Jul 21 2016
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Devos

Choosing the right things to “put on” – Worth spending some time on as a Christian!

Choosing the right clothesDressing appropriately for activities you’ll be involved in is a daily issue. I know that people spend a significant amount of time and reflection on that issue. Got a banquet, wedding, or some other formal activity to attend you dress one way… Going out for dinner at a nice restaurant – you’ll dress for it… If you’re going to work you’ll dress another way (especially if a dress code is in force or a uniform is required)… Going out to mow the lawn or work on a car you’ll dress appropriately… And how about working out at the gym – there’s appropriate clothing for that too…
 
So what’s appropriate to “put on” as a Christian for most occasions out in the “secular world” if we are to maintain a positive testimony, and among Christians if we are to contribute to unity among fellow believers? I read about it this morning in the Bible during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…
 
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 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. 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!” (From Colossians 3:12–17 ESV)
 
Oh, as a “disciple” – a devoted, obedient follower of Jesus t– I want to dress right! I don’t want anything I wear to detract from His character, His message, or the values He advocated! Help me Lord to “put off” anything that detracts from the Gospel and help me to “put on” the things that make following the Lord very attractive to others? That your prayer as well?
Jul 20 2016
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Devos

Baptism… A death, a burial and a resurrection! Then “a new life!”

Water BaptismBaptism – pretty significant in most church bodies!  The church fellowship I’m a part of practices “baptism by immersion” and only for “believers” (so it’s called “believer baptism”).  Baptism really points beyond itself to a wonderful reality: For us to experience Spiritual victory, in some real way (by faith) the death of Jesus on the cross must become our death to self and sin, His burial must become our burial to our past life, and (Praise the Lord!) His resurrection becomes our resurrection to walk (live) in “newness of life!”

When I baptized my friend, “Big Bill Cypher,” in the Crow Wing River in Minnesota here is what he said in his testimony.  Bill looked up on the bank of the boat landing where a bunch of his old drinking buddies were watching and said, “The pastor just told us baptism is like a burial service!  The old Bill used to go out and drink and carouse with you fellas.  In a few minutes the pastor is going to put the old Bill down in the waters of this river – He’s going to bury Him!  In fact, I can almost see, the sin of my past, washing away down that river!  Then Pastor is going to bring Bill Cypher up out of the water; and when he does, by the grace of God you’re going to see a new Bill Cypher!”  I can remember it like it was yesterday!  It’s the way baptism’s ought to be in my opinion!

Most Bible scholars believe Apostle Paul had “baptism” in mind when he wrote Colossians 3:1-11.  Here is what it says:  (Give it a read.  You’ll be glad you did!)

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  FOR YOU HAVE DIED, AND YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD!  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all!”

Jul 19 2016
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Devos

The trappings of religion… impressive, but ineffective in fundamentally transforming people’s lives!

The trappings of religion – Impressive priestly garb, prescribed and esoteric ceremonies, exquisite and ornate temples, rigorous food restrictions, and religious holy days – all of it impressive, but ineffective in fundamentally transforming people’s lives!

That’s the inspired message Apostle Paul communicated to the Colossian believers… and its the message we need to hear and heed today! Here’s what Paul said in Colossians 2:16-23…

“LET NO ONE PASS JUDGMENT ON YOU in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. LET NO ONE DISQUALIFY YOU, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, WHY, as if you were still alive in the world, DO YOU SUBMIT TO REGULATIONS — “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used) — ACCORDING TO HUMAN PRECEPTS AND TEACHINGS? THESE HAVE INDEED AN APPEARANCE OF WISDOM IN PROMOTING SELF-MADE RELIGION AND ASCETICISM AND SEVERITY TO THE BODY, BUT THEY ARE OF NO VALUE IN STOPPING THE INDULGENCE OF THE FLESH”

Bottom line, the only thing that will fundamentally and effectively transform a life is full identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus! He is the One that has the power to liberate and transform a life from the power of Satan and sin! Everything else is just deceptive and distracting trappings! (Read the very next passage – Colossians 3:1-17! I sneaked a peek this morning and found myself rejoicing in what Christ has provided!)

So here’s the deal… Christ is the answer! His death, burial and resurrection – embraced in faith – is sufficient! He has the power to liberate from sin and transform your life and mine! Hey, it works (and the change is not simply cosmetic)!

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