Colossians 2

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1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Paul begins this chapter with talking about the faith and the effort Paul has poured into the church at Laodicea. He encourages them to become stronger with each other in love and to grow closer to Christ.
Christ is the Knowledge and understanding of God. He reveals things that we can't understand on our own. All Wisdom and Knowledge as verse 3 puts it. We can trust that the Lord Jesus will be able to take care of us because He knows everything, and what is best for us, even if we are not sure what to do, or thing that it is not the right thing (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The knowledge that Christ knows everything, and is looking out for our well being further develops our trust in Him and the assurance that people won't sway us when the give counter arguments.

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6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Just saying a prayer then living you life just as it was before hand, throwing in the "trying to do the right thing" just doesn't cut it with God. Like it says in verse 6, just as we received Christ, so also walk in Him. Being a Christian requires developing a relationship with Christ, seeking Him with all of our hearts as Jeremiah shows us (Jeremiah 29:13). We should walk in the Spirit of Christ, leaning on Him so that we can grow closer to Him and not sin (Galatians 5:16). That is what being firmly rooted in Christ means. To have that relationship, to be growing in Him and walking in the Spirit. We may not know all the answers, and mess up sin wise, yet if we have our foundation in Christ, we will be rooted in Him and able to stand up against trials and temptations.
It will also helps us to stand up against the idols and other though processes of this world. Christ is in the head of all things, the head of the body, church and spirit. Kings and Kingdoms bow down before the might of the Lord our God. and thanks be to God for giving us Christ. Being firmly rooted in Him will helps us to stay strong in the Lord and not get pulled away by this world. Jesus died on the Christ, taking away the very filth that God hated with a burning fire. Hated enough to send people that didn't honor Him to an eternity separated from Him and filled with pain and suffering. Isn't it awesome to know that Christ took that away, nailing it to a cross and setting us free? It is truly an amazing thing.

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16Therefore 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. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18Let 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, 19and 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.

20If 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— 21 "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" 22( referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23These 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.

When we become firmly rooted in Christ, we will be able to stand up for what we believe in, because it will be God guiding our actions. We won't have to worry about what other people thing of us, or what we do, but rather what God wants us to do and what God thinks of us. Let us hold fast to God as it tells us to do in verse 19. The world may think it knows what it is talking about. It may look good at the moment. There may be times when you think it is the best thing for you. However, if it isn't of Christ, then it will lead us down a path of unrighteousness. Christ is our all in all, and as long as we stay firmly rooted in Him and walk in the Spirit, we won't be lead astray be the things of this world that have no value

All in All, seeking Christ is the best thing for us. Being firmly rooted in the foundation of Christ and what He did for us will help us to live a life that honors Him and isn't lead by the things of this world. Jesus took the price for our sins, nailed them to a cross, to the penalty and died, so that we can live. Let us honor and respect that by living for Him, walking in the Spirit, and loving God with all our hearts, minds, souls and strengths.

Colossians 1

So, God has been revealing a lot to me through the book of Colossians. I hope that y'all will journey with me through the book of Colossians that we may all be edified in Him and continue to develop our relationships with God.

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1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their Faith in Christ

3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Paul begins his letter with a greeting, that he writes in many of his letters.
He continues with telling the church at Colosse about how they pray for the church because of their faith. The city of Colosse was an important city in Asia Minor and was considered the sister city of Ephesus. Because of all the problems and heresy that the church members face in the city, Paul encourages them with pray and thanksgiving for the faith that they have and the fruit that they bring forth. He continues on with his letter to encourage them and to bring forth truth that would help them during their trials and temptations.

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13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Christ when he died on the cross, redeemed us from all of our sins. The perfect spotless lamb on which the sins of this world were laid upon. When that event happened, the power of sin and the devil (the power of darkness) lost it's control over us and we were brought into the light of Christ.

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15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Christ, the image of the invisible God, created everything. He was there with God in the beginning as it is stated in John chapter 1 and in Genesis where God says "let us make man in our image" (note that it is plural). Christ who created everything and it is the head of everything, no matter what it is, has the power to hold everything together, and that He does. We don't have to worry about problems or situations that break us, or things that seem to fall apart, because Christ is there and holds everything together, and lets everything work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We have an Amazing God do we not?

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19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

God loved us enough to send His only Son that we may be free. It pleased God to let Christ be the head of everything and all His power dwell in Him. Because of that, Christ had the power to set us free, to take us from our sinful, selfish self and live a life honoring God, holy and blameless in His sight. However, we have to remember to constantly seek after Christ so that we can still walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16)

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24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which[d] is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Paul tells the church at Colosse that he is glad to suffer knowing that it is for the glory of God and the benefit of the church at Colosse. He reaffirms what God did in his life, making him a minister of the gospel, and shows that the gospel is the mystery of God, having now been revealed to the saints, and God has called Paul to witness to the Gentiles, because Christ died for all of mankind, not just the Jews.

Well, This is Colossians Chapter 1. Feel free to add to this and ask questions.

Trusting in God

Trust is something we here about often. Trusting people to do their part of the science project, trusting friends with material items or struggles, trusting our bus driver to get us to school safely (which isn't always easy to do lol). It's part of our everyday lives, but how does it apply to our relationship with God? Do we trust God in the same way that we trust our best friend? Parents? Youth Pastor? Do we even understand what it means to trust in God in the way that He asks us to do? Unlike trusting our friends, teachers and parents, God call us to trust in Him on a much higher level. Let's take a look at what God says to us in the Bible.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understand." -Proverbs 3:5
So, God tells us to Trust in Him with all of our hearts. First off, let's break down what trust is.

1.

reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.

2.

confident expectation of something; hope.

 

To rely on something, hope in, fully confidence. That's what we do when we trust in something or someone. Solomon, the author of the book of Proverbs, tells us to trust in God with all of our hearts. Meaning to trust Him with everything that we have, every fiber of our being. Trusting Him more than anyone else. Then it continues on with "and lean not on your own understand." Well, what does that mean, lean not on your own understand? Simply put, things aren't always gonna make sense, but trust in God anyways. God can see the big picture of our lives, while we on the other hand, see a very small portion. God reminds us not to try and use our own understand, try to make sense of what He is doing sometimes, because it won't make sense to us, but it does to God. God works in our lives in amazing ways, and lets us go through things to make us stronger and prepare us for our future. He ask us to trust in Him without us making sense of things because He sees the whole picture unlike us and in the end, it will work out for our benefit. 

David was a young fella in the Bible. He was the youngest of his brothers, and had to stay home to help with the sheep while his older brothers went off to war. The king of the philistines challenged King Saul to a one on one battle, his best verses Israel's best. The philistines sent out Goliath. He was huge, around 9 feet and extremely strong. No one in the Israeli army wanted to fight. Somehow word got to David and God called him to go out and challenge Goliath with a sling and a stone. David, being faithful went out, and killed the 9 foot giant with a rock from the river. It's a good example of God seeing the big picture and asking us to trust Him. In david's mind, it didn't make any sense what God was asking him to do. How could a sling and stone kill a giant. However, he trusted in God, didn't rely on his own understanding and did what the Lord asked. God took care of him too, and he became a hero in the kingdom of Israel. 

If God can take care of a boy and kill a giant with a stone, then He can lead you out of whatever situation you are in, struggle you are going through, or problems you face. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding my brothers and sisters, and as verse 6 puts it right after, "and in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths" Trust in God, but Him in front, and He will be faithful to take care of you. 

Thinking before you react

So, we're all teenagers. We more often than not get the mentality that we're right, or we react to situations without knowing the big picture. Matter of fact, we let small things get to us, or our tempers flare up quickly. Believe me, I've been there, still do a lot also. Thankfully, God's grace is more than enough for all of us, and by growing closer to Him, He will show us ways through His Spirit to honor Him, and through His word.

In the Book of James, God shows us some wisdom on what we should do in certain situations involving our tongue and how anger.
"But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God"
Be quick to hear....many of us do that in everyday conversations, talking with friends and the like. However, how often to we take the time to listen to what someone has to say when we are mad at them? Arguing with them? Frustrated with them? Most of the time, we don't. We do the exact opposite and choose to not even listen. Then it brings up slow to speak. I can't even count the amount of times people have always warned, "Think before you speak". Well, it's a very true statement, and God even tells us to do the same. We are quick to say something that we pretty soon regret. Sometimes it is a simple joke, others, it's something rude or crude said during an argument/fight. Our words, can never be taken back. Once we say something, we've said it, it will always be there. That is why God warns us to be careful what we say and to think about it before we do. Also, there's a reason why this statement goes with the first. More often than not, when we are quick to speak, we are also slow to listen. We want to say what we want, poke fun, get back at someone, and we don't want to hear what they have to say back to us. Though go hand in hand with each other. When we face situations where it is easy for us to just blurt something out and ignore the other person, just think, you may be surprsied what God will have you do in the moment when you do, or how much you can change the situation.
Lets take a look at the rest of the verses, Slow to anger for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. I know from experience, and I've seen it happen a lot, we let our tempers flare up sometimes with seconds. High school is gonna come with a lot of situations that will make it easy for you to get angry. You may be having a rough day with people frustrating you, stressed out about school or things in life, different situations of the like. When we are like that, it is very easy for us to get angry. However, that's what God says not to do. It's certainly not easy, I mess up with it a lot. But by seeking Him daily, He will remind us to focus on Him in those situations. When we get angry, let it lose and what not, we are dishonoring God. Anger doesn't justify things, but rather does the opposite and generally makes things worse. That is why I encourage you to focus on Christ
Overall, We should take a step back, look at the situation, calm down, and think about what we say before we do. Work it out with whoever the problem is. And let God be your guidance