December 7, 2011 (Colossians 1-4)
From the Life Journal of Adam Proux:
Scripture: “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach; if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” Colossians 1:21-23 NASB
Observation: There are a couple of key words in this passage of scripture. The first being “formerly”. Paul was speaking to those in the church who had accepted Christ as savior and had been born again. They had formerly been alienated, hostile in mind and engaged in evil deeds, but since receiving Christ they had put all action such as this away. The second key word is “if”. Although we all have sins in our past we can expect Christ to present us before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach “if” we continue in this newness of life He gives. We must not be moved away from the hope of the gospel and return to a life of sin, but rather perservere in the faith and receive the prize of eternal life when our race is finished.
Application: Yesterdays faith is not sufficient for today’s battle. We must renew ourselves daily in God’s word. He is our strength, He is our provision, He is our protection and He is the only One we can put our hope in. To profess Christ at one point and then turn back into a life of sin, is to be like the fig tree Jesus cursed. It had leaves of profession but no fruit. We must continue to walk in the newness of life Christ has provided. When we accept Him as Savior and Lord, a lifestyle of sinfulness being alienated from God and hostile in mind should be the description of what we once were, not what we currently are. Our faith must be firmly established on God’s truth and we must be steadfast and not moved away from it.
Prayer: Dear Lord thank You for Your Spirit that fills us, comforts us, guides us, protects us, and leads us into all truth. Thank You for Jesus who strengthens us to overcome all the sinful temptations we ever face. It’s by His power and strength that we are able to persevere. Being connected to Him like a branch to a vine, He lives in us to strengthen us to overcome, just as He overcame! Father, I know You hold on to me, and through Christ’s strength, I’ll hold on to You, in Jesus name, Amen!