 21
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Saintsverses 2, 4, 12, 26
Faithfulverse 2
Graceverses 2, 6
Peaceverses 2, 20
Thanksverses 3, 12
Faithverse 4
Loveverses 4, 8
Hopeverses 5, 23, 27
Truth of the gospelverses 5, 6
Fruitverses 6, 10
Filled with knowledge of HIS willverse 9
Spiritual understandingverse 9
Walk worthyverse 10
Fruitful in every good workverse 10
Increased in the knowledge of Godverse 10
Strengthverse 11
Powerverse 11
Patienceverse 11
Long-suffering with joyfulnessverse 11
Partakers of the inheritanceverse 12
Lightverse 12
Delivered from power of darknessverse 13
Translated verse 13
Redemption verse 14
Forgiveness of sinsverse 14
Reconciledverses 20, 21
Holyverse 22
Unblameableverse 22
Unreproveableverse 22
Faith: grounded and settledverse 23
Heard the Gospelverse 23
Ministerverses 23, 25
Preachverses 23, 28
Rejoice in sufferingverse 24
Hope of gloryverse 27
Wisdomverse 28
Laborverse 29
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Paul (Minister)verses 1, 23-25
Afflictions of Christ in his flesh
Minister
Apostleverse 1
Timothy (Timotheus)verse 1
Saints [church members]verses 2, 12
Faithful brethrenverse 2
Gospelverses 5, 23
Epaphrasverse 7
Fellowservantverse 7
Faithful ministerverses 7, 23, 25
Christ – head of the bodyverse 18
Churchverses 18, 24
Preach the gospelverses 23, 28
Dispensation of Godverse 25
Mystery made manifestverses 26, 27
Warning every manverse 28
Teaching every manverse 28
Present every manverse 28
Striving verse 29
Last Things (Future Events)
Heavenverses 5, 16, 20, 23
Kingdom of the Sonverse 13
Hope of gloryverse 27
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QUOTES regarding passage
The words, “thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers” refer to both holy and fallen angels, to demons and man. Vincent says; “The passage is aimed at the angel-worship of the Colossians; showing that while they have been discussing the various grades of angels which fill the space between God and men, and depending on them as media of communion with God, they have degraded Christ who is above them all, and is the sole mediator.” (Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Col 1:16). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.)
All things,” used twice in the verse, translates an expression (ta panta) that was sometimes used in the sense of our word “universe.” It denoted the totality of things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. The reference to “thrones,” “powers,” “rulers,” and “authorities” is perhaps an allusion to the angelic hierarchy that figured so prominently in the Colossian heresy. Paul’s mention of these things does not, of course, mean that he recognized the existence of a hierarchy of spirit beings. His words do suggest, however, that whatever supernatural powers there may be, Christ is the One who made them and he is their Lord. (Vaughan, C. (1981). Colossians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 182). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
All things (τα παντα [ta panta]). The universe as in Rom. 11:35, a well-known philosophical phrase. It is repeated at the end of the verse. In him were created (ἐν αὐτῳ ἐκτισθη [en autōi ektisthē]). Paul now gives the reason (ὁτι [hoti], for) for the primacy of Christ in the work of creation (16f.). It is the constative aorist passive indicative ἐκτισθη [ektisthē] (from κτιζω [ktizō], old verb, to found, to create (Rom. 1:25). This central activity of Christ in the work of creation is presented also in John 1:3 and Heb. 1:2 and is a complete denial of the Gnostic philosophy. The whole of creative activity is summed up in Christ including the angels in heaven and everything on earth. God wrought through “the Son of his love.” All earthly dignities are included. Have been created (ἐκτισται [ektistai]). Perfect passive indicative of κτιζω [ktizō], “stand created,” “remain created.” The permanence of the universe rests, then, on Christ far more than on gravity. It is a Christo-centric universe. Through him (δἰ αὐτου [di’ autou]). As the intermediate and sustaining agent. He had already used ἐν αὐτῳ [en autōi] (in him) as the sphere of activity. And unto him (και εἰς αὐτον [kai eis auton]). This is the only remaining step to take and Paul takes it (1 Cor. 15:28) See Eph. 1:10 for similar use of ἐν αὐτῳ [en autōi] of Christ and in Col. 1:19–20 again we have ἐν αὐτῳ, δἰ αὐτου, εἰς αὐτον [en autōi, di’ autou, eis auton] used of Christ. See Heb. 2:10 for δἰ ὁν [di’ hon] (because of whom) and δἰ οὑ [di’ hou] (by means of whom) applied to God concerning the universe (τα παντα [ta panta]). In Rom. 11:35 we find ἐξ αὐτου και δἰ αὐτου και εἰς αὐτον τα παντα [ex autou kai di’ autou kai eis auton ta panta] referring to God. But Paul does not use ἐξ [ex] in this connection of Christ, but only ἐν [en], δια [dia], and εἰς [eis]. See the same distinction preserved in 1 Cor. 8:6 (ἐξ [ex] of God, δια [dia], of Christ). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Col 1:16). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
The Son’s Creation includes “all” things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. These indicate the entire universe, both material and immaterial. The hierarchy of angelic beings—thrones (thronoi) or powers (kyriotētes) or rulers (archai) or authorities (exousiai)—indicate a highly organized dominion in the spirit world, a sphere in which the Colossians were engaged in the worship of angels (Col. 2:18) and over which Christ reigns supreme (cf. Eph. 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Phil. 2:9–10; Col. 2:10, 15). (Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 673). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
1:16 thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. Cf. 2:15; Ro 8:38; Eph 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; 1Pe 3:22; Jude 6. These are various categories of angels whom Christ created and rules over. There is no comment regarding whether they are holy or fallen, since He is Lord of both groups. The false teachers had incorporated into their heresy the worship of angels (see note on 2:18), including the lie that Jesus was one of them, merely a spirit created by God and inferior to Him. Paul rejected that and made it clear that angels, whatever their rank, whether holy or fallen, are mere creatures, and their Creator is none other than the preeminent One, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The purpose of his catalog of angelic ranks is to show the immeasurable superiority of Christ over any being the false teachers might suggest. all things have been created through Him and for Him. Cf. Ro 11:33–36. See notes on Jn 1:3; Heb 1:2. As God, Jesus created the material and spiritual universe for His pleasure and glory. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Col 1:16). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Multiple churches would come together on a Friday to hear preparatory sermons that would last all day. Then on Saturday, there would be an examination of each congregant by the pastors. Every person would be asked, “What is your relationship with God like? Tell me about the spiritual disciplines in your home. What Scriptures are you reading?” There would also be retesting of their knowledge of the catechism. Then, in the evening, there would be more preaching of the gospel, and strong appeals for people to be reconciled to God.
Assuming they passed these examinations, people were allowed to take communion on Sunday. So there were preparatory hurdles to cross to even get to the table of the LORD. After receiving communion on Sunday, Monday would be a day of thanking God for His great mercies, thanking Him for those who had communed at the table, and thanking Him for the beauty of the church. (No Revival without Evangelism by Bob Bakke)
A couple of years ago, I came across a strange story out of Japan in Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Dozens of elderly women, it turned out, admitted to crimes of petty theft in the hopes of going to prison. “There are always people around,” one of the inmates told a reporter, “and I don’t feel lonely here.”
I remembered this heartbreaking story a few weeks ago when The Atlantic published David Brooks’ latest piece about the nuclear family. Brooks argued that the nuclear family as we define it now, with mom, dad, and kids often isolated from extended family, was not the norm for most of human history. Our fragmenting into smaller and smaller, and ever more isolated, family units has hurt us, he said.
Much of Brooks’ piece, as well as the significant volume of responses it triggered, focused on the challenges of raising children without extended families. Unmentioned, but just as much at stake, is what the elderly population has to lose in these new modern arrangements.
After all, it is one of the largest generations in modern American history, the baby boomers, that make up today’s elderly. With far more boomers than there are Generation X-ers, the math just isn’t working out. Who will care for them?
The lack of a clear answer to that question explains a whole range of strange and heartbreaking stories like the thieving grandmas in Japan, or the increasing number elderly people who die alone at home and aren’t discovered for days or even weeks, or tech companies betting on a profitable opportunity in artificial intelligence that can keep the elderly company.
According to the last census, nearly 11 million Americans over 65 live alone. Another California study found that 43% of all seniors surveyed suffered from loneliness, whether or not they lived alone. Loneliness is especially hard on seniors.
A seven-year UK study found that “the lack of social contact leads to an early death, regardless of participants’ underlying health issues” because loneliness is linked to things such as “high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, a weakened immune system, depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer’s disease.”
Still, our loneliness epidemic is even more a cultural problem than a math problem. After all, the generation whose parents are now aging came of age themselves in the Roe v. Wade era. We’ll have to come to terms with what legally treating inconvenient lives as disposable will do to our cultural consciousness. Beyond the taking of innocent life, legalized, monetized, and popularized abortion kills a culture’s sense of what life is even for.
nevitably, life post-Roe is too often evaluated, not in terms of its own dignity, but in terms of some sort of self-satisfaction bottom line. It’s not hard to see where that slippery slope leads. Suddenly, we’re toying with genocide against babies with Down Syndrome. Suddenly, we’re exploring assisted suicide and euthanasia not only for the sick, but also the uncomfortable or the depressed.
The criteria for so-called acceptable or even desirable death grows thin. It’s that world, that culture, that group of people that is forced to deal with a growing number of isolated elderly.
All of us grow less autonomous and more needy with age. Words like “inconvenient” and “burden,” words used for decades to justify legalized abortion, are now being used for others. As Chuck Colson warned, a worldview that says we weren’t made on purpose but happened by accident ends with the conclusion that life isn’t beautiful anymore. Rather, it’s a numbers game that favors the strongest and the wealthiest.
The body of Christ has what the larger world needs if it to find a way to care for its aging population: the knowledge that all life is beautiful and valuable, even if it’s vulnerable. We’ll have to say that over and over, and we’ll have to live it too: There shouldn’t be a nursing home in the country not flooded with Christian neighbors during visiting hours.
On that foundation, we can develop plans for our aging parents that hold them as integral members of our families, not distant obligations. We must innovate ever better palliative care, and the Church must become the leading place in our world where multi-generational relationships are both fostered and celebrated.
Our kids, after all, are watching. One day, they’ll have to decide how much of a burden we are to them.
Jesus teaches on the Beatitudes.
INSIGHT
Love is the fundamental factor of all meaningful relationships. Love is an action — the action of selflessness, of esteeming others above ourselves. All interpersonal problems could be solved with a faithful, mutual expression of love.
Imagine what the world would be like if everyone acted in love. No war. No divorce. No AIDS. No murder. No rape. No tears.
Though Jesus knew that sin presently prevents perfect love, He held believers to a high standard of showing His love in this world: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
(Quiet Walk)
THE NAME OF GOD
I have manifested thy name… John 17:6
In Scripture the name always stands for the character; it represents what a person really is. Let me remind you of some of the names that are used for God in the Scriptures. God is given the name Jehovah-nissi—the Lord Our Banner—in Exodus 17:15. That is the name He revealed to the children of Israel after a great victory, a victory won not by their own strength, nor by their own military prowess, but because God enabled them to obtain the victory—the Lord Our Banner.
You and I have enemies to meet in this world—sin and temptation. The world is full of these subtle enemies, and behind them all is the devil himself with all his power. Do you know what it is to be attacked by him? Do you know, for example, what it is to have blasphemous thoughts insinuated into your minds? The saints of God have had to experience that. The devil hurls fiery darts, says Paul, and who are we to meet such a foe? We are small and weak and helpless, but thank God, we know One whose name is Jehovah-nissi, the Lord Our Banner, who can help us smite every foe and rout and conquer every enemy.
But let me give you another: Jehovah-shalom—The Lord Is Peace. That was the name by which God revealed Himself to Gideon. Gideon was fearful and unhappy, but God told him that He was Jehovah-shalom (Judges 6:24), and this is one of the most precious promises. It does not matter what kind of turmoil you are in or how heart-sore you may be. If you are beside yourself and cannot understand why things are happening to you, go to Him. He has promised to give you peace. Remember that noble statement in Hebrews 13:20, “…the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.” Jehovah-shalom—The Lord Is Peace—He makes peace with His people.
A Thought to Ponder: We know One whose name is Jehovah-nissi, the Lord Our Banner.
(From Safe in the World, pp. 46, 51-52, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
His Everlasting Arms
“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee.” (Deuteronomy 33:27)
The third verse of “I Am His, and He Is Mine” recalls former times of alarm, fear, and doubt, but testifies of the rest and peace in His love, cradled in the “everlasting arms” of the Savior.
Things that once were wild alarms Cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms, Pillowed on the loving breast!
O to lie forever here, Doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear—I am His and He is mine.
This verse reminds us of the evening when Jesus and His disciples were in a boat and a violent storm arose. They awoke Jesus from His sleep and cried, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38). Of course Jesus cared, for He loved them. So “he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still” (v. 39). To His disciples, He said, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (v. 40). The time would come when they would need that faith and peace. They would learn to rest in His loving care.
The song also reminds us of the special loving relationship between Jesus and the disciple John. “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). A deep intimacy with Him was John’s, and can be ours, if we will only pillow our head on Him. No passage expresses that intimacy as well as the Song of Solomon, using the analogy of husband and wife to reflect the self-sacrificing love between our Lord and His children. “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song of Solomon 6:3). The affairs of this life interrupt our times of intimacy with Him, but there will be a day when we will “ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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