Authority
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:6-10
Do you sometimes feel those in authority over you really have no rational reason to be in charge? God places those in authority over us for many reasons, and some we just need to understand that we might not know why. If we knew why, then things would be easy for us and there would be no challenge in life. Typically the ones placed in authority are older, more experienced, and have something to share to help us learn. It might not always be something good that is being taught, but it might be something that shows us how not to act or treat someone. To understand this fully, you really need to look closely at verses 9 and 10 where it shows two things, one that Christ came here in a bodily form, and two that He is over every power and authority. Which if you think carefully, if he put people in authority over us, it is because He is overseeing that person and their authority. So the next time you look at a person in authority over you, remember that Christ is right there.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 27, 2019
Friday, December 20, 2019
Fantastic Friday #712 - Merciful
Merciful
36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36
This is the time of the year when we either get caught up in the world of Christmas celebrating the secular way, or we celebrate with a focus on Christ's birth and why He came to earth. There is one way that we tend to forget to celebrate, and that is the human spirit that we all share. It is easy to celebrate by seeing how many gifts we can get or give, but what kind of gift of mercy can you provide to someone else. Do you think about how you might help someone, be kind to them or see how you can make an impact in their life? We need to remember that not everyone is in the same place emotionally, spiritually or physically in their life and they might need someone to be merciful to them. Take a moment to show mercy, because if you remember God showed mercy on us.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36
This is the time of the year when we either get caught up in the world of Christmas celebrating the secular way, or we celebrate with a focus on Christ's birth and why He came to earth. There is one way that we tend to forget to celebrate, and that is the human spirit that we all share. It is easy to celebrate by seeing how many gifts we can get or give, but what kind of gift of mercy can you provide to someone else. Do you think about how you might help someone, be kind to them or see how you can make an impact in their life? We need to remember that not everyone is in the same place emotionally, spiritually or physically in their life and they might need someone to be merciful to them. Take a moment to show mercy, because if you remember God showed mercy on us.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 13, 2019
Fantastic Friday #711 - Heal
Heal
12 Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead. 14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:12-14
When you pray for someone to be healed from their illness or weak body, do you keep these prayers hidden to yourself? Do you actually pray for someone when you tell them you are going to be praying for them? It is so easy to silently pray for someone, because there might be times when you aren't with that person and cannot be near them. When you have the opportunity to pray for and with someone, do it out loud so they can know you are praying for them and they can have the confidence that God hears your prayers, both the silent and the verbalized prayers. Some might say that I don't pray out loud because I am not eloquent with my words. One does not have to be eloquent, one only has to have a humble heart with simplistic requests for God to hear. God hears all our prayers and will answer them in His time, and in His way. It is easy for us who pray for months about an ill person to not see any improvement or change in the healing process, but we cannot be the one in charge of the healing process, only God can. We just need to be faithful in our prayer and He will be faithful in His timing and process. It is not an easy pill to swallow when we see someone suffer, but it is easier to know that God has His plan.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
12 Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead. 14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:12-14
When you pray for someone to be healed from their illness or weak body, do you keep these prayers hidden to yourself? Do you actually pray for someone when you tell them you are going to be praying for them? It is so easy to silently pray for someone, because there might be times when you aren't with that person and cannot be near them. When you have the opportunity to pray for and with someone, do it out loud so they can know you are praying for them and they can have the confidence that God hears your prayers, both the silent and the verbalized prayers. Some might say that I don't pray out loud because I am not eloquent with my words. One does not have to be eloquent, one only has to have a humble heart with simplistic requests for God to hear. God hears all our prayers and will answer them in His time, and in His way. It is easy for us who pray for months about an ill person to not see any improvement or change in the healing process, but we cannot be the one in charge of the healing process, only God can. We just need to be faithful in our prayer and He will be faithful in His timing and process. It is not an easy pill to swallow when we see someone suffer, but it is easier to know that God has His plan.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, December 6, 2019
Fantastic Friday #710 - Trust
Trust
14 But I trust in You, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 The course of my life is in Your power;
deliver me from the power of my enemies
and from my persecutors. Psalm 31:14-15
Why does our trust waiver so much? We go down the path knowing that God is right beside us, if only we turn to Him, but why do we still lack a feeling of trust that He is there. Is it the constant voices of doubt, or is it our own lack of faith. Our faith is built on many things but we have to recognize that God is involved with our daily life and cares about us deeply. If we ignore this simple recognition of Him, our faith waivers because we push away these thoughts easily. This is why God needs to be the first thing we think about when we come upon trouble or the first One we go to in thanks when something positive happens. If we put Him in the forefront of our circumstances, no matter whether they are good or bad, then our trust in Him will grow stronger every day. Trust in Him.
Have a great weekend.
14 But I trust in You, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 The course of my life is in Your power;
deliver me from the power of my enemies
and from my persecutors. Psalm 31:14-15
Why does our trust waiver so much? We go down the path knowing that God is right beside us, if only we turn to Him, but why do we still lack a feeling of trust that He is there. Is it the constant voices of doubt, or is it our own lack of faith. Our faith is built on many things but we have to recognize that God is involved with our daily life and cares about us deeply. If we ignore this simple recognition of Him, our faith waivers because we push away these thoughts easily. This is why God needs to be the first thing we think about when we come upon trouble or the first One we go to in thanks when something positive happens. If we put Him in the forefront of our circumstances, no matter whether they are good or bad, then our trust in Him will grow stronger every day. Trust in Him.
Have a great weekend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)