Bible Study Snacks - Colossians 1:1-28

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! Thank you for joining me again as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!

This week, we will begin a new study on the Book of Colossians. These studies are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) See the relationship between understanding the grace of God and bearing fruit.
2) Examine Paul's prayer for the Colossians for the keys to successful Christian living.
3) Appreciate the preeminence of Christ in creation and our redemption.

For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically Colossians 1:1-28:

Paul begins with his customary salutation followed by an expression of thanksgiving and prayer. Hearing of their condition from Epaphras, he is thankful for their faith, love, and hope (Colossians 1:1-8). His prayer is that they be filled with the knowledge of God's will, walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, strengthened by God's glorious power, and ever thankful that the Father has qualified them to be partakers of the saints' inheritance. This, even more so, since they were delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's precious Son, where there is redemption and forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:9-14).

He then introduces the theme of this epistle, which is the preeminence and all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ our Savior. Paul first proclaims the preeminence of Christ in creation, and then His preeminence in redemption (Colossians 1:15-20). The Colossians' own conversion is offered as a case in point in reference to the latter, and with a warning for them to remain steadfast (Colossians 1:21-23).

The chapter ends with Paul's description of his ministry, in which he gladly suffered on behalf of Christ and His church. He views himself as a steward entrusted with a wonderful "mystery." which is being made known after having been hidden for ages. This "mystery" pertains to the Gentiles, and how Christ would be in them (Colossians 1:24-27). Paul therefore worked diligently to preach Christ, with the goal of presenting every man perfect in Him (Colossians 1:28-29).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) Who joins Paul in the salutation of this epistle? (Colossians 1:1)?
2) What three things had Paul heard about the Colossians, for which he gave thanks? (Colossians 1:3-5)
3) How long had the gospel been bringing forth fruit in their lives? (Colossians 1:6)
4) Who had informed Paul of their condition? (Colossians 1:8)
5) List four things for which Paul prayed concerning the Colossians  (Colossians 1:9-11)
6) Into what have we been translated? (Colossians 1:13)
7) What does one enjoy in Christ? (Colossians 1:14)
8) List five things which illustrate Christ's preeminence in creation (Colossians 1:15-17)
9) List four things which illustrate Christ's preeminence in redemption (Colossians 1:18-20)
10) What was the former condition of the Colossians? How were they changed? (Colossians 1:21-22)
11) Upon what condition would they be presented as holy, blameless and irreproachable? (Colossians 1:22-23)
12) What is said about the "mystery" which has been hidden? (Colossians 1:26)
13) What is the glorious nature of this "mystery?" (Colossians 1:27)
14) What was Paul's goal in preaching Christ? (Colossians 1:28)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

The Only True Wisdom

"One becomes competent and expert as far as the orders in life are concerned only if one begins from knowledge of God."  - Gerhard von Rad

We live in very exciting times!. New innovations are presented to the world practically everyday. It wasn't that long ago that smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube didn't exist. Whoever thought that taxi companies would be threatened by growing ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft?

The hospitality industry is feeling the heat from Airbnb, and even the automobile industry has taken notice of the development of autonomous (driverless) cars! Wearable techno patches and sensors that now can monitor a person’s heart rate, body temperature and other vital signs; or using 3-D printers to produce artificial body parts are just a few promising new innovations in health care.

You have to admit, this is all pretty amazing! Some of these have now become so common place, that it's difficult to imagine how we ever got along without them! Humans have always been good at looking beyond a problem and ascertaining a solution. We use our wisdom to cope with everyday demands, decisions, issues, and whatever opportunities that might come our way.

However, as much as our human wisdom has served us, it is not without its limits. Our constant searching for more is infinite and futile, if it all starts and ends with what we ourselves know. Does our self-proclaimed wisdom help us when we are confronted with death, pain, or the meaning of life? When dreams crumble, or we suffer loss does wisdom help us then?

Frankly, there are some things that we simply just don't know enough about. True wisdom cannot be found in any of the usual places, either. If you're waiting for science or technology to discover wisdom through research and development, then I'm afraid you'll be waiting a long time. How about with age? Does it come as one grows older? Can we buy true wisdom? If you're thinking is anywhere along these lines, you're not alone.

So, where does wisdom come from? Where can understanding and the ability to deal with life's hills and valleys be found? Only God knows. The author of the Book of Job tells us as much (Job 28:23-24). Do you remember Job's dire situation and suffering? Even before Job received the ultimate answer from God, he came upon the truth himself.

God sees the entire picture, where we can only catch fleeting glimpses of this or that. Like Job, we are brought down a notch, or two when we realize that this is true in whatever we face. How is it that God can see so perfectly? Job hit the nail on the head when he said that God created the world; he set everything up, and he looked at wisdom and appraised it (Job 28: 24-27). The writer of Proverbs mentions this, as well (Proverbs 3:19).

This of course makes perfect sense. After all, God is the creator of this world; and is intimately familiar with everything in it. Didn't he create you and I? Doesn't he wisely work in your life bringing all things together for his purposes? Do you doubt that he knows what he's doing?

Let's return to the question: "Where does wisdom come from?" It's the same question that was brought up by Job, and is answered in Job 28:28. True wisdom is found in God alone. To obtain this wisdom requires a few things on our part. We must confess our ignorance and trust God. This means we can't depend on our own human understanding.

It also requires faith in God. Life isn't always logical. When things get unstable and chaotic we must learn to trust that God has a plan. And, that plan requires faith on our part, or it won't work. Obedience, trust, and belief (faith) work together in order to obtain the Lord's wisdom.

Those who choose not to believe cannot receive divine wisdom. God revealed his wisdom to the world, but the world didn't accept it. They turned him down (1 Corinthians 2:6-8). On the cross we saw the wisdom of God personified in Jesus Christ. The Jews of the day wanted to see a display of strength and power. The Greeks looked for wisdom and magnificence, but saw only foolishness in Jesus.

However, to everyone whom God has summoned, Jews, Gentiles, you and I, Jesus represents both the power and wisdom of God. Humanity badly needed saving. Something was needed to help us with our sinfulness. God gave us Jesus on the cross as the greatest expression of his supreme wisdom. And, only by trusting in Jesus, can our spiritual eyes be opened to the full wisdom of God.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:7; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Ezra 7:25; 1 Kings 3:28; Ecclesiastes 2:26

Prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Amen   -Reinhold Neibuhr, 1892-1971

May God bless you!

MaryAnne

Video - Charlotte Gambill: The Miracle in the Middle

Charlotte Gambill, he co-pastor of Life Church in England talks about the tough times in the “middle” parts of life and offers encouragement to persevere through the power of Christ. Insightful message!  ~Eve

Taking God for Granted?

"How quickly we forget God's great deliverances in our lives. How easily we take for granted the miracles he performed in our past."   - David Wilkerson

We take much for granted in our lives. Need proof? Here are a few examples: eating, smoking, drinking too much, not getting enough sleep and exercise, etc. These things affect our physical and mental well-being. While we're at it, let's not leave out taking our spouses, families, and friends for granted, too.

You might recognize these symptons under different names, such as: complacency, apathy, unresponsiveness, being unemotional and/or unconcerned. No matter how you slice it, taking things for granted seems to be an attitude that affects all of us at some point. We don't think about them until something goes wrong.

Sometimes, it's easy to take God for granted as well. In his book, Flecks of Gold on a Path of Stone: Simple Truths for Profound Living, Craig D. Lounsbrough says, “God would have us cherish even the smallest of blessings, for in taking a blessing for granted we are well on our way to taking it to its grave.”

By taking God for granted, whether intentionally or not, we are sending the message that we are unthankful; and not giving him the full praise that he so rightly deserves. The Pharisees were good examples of this. They took the lillies of the field for granted (Matthew 6:28). They took it for granted that if a woman was caught in sin, the proper God-appointed thing to do was to stone her to death (John 8:5-7).

Fortunately, the Lord was not like this in that he never took common things for granted. He considered everything under the same light; both the usual and the uncommon. He could see the glory of the mundane, whether it was the sinning woman, the sparrow, or the mustard seed. All were equally glorious in his sight.

One of the major faults in humanity is the ease in which we can take things for granted, including God. In fact, it is very contagious and can spread quickly if we are not diligent. However, God is never guilty of this. He never takes us for granted.

It wouldn't hurt to try and imitate him in this respect. Always remember that whatever we possess came from God. We should do no less than love the Lord our God more than all else. We should never let anyone or anything steer us toward becoming complacent, or into neglecting Him. Let us never take God for granted!

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Psalm 136:1; Job 1:21; Hebrews 12:28; James 1:17

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the blessings that you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. Lord. I also pray that you always remind me of  how lucky I am, and that I never forget to show my gratitude to you. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Valleree

In Despair..? Let God Take Charge!

"I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about?" - Henry Ford

Okay, who among us has never felt discouraged about something? Discouragement in life can cause problems if we let it. It can play tricks with our minds and make us see only the bad, while forgetting about all of the good.

Someone once said that discouragement is "dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future." It can also literally suck the very life out of us if we allow it to. I don't have to tell you that life is difficult, and everyday is a battle!

The Israelites in Egypt had been on the receiving end of some pretty harsh treatment by the Pharoah. God had been working through Moses to deliver them from their predicament (Exodus 6:5). They had expected a quick reprieve from their troubles. But, instead, the Pharoah became even more adamant. The Israelites' discouragement increased; believing their situation worsened because of Moses' interference,

They had lost trust in Moses, whom they felt had mislead them (Exodus 6:9). Meanwhile, a deep, "anguish of spirit" gripped their souls, and the daily "cruel bondage" they were subjected to didn't leave them much time, or desire, to listen to Moses anymore. They had, in essence, lost all heart as a result of their disillusionment with him.

Compared to the way they felt when Moses had first spoken to them in Exodus 4:31, the Israelites were feeling hopeless, and dejected. And, who could blame them? Why, even  Moses' faith was a little rattled! He probably would have given up if God hadn't spoken to him, and convinced him to revisit the Israelites, and put more pressure on the Pharoah for their release (Exodus 6:10-11).

Things were looking grim. The Israelites were ready to give up because they hit a wall: the stubborn Pharoah. Moses was frustrated because he didn't get immediate results. Both parties lost sight of the fact that nothing worthwhile in life comes easy. However, in the middle of  everything they had overlooked something of even greater importance.

God was working behind the scenes all the time, but they were too wrapped up in their own drama to see that. They had forgotten the most important factor going in their favor; God was working on their problem!

In times of anguish and discouragement, God is working silently along side of us. You don't have to drown in despair, or let discouragement swallow you up. Put your trust in God's hands! By doing so, He will work hard to bring you through whatever storm you may be facing.

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11; Proverbs 3:5-6; Joshua 1:9; 1 Peter 5:7; Romans 15:13

Prayer: Dear Lord, may you give me the strength and courage I need when faced with seemingly overwhelming troubles. In You I always place my trust to see me through. Amen

May your day be blessed!

Alexa

Deepening Faith - Volume 1: Number 7: Dwelling Place for the Divine Presence

"Even in the seemingly boring rules and regulations of tabernacle rituals... God's concern for justice permeated every part of Israel's life. It should also permeate our lives."  - Timothy Keller

The tabernacle of Moses was a movable temple. It was the original form of Divine worship. The Jews recognized the mandates of the tabernacle, and of the entire Levitical service, as divinely appointed ordinances; therefore being perpetually obligated to them. It served as a sacred place where God chose to meet His people, and where the leaders and people came together to worship and offer sacrifices.

The tabernacle symbolized something old and sacred, and was uncontaminated by idolatry. There is mention, in this chapter, of the attributes and furniture of the tabernacle, which conveyed soley Divine ideas. It's true that Moses was, as we say, the "master of the works," but the plan was of Divine origin; as it was endowed by him who sees and knows all.

The exterior was decent, beautiful, and glorious, as is apparent by its description in Exodus 26:1-37. After all, it was fashioned after God’s own template. Yet, even though it was pleasing to the eye of the world, its materials were frail, brittle, and ever dissipating, as things made by the hand of man tend to be.

Hebrews 9 also supplies us with a wonderful description of the tabernacle in which the service of God was observed under the former dispensation. Perhaps even more importantly, are its references to what was merely an imperfect representation of the reality, and what was yet to come.

The placement of the tabernacle, in the middle of all of the tents, was also by God's design. This provided easy access, or approachability to Him. and a convenient spot to utilize the ordinances of Divine service for their forgiveness, serenity, and fellowship with He who desires our worship.

The solemn service of the high priest was performed here annually. God mysteriously resided within the second veil; which added to the sacred reverance of the ceremony. The high priest was the only one who was graciously allowed to approach God in his sanctuary. As a result, he was held in the highest respect.

While there may be many things that are impossible to explain or understand, things that are necessary for our salvation and growth in grace are made visible. The inner holy place is one that is not meant for our understanding. But what is revealed of the Law, is meant to be obeyed.

The lampstand provided illumination for the service of the priest, and the bread indicates the idea of spiritual supply. Tables of bread were replenished weekly. The priests ate the bread, blessed by God, only after it had stood for seven days before God in his tabernacle. Interestingly, this is seen as a foreshadowing of the supply which Christ claimed of himself (the Bread of Life) Philippians 4:19.

Memorials of Divine power are represented by the pot of manna and Aaron's rod. The former serving as a reminder to the worshippers of God's provision of daily bread; and the latter being a miraculous act that sealed the final ruling on priesthood (Numbers 17:5-10).

The golden altar of incense connotes the acceptance of prayer. While the incense aroma represents the prayers of the people. Prayers are pleasant to God from the perception of our need and humility of soul; our faith in his interest in us, and our desire to glorify his Name.

We mustn't forget the significance of the furniture, which was mercy and adoration. Underneath the mercy-seat, in the most sacred place, was the Divine Law. The cover of the ark, which was between the Law and God, was sprinkled with sacrificial blood; whereby, sins were forgiven through faith in the arrangement.

Lastly, cherubim stretched their wings above the mercy-seat; demonstrating that even angels desire to look into these things, bowing with reverence and love in God's presence. Thus, these details attest to the purpose of all revelation, all sacrifice, all the works of the Son of God, and the sacred power of the Spirit.

Scripture: Hebrews 9:2; Hebrews 8:5; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Numbers 18:21; Exodus 25:9

Prayer: Dear God, fill the hearts of your faithful and fill them with the fire of your love. May You send us Your Spirit so that we can renew ours with Yours. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Constance

In God...We Can Trust!

"Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say infinitely when you mean very; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite."   - C. S. Lewis

Do we really know the power that is contained in words? I suppose one could say that the power and value of a word depends, in a large part, upon the person who speaks it and the circumstances of its delivery.

Words spoken that resonate within our hearts and souls are alive. And living words have the characteristics of life. They are brought forth and convey the manner in which they were created. Yes, they might be deprived, or even stripped of meaning, But, they may also be replete with grand implications.

This brings me to my question, "Do you trust in God?"  One might say that this is a reasonable assumption. As an example, "In God We Trust" is the official motto of the United States. You can see this motto on U.S. paper currency. Therefore, if it's used on something as widely accepted as legal tender, then it must mean we trust in God, correct?

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines trust as: (n.) Assured resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship, or other sound principle, of another person; confidence; reliance. When it is layed out this way before us, trust in God becomes more comprehensible.

Certainly, it's easy for those of us who have fully placed our trust in God to understand this. However, those who have yet to make that decision might never do so, unless someone invites them to share in the joy and comfort that can only be had by trusting wholly in God.

Trusting in God is not a "sometimes" or "part-time" endeavor. We must trust in him at all times! This means that our trust cannot be in ourselves or anything else (e.g., jobs, money, celebrities, politicians, etc.) It is to be placed with Him, and Him only (Psalm 118:8)!

God implores that we have to be all in, or not at all. It is quite sad, really, that as we grow up, we trust less and less. In fact, we are told not to trust anyone. The psalmist even warns against trusting in man (Psalm 146:3). Is it any wonder that our minds are skewed towards skepticism and distrust?

Thankfully, God assures us that we can place our trust in him without any of the doubts that we might have with others. We can trust him to guide us when confronted with doubt. When we are in danger, we can trust he will be there. The same applies in times of need, and when we need strength to persevere. We can trust that He will be there.

In order to validate our trust, we must first present our needs and request to God. Then, we patiently surrender ourselves to Him; we pour out our hearts to him. Think of God as a refuge, or safe haven for all. We can safely confide and share with him; without any fear of discernment.

Will every wish or desire be granted by God. No. At least, not in the fashion of a genie and magic lamp. Unfortunately, things don't always turn out the way we want them to. This sometimes causes many to turn away from Him. Does this mean that God can't be trusted? No.

Trust in God should never be based on what one can derive from it. If this is all you want out of your relationship with God, then the chances are pretty good that you will be disappointed. When we place our trust with Him, we are displaying our personal faith in his mercy and grace. Simply put, In God We Trust!

Scripture: Psalm 22:4,5; Psalm 34:1,2; Job 13:15; Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 50:10

Prayer: Holy Father, when everything around us is dark  and we feel weak and helpless, help us have perfect trust in Your protecting love, and strengthening power. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Heidi