KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, December 15, 2018
Chapters: Books of Colossians & Philemon
Message: The Church
Hello My Friend,
When you think about the Church you often associate it with your church, but the church goes beyond that, in fact, it is not just a group of people gathering in a building, it is a family of brothers and sisters all over the world with one thing in common, they all received Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Now, just like family, we love, we protect, we fight, we argue, we forgive, but in the end we are still family, and nothing can change that fact. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” – Colossians 2:12-14.
“nailing it to his cross;” Every sin, every stain, every blot imagined was taken to the cross with Jesus, and removed from us the second we accepted Him as our Saviour. Praise God! While Jesus died and arose for all, He only saves those who receive Him. The Book of Colossians was written by Paul in approximately 64 AD, when he was a prisoner in Rome. The epistle (letter) was written to the church of Colosse, who were instructed to share it with other churches. The purpose of the letter was to address doctrinal issues within the church. What we are to learn is that Christ, who is the Head of the Church, and God in the flesh, created all things, and all things are created for Him. When Paul got word of the Colossians and their faith in Christ he was ecstatic, but some false doctrine was being used there that he was concerned of, he reminds them and all of us that it is Jesus that delivers us from the power of darkness and redeems us.
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” – Colossians 1:13-22.
“that in all things he might have the preeminence.” We whom have received Jesus as our Saviour are His body, He being the Head of it. Jesus wants first place in our lives, and let me tell you, if He gets it then the possibilities are endless as to what He will do for us. No, He does not require perfection, and yes, we mess up more often than we care to admit, He requires faithfulness, and our willingness to allow Him to take precedence in our lives. While we are definitely not under the Law, we ought to be living our lives in a way that reflects Him. Why? We are dead in our sins, but alive in Him.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” – Colossians 3:1-5,10-13.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”Before we received Jesus as our Saviour we were literally the walking dead, meaning we did not have the Spirit of God in our soul, therefore, if we died without knowing Him we would be in hell. However, our lives are hid with Jesus, meaning, our souls are alive through Him, through His blood that was shed for our sin. And since we are the body of Christ, and He is the Head of us what better form of gratitude can we give then to live our lives in the newness that He made us. By the way, man means mankind, so God is talking about men, women, and children. Do you realize the state you were in before you knew Jesus as your Saviour? I sure do mine, and I never want to go back there. Of course, we are not always going to get along as brothers and sisters in Christ, but that is where the love of Jesus comes in, we need to walk in the newness of Jesus and not in the old flesh that is so easy to to attain. “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” – Revelation 3:2-3.
While Paul wrote these letters in prison and identifies himself as a prisoner of Christ, he never wondered where God was through all the pain and suffering he had endure since he chose Christ. In the Book of Philemon, Paul speaks of Onesimus, a slave of Philemon’s who had robbed his master and fled to Rome where he met Paul and became a convert. Paul sent him back to Philemon with this letter, a testimony on his faith and how he greatly improved since walking with Christ.
“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?” – Philemon 1:10-16.
“but above a servant,” Before we got saved we were unprofitable, servants to the world, and imprisoned in our sin. Jesus set us free when we received Him as our Saviour, we are no longer unprofitable servants, but brothers and sisters united and joined with Jesus. Praise God! While our works have nothing to do with our salvation, we must realize that they do help us live a peaceful life here on earth without needless suffering. We cannot avoid trials and tribulations, but we can use each on of them for our advantage, and to show Jesus in us. “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” – Titus 3:8-10.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” – Colossians 1:16.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, I learned a long time ago that I am the example of Your Church, and would never want to put myself in a position where I would have to stand up before my church family and explain some secret sin that got exposed, and therefore that fear in me keeps me faithful. I know I am not perfect, I know I mess up daily, but I also know that You perfect me, and as long as I give You precedence You will see me through everything. I am so grateful and glad to be a part of Your family, I do want to live a life that is pleasing to You, help me to learn Your will, get around other Godly people who know and live by Your truths, let me not stop teaching Your truths to others, and let me truly be the example You need me to be to bring others to You. And if there is anything in my life that You dislike, show it to me so that I can get rid of it. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: http://readytofollow.com/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Missed A Message: http://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Visit I’m Following Jesus Missions: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2018 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.