August 30, Colossians 1-4

What a great place to start in reading through the Bible. This is a plan from Michelle's church. This is one of my fave NT books.
IOUS
1.11c - "patience with joy" How rarely I have patience - than hardly ever patience with joy. To be under pressure, a weight that I can't bear. And to be joyful about it - is another story. Both are fruits of the Spirit.
1.12 -The Father has qualified me. I had no part in it whatsoever.
1.13c, 14 - Jesus: redemption - the forgiveness of sings. Again, not by anything we can merit, it is a gift.
1.15-22 - This is one of Paul's many Christ hymns - what a great look at Jesus:
1. Image of the invisible God
2. Firstborn of all creation - authority
3. Created all things (through and FOR him)
4. Holds all things together (even when I think they are falling apart)
5. Head of the body (church), see 2.10
6. The beginning (Gen 1.1, John 1.1)
7. Firstborn from the dead
8. Preeminent (is He really in my life?)
9. The fullness of God dwells in Him - actually it is pleased to dwell - great reminder of His baptism.
10. Reconciler of all things (Phil 2.10, 11, v 22)
11. Peacemaker through the cross
1.25c - "to make the Word of God fully known" - in everything, not just my teaching on Wed nights. (Weight, house, attitude, giving, debt, free time, etc)
1.27 - to the Gentiles - Christ in you - riches of His glory, hope of Glory - HIM WE PROCLAIM
Paul even struggled with His energy, But just like Paul it is powerfully working in me. It is not my own.
2.6 - As you have received (if you are a believer in Jesus): so walk, be rooted in Him, established in the faith, abounding in thanksgiving
2.13-14 - Oh what powerful verses. Great ones to memorize, meditate upon, and preach: "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This (referring to the record of debt) he set aside, NAILING IT TO THE CROSS!"
3.1 - If then...seek. Nuf said
3.4 - When Christ...who is your life. Can that be said about me? Is Christ my life? What would have to change in my life to make Christ my life?
3.5 - Impurity and covetousness, anger, slander, obscene talk
3.10 - New self - being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator (Rom 12.2)
4.3-6 - Good verse to pray for missionaries that I know. Make good use of your time, Kim.

It amazing how many times I have read this book and still get new stuff from the reading of it. It is also cool to see how all the Bible works together - it never contradicts itself. It is perfect!