Thank you so much to everyone who has been praying for me and calling me and messaging me to let me know you are there for me. Thank you for responding to my last post so unselfishly and gracefully. I appreciate it. Please know that anytime you need the favor returned, I am always here for you, as well.
In particular, I would like to thank a certain friend of mine who called me today. It was great talking to you, as always. And thank you for the small challenge we parted with, whether you view it as such or not. It certainly allowed me to challenge myself to do something better with my time than sit idly by and watch it pass.
My friend suggested that after hanging up, he would spend 20 minutes of quiet time. So, I decided to do the same thing. I'd like to share with you some important passages I discovered when I pulled out my Bible and spent some quiet time with Christ.
Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:21-23 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation - if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
I spent quite a bit of time "alienated from God". My mind, my soul, my heart - they were all battle grounds. Darkness vs. Light. And, being truly human, I found it easier to give into the darkness than to continue walking towards and chasing after the light.
But there is a better way. And the Lord Jesus Christ is reminding me every day of what exactly that is. Thank you, God, for continually reminding me of the path I am walking. Thank you for reminding me of your presence. Thank you for revealing, in your own perfect time, your plan and will for my life.
May I never be moved from the hope held out in your gospel. May I always be established and firm in my faith. Help me to understand more deeply and fully the power of Your love, the mercy you bestow upon me daily, and the grace that saves me.
Amen.
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1 comment:
One of the great things about the Greek of Col 1.21ff is that continuing in the faith is based upon Christ reconciling us to God. It's hard to encapsulate in a small comment, but what we're told is that our present relationship with God is based on a past event.
We don't change the past event (Christ's death, which reconciled us to God permanently) by our present actions (sin). Rather, that past event changes our future with God.
He keeps us securely in his hands, grounding us and settling us daily.
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