Today's Reading:O.T. - 2 Kings 12 - 13
N.T. - Colossians 2:6 - 23
Focus Verses: Col. 2:6-10
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
Insight:
Putting faith in Christ Jesus and surrendering to his authority is the beginning to a new life that must be continued and lived out. As our roots grow deep into Christ and our hearts are strengthened by faith in him, our lives are built up; we are able to do what we've been taught, and thankfulness flows out of us. We need to be careful to not let Christian faith become a powerless list of rules, beliefs, and traditions or be reduced to a philosophical system of principles. Christian faith is rooted in Christ. Christ is our hope because he embodies the fullness of Deity. As we receive Christ, his fullness becomes our fullness. He is greater than every power and authority. It is by his power and authority that our lives can be transformed.
Response and Action:
I want to live a transformed life in Christ. My faith and hope are in Christ and so I want to continually live out that faith. I want to be strongly rooted in Christ. I want my life to be built up with Christ as my foundation. Christ Jesus is the one who saves me; not religion, not a set of ideas, not traditions, not spiritual disciplines, and not rules for living. These all become distractions if they do not lead me to a deeper love and relationship with Jesus. They are valuable to me only as a means for connecting with Christ. Jesus is the hope of my life and the power for living.
O God, help me to know and experience Christ Jesus more each day. My faith and hope are in him. Strengthen and increase my faith as I put down deep roots in Christ through the study of scripture, prayer, service, obedience, and fellowship with other believers. O Christ, all authority and power belong to you. Lead me, teach me, and transform me into your likeness. May my life overflow with thanksgiving as I continue to build my life on you. Amen.
Proverbs: 28:26
"He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe."
Resources:
Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ
by Dallas Willard
