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I AM NOT DELUDED
“I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.”
Have you ever had the “wool pulled over your eyes;” in other words, someone lie to you? Perhaps they convinced you that something was true when it wasn’t. Or, that something was false when it was true. In the early church, even as today, there are those who try to dissuade us from believing in and following Christ Jesus. But, I am not deluded in Christ. Rather, my whole realm of understanding opens like a flower the more I plunge into the wealth of knowledge that comes through reading His Word. No, in Christ, I am not deluded. I am freed to think and meditate on the highest of concepts and realities that extend beyond what my eyes can see.
Heavenly Father, thank You that in Christ a wealth of knowledge and truth opens before me. I can come into Your presence through the Bible and sit and absorb knowledge that extends beyond the world’s reasonings. I can not only know truth, but experience truth in my inner man.
From If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
I HAVE CHRIST, IN WHOM ARE HIDDEN ALL the TREASURES of WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE
“Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Are you a seeker of hidden treasures? Hidden means “secret, stored up.” Treasures is the place in which good and precious thing are collected and laid up. Colossians 2:1-3 awakens us to understand that good and precious things are laid up, hidden, and stored in Christ. Bible commentator Wuest notes the following. “The force of this passage then is this: all, and not merely some of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are contained in Christ; therefore the search for them outside of Him is doomed to failure. But not only are they in Christ, but they are contained in a hidden way. Therefore they do not lie on the surface, but must be sought for earnestly, as men seek for hidden treasure. They are not matters of external observances, such as false teachers enjoined, but to be apprehended by deep and serious meditation.”
Heavenly Father, thank You for my salvation and for the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden in Christ. Help me increasingly seek His wisdom and knowledge through deep and serious meditation on Your Word.
From If God in In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
CHRIST’S POWER MIGHTILY WORKS WITHIN ME
“For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”
Does Christ’s power mightily work within you? It can. It should within each of us. The apostle Paul, who wrote these words was flesh and blood – just like us. What made him different was that he was “sold out” for Jesus. What does that mean? It means that he had an encounter with the living Christ and believed that Jesus was who He said He was; that nothing made more sense than committing his life to serving Christ. Paul said Christ’s power mightily worked within him. In this verse, working means “working efficiency, used only of superhuman power.” It is power in exercise. Our word energy is derived from this word. Mightily is power in the sense of natural inherent ability. Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament for the English Reader says, “The struggle is carried on in proportion, not to Paul’s natural powers, but to the mightily working energy of Christ within him.” Isn’t this exciting? The mighty working energy of Christ is in you if you’re a Christian. Perhaps if we’re spiritually impotent it’s because we’re living by our strength rather than Christ’s.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Christ’s Spirit and power which mightily works within the believer. Help me be ever sensitive to His Spirit and serve Him wholeheartedly.
I am COMPLETE in CHRIST
“We proclaim Him (Jesus), admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.”
Have you ever thought about how exciting it is that you are “complete in Christ”? So often, we feel anything but complete. There’s always another “step” for how to do something better or faster. Few people would say they complete their daily “to do” list. Personally, we may at times feel incomplete; that there’s something missing. However, the Bible teaches that we are positionally complete “in Christ.” In other words, there’s nothing more we can add to the completed work Christ did in securing our salvation. When He said from the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He meant it. The price for our redemption was paid in full. In Christ, we have everything we need for “life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3) What a joy it is to say with the apostle Paul, “we proclaim Him” as we grow in our knowledge of all we have in Christ.
Heavenly Father, I rejoice when I meditate on the gift of being complete in Christ. Help me increasingly grow in the knowledge of Christ and walk by His wisdom.
I am a TEACHER
“We proclaim Him (Jesus), admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom,…”
Do you think of teaching others about Jesus as only the job of a pastor or person who leads a Bible study? If so, you’re in for a joyful surprise: every Christian is a teacher. Matthew 28:18-19 Some of us may be actively engaged. Others of us may have fallen behind. Some of us may be good examples of what we teach. Others of us may speak one thing but live differently from our message. Those we teach are family. They’re neighbors and co-workers. What does it mean to “teach”? It means to “impart instruction, instill doctrine, explain, and expound.” To admonish means “to warn and exhort.” Teachers – preachers, parents, spouses, and friends – both warn and instruct others about Christ and His ways.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of teaching others about Jesus. Help me teach not only in words but by example.
from If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
I CARRY the HOPE of GLORY
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Several weeks ago my husband called me with the sad news that a friend had committed suicide. Unfortunately, his state of “hopelessness” is felt by many today. But what is the Christian’s message? It is that we have hope! It is a hope anchored in Christ. It is grounded in the reality that Christ is in us, and that in Him we have the hope of glory. It is not an illusive glory. Rather, we are to fix our eyes on the glory that awaits us, but also pray daily for Christ’s glorious presence to fill us. We are not as those who have no hope. Rather, every believer can lay hold of their identity; that they carry Christ within them, the hope of glory.
Heavenly Father, Thank you that my hope does not rest in how “good” I am today. Rather, my hope is in Christ, who resides in me and is the HOPE OF GLORY.
CHRIST IN ME
“God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Of all the ways the Bible describes our identity in Christ, there is none more profound than “Christ in you.” Can we ever fully grasped the reality that we are not only “sealed” with the Holy Spirit, but Christ’s Spirit is “IN us”? (John 14:7) The potential for a changed mind, heart, and life is ours because of the believer’s transforming “new birth.” (John 3:6-7) Paul stated it well when he used the words, “riches,” “glory,” “mystery,” “hope of glory.” Never let it be said that you or another person “can’t change.” No, not on our own, we can’t. But through the new birth and Christ is us, all hope abounds.
Heavenly Father, It is mind boggling and glorious to think on Christ being in me. Help me never take His presence for granted, but rather honor Him and yield to His guidance day by day.
From “If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?”
POSSESSOR of a GLORIOUS MYSTERY
“God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
When Paul referred to his message as a “mystery manifested,” it was a direct confrontation to false teachers who wooed people from the simplicity of the gospel. False teachers urged people to add to their faith “fullness of knowledge.” They claimed only a select few could experience fullness of knowledge, and it was only available through the mystical experience they offered. However, rather than secretive, Paul explains that God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of the mystery. What is the glorious mystery once hidden but now revealed? The mystery is the birth of the church. The mystery is God unitying Jews and Gentiles into one body in Christ. The mystery is Christ in the believer. Now that’s a mystery to rejoice in and share!
Heavenly Father, what a glorious mystery You have give me by which to live and share!
From “If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?”
I AM GOD’S STEWARD
“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit…”
In 2013 we looked at the many ways in which the Bible describes God. This year, we’re looking at how Christians are described. In Colossians 1:25, the apostle Paul refers to himself as a steward of God. A steward was one to whom the head of the house entrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant. The New Testament repeatedly describes God as the head of the household (believers). And, it describes believers as God’s stewards, who are to serve Him by using the gifts He has given us. Consider what 1 Peter 4:10 says: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Paul writes to believers, “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” His exhortation to the Corinthian believers continues to us, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” 1 Cor 4:1-2. Our identity in Christ begs us to examine ourselves. Are we simply happy that we’re saved? Or, are we humbly serving the One who saved us?
Heavenly Father, help me be ever mindful that You, as my Head, have entrusted gifts to me to use in Your household. May I be a faithful steward.
I Am MINISTER of the GOOD NEWS
“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit…”
“Oops, Debbie. I think you made a mistake in saying that all Christians are ministers,” some might comment. However, would you consider what the Bible says about believers? 1 Corinthians 12:4 and 6 state, “Now there are a variety of gifts, but the same Spirit; and “to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” In addition, Jesus commissioned us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;” Matthew 28:19-20. One of the definitions of “minister” is “servant of the king.” Certainly, all believers fall in that category! We are servants of the KING! Who do we serve? Christ. How? By taking the good news of salvation to those who don’t know Him and then “teaching them to observe all that He commanded.” Paul understood that he was a minister. Do we?
Heavenly Father, what a precious privilege to be called to minister in Your name. Help me serve You well!
from If God is In Control, Why Am I a Basket Case?
