Coming Up: Sonday October 26, 2014
Colossians 1:1-2. Christ Brings Holiness
Read Colossians 1:1-2
By the time Paul wrote to the Christians at Colossae, the city had shrunk in importance from a great city to what has sometimes been called a ‘market city’. However, the “city” influences were still present. It appears that false teachings were affecting the church. Legalism (dietary laws and so on), rituals and observance of special days attacked the Christian church. Added to that, the “world” cared little for Christ and had its own multitude of ‘gods’ to worship. Life for a Christian in Colossae would have been a daily struggle.
It’s not that different to our modern day world, is it? Think about our world. The truth is clouded by the so called “knowledge” of the world. People in the world want nothing to do with the one true living God. They have a plethora of ‘gods’ to worship and many churches have latched onto ritual, legalism and observance of special days. In many cases these outweigh and outshine the Gospel!
But in the midst of the darkness, the light of Christ shines supreme. Even in what seems to be the depth of the pit, Jesus is still Lord. And in this apparent darkness, notice how Paul describes the believers at Colossae (and us). Paul uses the words ‘holy’ and ‘faithful’. To understand what holy means think of the Old Testament uses of the word. People were obviously called to be holy but things and places were said to be holy as well. Obviously the word means ‘sinless’ but it also means ‘set apart’ or ‘dedicated’ to the Lord. You, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, have been set apart for the Lord in a dark, depraved world to shine the light of Jesus. God has earmarked you for Himself. Indeed as Ephesians 2:10 tells us, He has prepared good works in advance for you to do. What a joy to know that you are separated, dedicated to the Lord in this world. What a blessing to know that you are called to shine the light of Jesus.
The other word ‘faithful’ means believing. You believe in Christ. But the word also nuances the meaning of ‘dedicated’. As a believer in Christ you are faithful or dedicated to Him. You serve the risen Lord not things, not other people, not money and not even your own desires. As you continue to serve and be dedicated to our Lord, your dedication will speak volumes to a dark world. People will see Christ in you. Praise the Lord, that through you Christ will shine.
What a wonderful way to start the week, knowing that you are holy and faithful to the Lord our God. What a joy to know that through you Christ will shine.
Prayer:
Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.
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Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that every single believer in your church would be shining the light of Christ in this world. Pray that you yourself (together with all the others) would be taking opportunities to talk of Jesus and to share his love. Pray that the community around us would see the supremacy of Christ in us.
¥ Pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ in Myanmar would likewise shine the light of Christ. Ask God to provide all their needs so that they can shine brightly in their dark part of the world.
Living a life of holiness day by day will earn you a we bit of flack. You might be called ‘goody two shoes’. You might be the butt of everyone's jokes. But when the chips are down these mockers will come to you for answers!
1. What does it mean to live a ‘holy’ life?
2. What effect do you think a holy life will have in
a. your city?
b. your family?
c. your work/study place?
3. “The Gospel can be lived out without ever speaking a word.” Discuss this statement.
Intro: Being holy may not mean much to us. But it means to be separated from sin and close to God in all that we do, say and think. Holiness is a state of being that is both internal and external.
Discuss times in your own life when you have been tempted to be unholy. How did you deal with these? What helped you?
Read Leviticus 11:44
What is our motivation to be holy?
How do we become holy?
What role does Christ have in making us holy?
what role do we have?
Pray together: that God would grow you in holiness and gratitude for the holiness given to you by Christ.
Intro: Imagine having a video record everything you say, do and think for an entire week! Being holy means in that video there would be nothing that God is displeased with. Sounds impossible doesn’t it?
Discuss times in your own life when you have been tempted to be unholy. How did you deal with these? What helped you?
Read Leviticus 11:44
What is our motivation to be holy?
How do we become holy?
What role does Christ have in making us holy?
what role do we have?
Pray together: that God would grow you in holiness and gratitude for the holiness given to you by Christ.
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