He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

 Colossians 1:15-23

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17

I return to my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today my focus is Colossians 1:15-23, where Paul, as part of broader effort to exhort the church at Colosse to defend itself against false teaching, shares how God reigns over all, and how believers are now reconciled to Him and justified in His eyes.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V15: He is the firstborn of Creation - meaning He existed before all other things. V16: All things were created by Him, through Him, and for Him - with the latter meaning that all visible (governing authorities) and invisible (Satan) things exist for His purpose and to manifest His glory.  V17: He is before all things - meaning that in timing/sequence and in authority (He is first), and He holds all things together - meaning that at His direction things can cease to exist and or function.  V18: He leads and is head of the church and He is preeminent. V19: The fullness of God exists in Christ the Son - tying back to v15 where Paul states that Christ is "[t]he image of the invisible God." V19: God is pleased to reside in Christ.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv20-21: God reconciles all things to Himself - without God people remain separated from Him, enslaved and living in sin, hostile to Him.  Vv22-23: Believers are justified, blameless, and not guilty in His eyes - above reproach (discredit, disgrace) IF we "continue in the faith" and avoid "shifting from the hope of the gospel." 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid shifting from the hope of the gospel, either by placing Your hope in things above God, or by allowing anxiety or discouragement to overcome you.  Claim the promise that - as a believer - you are holy, blameless and above reproach before God.  Follow the example of Paul to continue in the faith, and to be stable and steadfast in this faith.

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation, for reconciling me to You, and for justifying me as holy, blameless, and above approach before You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

John 17:26

I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:26

Today, I pause my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon - to listen to DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion - which today looks at how we can experience the same love of Jesus the Son that God the Father loves Jesus the Son - an incredible concept!  The highlighted text is a prayer from Jesus where He prays the love of the Father to the Son be in us.  In the devotion, Piper challenges us to "imagine being able to enjoy what is most enjoyable with unbounded energy and passion forever."  He then shares three obstacles to such an endeavor while at the same time, reminds us that these obstacles will fall away if the prayer is answered....and one expects that it would be given Jesus is aligned with the Father in desires, will, etc.  Based on the promise of this prayer, and how this promise will come true, we then see the connection to the title of the devotion - Joy Unbound.  If the same love from the Father to the Son is in us and Jesus is in us (via the Holy Spirit), then we experience and inexhaustible joy and pleasure in God.  Let that sink in - Jesus is our greatest treasure, He is more than enough to "meet the deepest longings of our hearts," we have more than enough "strength to savor" Jesus completely as our treasure, and given our salvation, we get to experience this treasure forever.  Incredible indeed!

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You praying that I experience the same love from the Father to the Son, for living in me, for my salvation, and for the mercies that never cease and that are new every morning.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

[T]he Father...has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 Colossians 1:1-14

[T]he Father...has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14

I return to my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I move from Philippians to Colossians, where Paul seeks to encourage the young church (which he did not found nor had he ever been) and to defend against false teaching.  "Colosse’s mixed population of Jews and Gentiles, [which] manifested itself both in the composition of the church and in the heresy that plagued it, which contained elements of both Jewish legalism and pagan mysticism.*"  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv10, 12: God is the most infinitely valuable - above anything else and He is our treasure, worthy of all praise, honor, glory, and worship.  He has "qualified [believers] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."  This is a rich inheritance indeed!  Vv13-14: God "has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son."  For more on this deliverance from enslavement to sin - see also Romans 6:6, and 17-20.  This deliverance gives us freedom from sin (justification in His eyes) and eternal life.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V3: Paul thanks God for other believers - this is a blessing of which we should often remind ourselves.  Our brothers and sisters in Christ worship and serve along side us - sharpening and encouraging us in our walk with Christ.  God designed us and intends for us to love, worship and serve God together - from the very beginning when God provided Eve to Adam saying in Genesis 2:18 that "[i]t is not good that the man should be alone[.]" Vv4-8: Paul encourages the young church, acknowledging their understanding of Truth and emphasizing "[their] love in the Spirit."  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to guard against heresy and avoid falling victim to false teaching that leads us astray from Him.  We are claim the promise that we have a rich inheritance in Christ that gives us victory over sin and death.  We should follow the example of Paul who understood the importance of our brothers and sisters in Christ and to encourage (including prayer) and sharpen one another in our spiritual wisdom and understanding of Him.  Walk in a manner worthy of Christ. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and for redeeming me and filling me with the "knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding."  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

*The MacArthur Bible Commentary 

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me....And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

 Philippians 4:10-23

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me....And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:11-13,19

I return to my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Philippians 4:10-23 where Paul completes his letter to the church in Philippi by thanking them for their physical and emotional/spiritual support.  Core to Paul's message is his exhortation that we are fully dependent on God to provide for all our needs and He never lets us down.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv13,19: God provides for all our needs, He strengthens and equips us through the Holy Spirit (the same power that raised Jesus from the dead), who never leaves and forsakes us and lives in our hearts.  With and through Him, we are indeed rich beyond measure.  See Romans 8:11, Matthew 6:31-33, and Ephesians 1:18. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv11-12: Paul describes how, through Christ, he is able to be content regardless of the circumstances - whether it be during periods of abundance or during periods of "hunger...[and] need." This same exhortation - that believers be content regardless of the circumstances - is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18.  Our conditions and circumstances may ebb and flow but God never changes and He is our rock, He provides for all of our needs, and we can put our trust and faith in Him as He is faithful. See also Malachi 3:6, Psalm 119:89, Matthew 24:35, and 2 Corinthians 1:20. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid lacking faith and trust in Him to provide - do not be anxious.  Claim the promises that regardless of our circumstances, God will provide, He loves us, our salvation is sealed/guaranteed, He never changes, and that He is faithful.  Follow the example of Paul to be content no matter what.  Repent of your sins, and put your faith and trust in Him.   

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation, for providing for my every need, for never leaving or forsaking me, and for being my rock!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with[fn] every secret thing, whether good or evil.

 Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:14

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with[fn] every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:11-14

I pause my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ecclesiastes 11:7–12:14 - text to be discussed tomorrow morning with my Friday AM study group.  Solomon exhorts us to flee from pursuits of earthly knowledge and wisdom and instead to fear God, and to know, love, and serve Him. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  Vv11:7-10: God is Creator of all and He gives us the natural world to enjoy and the vitality of our youth to experience it with vigor.  Yet our pursuit to enjoy our youth is tempered by the fact that God is watching us, holding us to account, and the implication of v10 is that our youthful pursuits do nothing to fulfill our Godly purpose.  This is made more clear in Vv12:1-8 where Solomon (the author) urges us to "remember also your Creator in the days of your youth."  Ultimately, all of us will be called Home to Heaven in death (and resurrection) or Jesus will return and all of the created world will pass away and only the New Jerusalem will exist.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People pursue many things in life - yet believers are urged to focus on God first and foremost - Vv12:11-14.  For Solomon, he witnessed how many pursued knowledge and wisdom yet few recognized how all knowledge and wisdom is sourced from God - see also 12:11 and Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10.  Solomon instead urged everyone to "beware of anything beyond" God - we are called to "[f]ear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."  This is critical because - again - ultimately all of us will be held accountable to God for whether we repented of sin and accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, and if so, how we used our spiritual gifts for His glory.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid earthly pursuits above God - we should not be making such pursuits an idol. Claim the promise that God will both save and judge us.  We should follow the example of those who fear God as the beginning of wisdom.  Fear, know, love and serve God. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving me Your Word as means to know, love, and serve You.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor how You give me Your Word and pour out mercies and blessings daily for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 Philippians 4:1-9

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5b-7

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Philippians 4:1-9 where Paul encourages us to "not be anxious about anything," to experience the "peace of God...which surpasses all understanding, [as this] will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3: God maintains a Book of Life, where the names of those who are saved are recorded since the creation of the world.  He is sovereign over who is saved. See also Exodus 32:32-33, and Revelation 13:8, 17:8, 20:11-15. We also know from elsewhere in scripture how the Holy Spirit seals and guarantees our salvation - see also Ephesians 1:13–14 and 2 Corinthians 1:21–22. V7: God gives us a peace that surpasses understanding that will guard our hearts and minds - yet another cause to rejoice!
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv1-3: Conflict and disagreement exists in the church - this is inevitable - Paul encourages us in these circumstances to help overcome disagreement and conflict as church unity is very important.  V4: In light of how believers are in the Book of Life, this is certainly cause to rejoice!  V5: We are called to be reasonable, so much so, that others note how reasonable we are - we don't know the hour or the day when Jesus will return or we will be called home so we should not fall away nor should we not be ready. V6: We are also called to not be anxious and to pray.  Vv8-9: Paul's final call in the text today is for us to think about and pursue what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent (in God's eyes) - God will renew our minds to think and act like Him if we hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Paul shares how we are to model him as an example (not out of vanity but from love for their sake).   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should avoid as best as possible conflict and disagreement in the church, particularly with regards to inconsequential matters.  Claim the promise that the peace of God will guard your heart and mind.  Follow Paul's example and think of and pursue righteousness.  

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation and for giving me a peace that surpasses understanding.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

 Philippians 3:12-21

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Philippians 3:12-21 where Paul encourages believers to press on, focusing on things eternal and not on "earthly things."  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V12: Christ made us His own - when we accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, He adopted us into His family, heirs to the riches of Christ.  See also Ephesians 1:5, Galatians 4:4–7, Romans 8:15–17, John 1:12, and 1 John 3:1. V14: God calls us "upward," to Heaven, to focus on things eternal vs of the flesh and of "earthly things" (v19).  Vv20-21: Jesus is in Heaven, sitting at the right hand of God, reigning over all things, and He is returning to bring about the final destruction of sin and death - and we already know this victory is assured.  On this day, or upon death, we will be glorified and transformed by the same "power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V12: God calls us to claim His promises that come with resurrection - all of which come to pass - see also 2 Corinthians 1:20.  V13: We are called also to press on and not look behind to our former selves where were slaves to sin and trapped in shame, etc. Vv14-16: We must recognize what we have attained - now and for eternity.  This calls us both upward and forward in spiritual maturity.  V17: Paul shares how we have Him and other believers as examples.  Vv18-19: We also have examples of who not to follow - those who trust in the flesh and have their "minds set on earthly things." V20: Believers are not just adopted into His family but also citizens of Heaven and that is where our focus should be - on things eternal where we await the day when we are called home in death or when end times arrive and Jesus defeats sin and death for the final time.  V21: Ultimately, we will be transformed - glorification - to be like Him and to see and fellowship with Him face-to-face for eternity.   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We are to avoid setting our minds (too much focus where we treat them as a god) on earthly things that we know will pass away.  We are to claim the promise that God is saving a place for us in Heaven and upon that day (glorification) we will become like Him and fellowship with Him for eternity - this is the goal we should pursue and continue to press on until we reach this goal.  We should follow the example of Paul and other saints that have pressed on with an eternal focus - press on!

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my salvation, for adopting me into Your family, and for saving a place for me in Heaven, which is my true home.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.