Worth Considering…A Thought for Today Equipped for the Journey “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” – Colossians 2:6-10 (ESV). “Therefore” at the beginning of today’s focal verses signals that we should look back to what the Apostle Paul wrote just previous to this statement to know the context of his urging the Christian readers at Colosse to “walk in Christ, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith.” He writes lovingly that he is concerned about believers at Laodicea whom he has not seen “face to face.” That means that some did not benefit first-hand from Paul’s visit to a church and his instruction while present. He wants all to be encouraged in heart, and to grow in “firmness in faith in Jesus Christ” (Colossians 2:5). How can one be equipped for the journey, the Christian walk? Foundationally, always remember how you first decided to follow Christ, to be committed to Him. That initial belief is the rooting and grounding, the way a lifestyle of follow-ship begins. And remember what you have been taught (and the implication also is on what you have studied for yourself). But beware of false doctrine—philosophies of the world, deceitful teachings, traditions that may not be godly. Seek to be “filled with Him,” the Spirit of the living God, for He promised if we would seek Him and His way, we would find the way to walk. And moreover, Paul said, we are to walk in this way “abounding in thanksgiving” (2:7). Maybe the teachers who helped you most in your early Christian life to learn how to study and appreciate the Bible, how to pray and how to live the Christian life are themselves already gone on to Heaven. But you can thank God for their influence on your life, and you can emulate their example. For knowledge of the Christian way is passed from one to another by those who are faithful in example and in teaching. And now it is our turn, first to be found faithful, walking in the Christian way equipped with what we need for the journey, and sharing what we know with others. And all this we do with a sense of gratitude. Thus “rooted…built up…established”…we can have an exemplary life in Christ, reminiscent of what the psalmist wrote about in Psalm 1:3: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” Prayer: Lord, help us to consider how we are rooted in the faith. Help us to be built up and established, and ever so grateful that we can walk, equipped for the journey with You. -Ethelene Dyer Jones 01.17.2015
Posted on: Sat, 17 Jan 2015 13:38:51 +0000
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