Colossians 2:6, 7 - How To Live In Christ.
Colossians 2:6, 7 - How To Live In Christ.
Colossians 2:6, 7 (NIV) So then, just as you received Christ
Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with
thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6, 7 (TEV) Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as
Lord, live in union with him. 7 Keep your roots deep in him, build
your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were
taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6, 7 (TLB) And now just as you trusted Christ to
save you, trust him, too, for each day's problems; live in vital
union with him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him and draw up
nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become
strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives
overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done.
BY FAITH
How did you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior? By faith. And
that is exactly how you grow into maturity - by faith. Through faith
you depend upon God's Spirit to mold you into the image of Christ.
[Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley re Col. 2:6]
How did you - a sinner - enter into a friendship with a holy
God? What brought the two of you together? Was it dedication on your
part? Was it a result of your unceasing effort? Of course not! You
entered it by faith. And nothing has changed.
"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith,
as you have been taught" (Col. 2:6, 7).
We are not the first generation of Christians who have tried
to take matters into our own hands; the early church had the same
problem. It's part of fallen human nature to want to maintain control, to
do things ourselves. When it comes to righteousness, whether for
salvation or for living, we must allow God to do the work.
The Spirit-filled life is a life of faith. It started by
faith and it runs on faith. It is faith from start to finish.
Then we believed that Jesus saved us from the guilt of sin;
now we must believe that He saves us from the power of sin. Then we
trusted Him for forgiveness and it became ours; now we must trust Him
for righteousness and it shall become ours also. Then we took Him as
a Savior from the penalties of our sins; now we must take Him as a
Savior from the bondage of our sins. Then He lifted us out of the pit;
now He seats us in heavenly places with Himself.
The Bible never makes a distinction between the faith that
saved us from the penalty of sin, once and for all, and the faith that
saves us from the power of sin, every day. It is all the same.
So what is faith? Faith is believing that God will do as He
has promised. Faith is not a power or something we're supposed to
drum up inside ourselves. Faith is trusting that God will honor His
promises. That's all there is to it. We are to go about our lives, making
decisions, handling crises, raising our families, and so on, knowing God
will do what He said He would do. [Life Principles SB By Charles
Stanley re Col. 2:6, 7]
BY LOOKING UNTO JESUS
Helmut Thielicke tells the story of a time when Otto von
Bismarck looked at a heroic portrait of himself and asked, "Is that how I
am supposed to look? That's not me." On an opposite wall, he saw a
picture of the disciple Peter walking on water and sinking beneath the
waves. Pointing to it, Bismarck said, "That's me."
If the "Iron Chancellor" who united Germany could feel that
way, what about you and me? Sometimes we may appear strong and in
control, yet we're deeply worried about how vulnerable we are. We look at
the waves coming at us and get that sinking sensation.
Peter was full of bravado when he saw Jesus walking on the
water and asked if he could too. He stepped out of the boat with his
eyes on his Lord and started walking.
What went wrong?
Peter took his eyes off the Lord. Instead, looking at the
roiling waves under his feet, he felt fear.
Life has plenty of wind-whipped waves that rush at us. Mostly
they break harmlessly at our feet, but some rise high and can soak us
or even plunge us into the depths. The truth is; we could catalog
an endless list of "what ifs."
When Jesus told us not to have an anxious spirit, he was
doing more than merely offering stress-avoidance advice. He wanted us
to know that, when we keep our eyes on him instead of looking at
the threatening waves, we are safe despite the sting of the spray.
When Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink, Jesus
seized him and rescued him. Peter's faith was small and easily shaken,
yet, writes Thielicke, "This minimum is sufficient for Jesus Christ
to enter the picture and enfold him in his rescuing arms. For Jesus
Christ is greater than our faith." [The One Year Book of Encouragement
by Harold Myra re vs. 7]
BY THANKSGIVING
Rivers and streams overflow when the rains are either intense
or persistent. The amount of water running into them is greater
than the capacity of their banks. We overflow with thanksgiving when
God's mercies and blessings fill us up. The amount of favor being
poured into us is greater than the capacity of our hearts. When we
realize the size of God's generosity, we can't help but be grateful.
But how do we let our lives overflow with thanksgiving when
we feel dry and dusty? What if we're going through a season of
lack? That's when gratitude is the last thing on our minds. We know we
should be grateful to God; He has saved us and blessed us with many
spiritual blessings. But the burdens we bear and the needs we have tend to
outweigh the memory of His favor. In the absence of a tangible or recent
touch from Him, we lament our difficult situations. We may even
grumble about them.
Gratitude is a matter of perspective. The road back to it can
begin with a conscious choice to notice what God has given. Even the
basics - breath, a roof over our heads, the last meal we ate - are
worth appreciating. We can thank Him for the things He has provided
that He didn't have to or for things that haven't happened to us but
could have. In every situation, there is something to be grateful for.
When we find it and express it, our faith and gratitude increase. The
attitude seems to have a positive snowball effect in our hearts.
Choose gratitude. Find something to give thanks for, and then
say so. Out loud. The more you do, the more your life begins to
overflow.
Father, You are worthy of a heart that overflows with
thanksgiving toward You. When I think of all You have done and put it in
perspective, I'm filled with gratitude. You have filled me up. Help me always
remember to express my thanks. [The One Year Experiencing God's Presence
Devotional by Chris Tiegreen re vs. 7]
BY DEPENDENCE ON JESUS
Living in dependence on Me is a glorious adventure. Most
people scurry around busily, trying to accomplish things through their
own strength and ability. Some succeed enormously; others fail
miserably. But both groups miss what life is meant to be: living and
working in collaboration with Me.
When you depend on Me continually, your whole perspective
changes. You see miracles happening all around, while others see only
natural occurrences and "coincidences." You begin each day with joyful
expectation, watching to see what I will do. You accept weakness as a gift
from Me, knowing that My Power plugs in most readily to consecrated
weakness. You keep your plans tentative, knowing that My plans are far
superior. You consciously live, move, and have your being in Me, desiring
that I live in you. I in you and you in Me. This is the intimate
adventure I offer you. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Acts 17:28; Colossians
2:6-7; John 14:20 [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Musical Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
LINKS FOR PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Today Series by Pastor John Bradshaw:
https://revelationtoday.com/other-streams/
Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
