Devotion - March 6, 2014 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:24-29 Teamed Up for Victory James Longstreet was one of the most capable and qualified corps commanders in the Civil War. He quickly rose to the rank of Lieutenant General, fighting valiantly and leading bravely. But James Longstreet rose to second in command to General Robert E Lee, fighting on the losing side of the Confederacy in the Civil War. It can be difficult for all of us to come to grips with who we are. In our natural condition just as human beings, we’re on the wrong side, the losing side, of a much more important conflict. The apostle Paul reminded us that we, just like the Colossian Christians, were at one time lined up as enemies of God. We were rebels, acting in spite against the Creator and Redeemer of the world. It doesn’t matter if we were doing it out of ignorance or willfully. We were actively opposing the good purposes of our God. We hear God’s law and we cover our ears. We learn of God’s commands and we pretend we are immune. We may be fighting bravely, but we’re fighting on the wrong side. That’s the beauty of learning from someone like James Longstreet. He survived the Civil War. Once peace was achieved he embraced the new reality of the reunited union, endorsing equal rights for African-Americans, and supporting reconstruction efforts to bring the former Confederacy back into the Union. That’s the beauty of your new status in Jesus Christ. In the body of Jesus Christ, you are reconciled to God. God has brought you over to the right side, the salvation side through the death of Jesus. Rather than embracing a political agenda, God embraces you as holy for the sake of his Son. Your former offenses no longer stick to you. Your tainted nature is not counted against you as the spiritual war criminal for which you deserve prosecution. You share in Christ’s victory. Now you too can strenuously contend to make known the glorious riches of Christ and God’s revealed wisdom of salvation! Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for your work of reconciling me to God through your sacrifice. I thank you also for all those who labor on the side of the gospel, for those who work to share your good news with me. Use me in service on your side so your gifts may come to many more souls. Amen.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:18:03 +0000
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