(Colossians 2:8-23) See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
(Colossians 3:1-11) Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Reminder: "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that we do not set our minds on earthly things (3:2)
- that we put aside anger, wrath and evil intent (3:8)
- that we do not slander or speak abusively (3:8)
- that we do not lie (3:9)
- that we are not distracted or deceived into listening to, or practicing, or believing in empty philosophies or wrong doctrines (2:8, 16-19)
- that we do not become legalistic, thinking that we have to live by do's and don'ts (2:20-22)
- that we are not to judge or be judged by others as to ethical standards set by people, but we are to look to Christ and the Bible for our standards and judgment (2:16-17)
- that as believers, we should consider our flesh dead to sin (3:5)
- that we put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge of Christ who created us (3:10)
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for saving us from ourselves. Thank You for saving us from Your wrath. Thank You for dying for our sins, so that our sins may forever be forgiven as soon as we put our faith in You. Thank You for rising again so that we can have new life in You, and eternal security. Thank You for changing us from the inside out.
Help us to realize that as we confess the sins which we struggling with, that You are faithful and will deliver us from its grip. Help us to realize that the things of this earth are not important. Convict our hearts to put aside our sinful desires. Guide us to continually seek after You, and the things which please You. Amen.
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