YEAR 2, WEEK 28, Day 10, Monday, 3 July 2023

https://esv.literalword.com/?q=jeremiah+1%3B+colossians+3

Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Monday, 10 July 2023:

Note: Here is a short video overview of Jeremiah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSK36cHbrk0

Jeremiah 1:5 — Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

God had a plan for you before you were even born. When, where, and how you were born was providential. As with so many we read about in the Bible, you might have been born into unfortunate conditions, but consider Romans 8:28. John 9 tells the story of a man who was born blind and had spent his life as a beggar. The disciples question Jesus on whose sin was responsible for this man’s terrible fate. Jesus explains, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Jesus miraculously heals this man who ends up proclaiming truth to the Pharisees, glorifying God, and becoming an important part of God’s eternal word. You are special to God. Likewise, God cares about every unborn child and views them as equally valuable as anyone else, as evidenced in Exodus 21:22-25, where God’s law establishes the penalty for causing the death of an unborn child — “life for life.” Christians have a responsibility to protect the defenseless unborn.

• Psalm 139:13-16 – 13 — For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
• Jeremiah 29:11 — For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
• Psalm 82:3-4 — Give justice to the weak and the fatherless…. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
• Proverbs 31:8-9 — Open your mouth for the mute….
• Proverbs 24:11-12 — Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

Jeremiah 1:7, 8 — Do not say, “I am only a youth”; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.

God will take you out of your comfort zone and empower you to do what you couldn’t normally do because He wants to show both you and the world what He can do, not what you can do. He wants to bring glory to Himself, not to you.

“…and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you….”

You have nothing to worry about if God has sent you; you have everything to worry about if He hasn’t. God has called us, appointed us, and empowered us in Christ, in whom is all power and authority, to proclaim a message, the Gospel, which God well knows many will reject, sometimes very aggressively. He is also well aware that, as His messengers, we will face various forms of persecution because of our message, which ironically is a message of love, grace, peace, and hope. Remember what God says to His faithful people in various ways throughout the Bible:

• Deuteronomy 31:6 — Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
• Joshua 1:9 — Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
• 1 Chronicles 28:20 — Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.
• Psalm 31:24 — Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!
• Judges 6:14 — And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours… do not I send you?”

Jeremiah 1:9 — Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

God gave you His word to share with others. Proclaim Jesus, not just morality or principles; and use His words, not your own words.

Colossians 3:1 – If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

While everyone else is seeking worldly security and comfort, Christians are seeking to grow closer and closer to Jesus as their only priority and their only hope. Without Christ, everything else is meaningless.

• Matthew 6:25-33 — “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
• Psalm 127:1 — Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Colossians 3:5-15 – Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…. put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another…. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…. forgiving each other…. put on love…. And be thankful.

Here is a practical test to see how well you are guarding your heart and growing in Christ. Which attributes are most apparent in your life? How consistent are you in those attributes. Have you “put to death” and “put away” the negative attributes, and have you “put on” the positive ones? Are you clothed in Christ?

Idols are things or desires in your life which you allow to influence you away from fidelity in your heart and actions to God. Idolatry is desiring what you shouldn’t, seeking fulfillment outside of God and His provision. The more real God is in your life, the less you will care about the things (idols) which cause lust, hurt, and hate. God makes the pursuits of men meaningless. If you still desire what the world desires, you simply do not know God well enough.

Colossians 3:11 – Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Christians should never acknowledge, in positive or negative way, any man-made social stratifications such as race, ethnicity, or economic status, that have historically divided people. We must rise above this perspective to the perspective of God who only sees saved and unsaved. Despite popular opinion, there is no real strength in unity or diversity, only in Christ who, in union with Him, empowers university – unity in diversity – as all people fulfill their God-glorify purpose and, with the fruit of the Spirit, use their unique gifts of the Spirit, to build up the body of Christ within the Kingdom of God on earth. Don’t reduce the Gospel or your mission as an Ambassador of Christ to merely a social justice crusade.

Colossians 3:13 – As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Christians should be the perfect example of forgiveness as their whole hope for eternal life depends on undeserved complete forgiveness. God forgave you freely, even while you continued to sin. You have no choice but to forgive unconditionally. God expects us to forgive others in the same way He forgave us, taking the pain upon ourselves in selfless sacrifice for those who hurt us, responding only in perfect love, offering grace rather than demanding our rights, responding as a complete slave though we are mighty children of God.

Colossians 3:15 — And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 3 lists many negative attributes Christians should “put to death” or “put away” and many positive attributes Christians should “put on,” having been raised to new life in Christ. As the above verse points out, what rules in your heart will determine your behavior. The secret to a life of peace and purity is knowing Jesus and letting Him rule your heart.

• Ephesians 1:17-18 — …that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
• 2 Peter 3:18 — But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

As we grow in the knowledge of Christ and more fully appreciate the immeasurable riches of His grace, the more peacefulness and thankfulness will fill our hearts, and the natural result will be greater compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness poured out to others (Colossians 3:12-13). When we are truly secure in Christ, we will not be defensive or resentful towards others because we trust God for our defense and provision. (Colossians 3:24-25; see also John 19:11)

Colossians 3:16 — Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

To grow in the knowledge of Christ, we must remain in God’s word and remain in fellowship with other believers. We must also practice an ‘attitude of gratitude,’ praising God and worshiping Him with songs and hymns.

Colossians 3:17 — And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

When you truly see yourself as Christ’s ambassador in every encounter with others, and when you publicly vocalize your faith in Him before others, you will naturally avoid “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk (Colossians 3:8),” as being clearly out of place, hypocritical, and disrespectful to the Lord. Proclaiming Jesus not only brings glory to God, it also helps you to hold yourself accountable. Try it and see.

Also, a Christian will do all things, including tasks unappreciated by others, thankfully and without resentfulness, complaining or grumbling (more on that below).

• 1 Corinthians 10:9-11 — We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
• Philippians 2:14-16 — Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life….
• James 5:8-9 — You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
• 1 Peter 4:7-9 — The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Colossians 3:18-21 – Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Households are schoolhouses for Christlike character development and spiritual growth. This is where we learn how to love God by loving and serving others. How we treat our family is a primary act of worship and demonstrates how much we really love God. Parents teach their kids about God and how to love God by how they demonstrate love in the house.

Colossians 3:22 – Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

God always looks beyond actions to judge the heart behind those actions. God wants you to do what is right with a sincere heart, motivated solely by love for Him and for others, not motivated by fear, pride, greed, or even duty – only love.

We are to serve those in authority over us as if they were God. We must treat our subordinates as Jesus would, as a true servant leader.

Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men….

“There is an important difference between doing something for people and doing something for God. God always deserves our best effort. People will disappoint us, betray us, neglect us, and mistreat us. Some will constantly ask for what we can give while offering nothing in return. From our human perspective, these people deserve our minimal effort at best. What then should motivate us to serve people, except our love for God? God deserves our love, and He demands that we love others in the same way He does. We are to love our spouses, not as they deserve, but as God commands (Eph. 5:22-33). We are to treat our friends, not as they treat us, but as Christ loves us (John 13:14). We are to labor at our jobs, not in proportion to the way our employer treats us, but according to the way God treats us. God is the One we serve (Eph. 6:5).

Mediocrity and laziness have no place in the Christian’s life. Christians must maintain integrity at home and in the workplace. Working for God, as opposed to working for other people, changes our perspective as we view our endeavors in light of what He has done for us. Our toil then becomes an offering to God. We not only worship God at church on Sunday, but our labor throughout the week is an offering of worship and thanksgiving to the One who has given us everything we have. When people do not measure up to our expectations and we feel our efforts are being wasted, we must keep in mind that we are toiling for holy God. He is worthy of our best effort.” (Henry T. Blackaby)

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 10 July 2023: Grow in the love of Christ today by growing in your knowledge of Christ today, through prayerful Bible study, fellowship, ministry, worship, and evangelism.