The Daily Dose

Like vision

Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.  Colossians 4:16

Paul wrote many letters to the churches of His day.  In today’s text it is clear that he wanted the Colossian people to exchange their letter with other churches.  In this way they were able to stay in agreement in the mission they were fulfilling of getting the message of salvation to the outside people and encouraging one another.

We have the same mission today.  Our assignment in this life is to share, fund and spread the message of the gospel wherever we go.  We are also to encourage each other.  This is the main reason we have the Word of God.  Much like the churches of Paul’s day had his messages to share and to keep everyone on track, we have the holy scriptures today to keep us connected.  God has made available to us His standard and manual of operation for how He set life in this world up.  As we stick to the fundamental message of God’s grace for salvation, that is where every true member of the body of Christ comes into agreement.  We can all agree that Jesus’ work on the cross was for our punishment and for our salvation.  Not only ours, but 1 John 2:2 say it is also for the whole world, whosoever will receive it.

Today I want to encourage you to first of all recognize you have a mission in life.  You are called as a child of God and a representative of heaven to share God’s good news with others.  By reading God’s word and praying for His grace, He has equipped you to complete this mission.  The second part of your assignment is to encourage others.  Be a voice of strength and inspiration to those around you and use all your words to stir up those who have lost hope and are discouraged.  Put these assignments at the top of your “to do” list everyday and ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to be an effective witness for Him wherever you are.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:10-18

Labor fervently

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, and is always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  Colossians 4:12

Have you ever labored fervently in prayer?  It means you spent time before God bringing a concern or problem to Him for answers, with great intensity.  Maybe for a sick friend or loved one?  Maybe for something you were facing personally?  Maybe you were stirred from sleep and felt an urgent need to pray?  I’m sure we have all had times that we felt pressed to pray when crisis came up, but how many of us have earnestly labored in prayer for fellow believers to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God?  This is new to me.  I do pray for others and especially those on the mission field that they would be protected as they carry out their ministry assignments.  However, I don’t remember ever laboring or praying to the extent of hard work for anyone where ministry is concerned.  I think I pretty much think that God has called them and He will provide and care for them.  That’s not quite right now, is it? As many as God calls to go to missions He has also called many to pray for missions.

Today’s scripture talks about a fellow minister of Paul’s who labored in prayer fervently/passionately for the Colossian believers.  His prayer was not for them to be well, prosperous or full of wisdom.  His earnest prayer for them was that they would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  Now that’s a good prayer.  What would happen if we as believers began to pray this for all the saints?  What if we even just prayed it for the people in our own church like Epaphras did?  What if we prayed this fervently with great sincerity?  Do you think things would look any different in the church body than they do today?  I for one am going to start my 2021 new year with a greater intensity in prayer for the believers in my church, in my groups and in my influence, that they would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.  I believe this prayer made a difference in Paul’s day and It will make a difference in our day too.  When we pray, we open up the doorway to bring heaven’s presence into our earth’s circumstances. 

Today I want to encourage you to spend some time laboring fervently in prayer.  If you are not sure what that looks like, ask the Holy Spirit to give you an example of how to do it.  He may lead you to someone in scripture or He may have a modern-day example for you, but be watching for His answer to this prayer. While you wait for His example, set some quiet time aside and begin to lift up those closest to you with this prayer of intensity.  Ask that the Holy Spirit would empower all believers to stand perfectly and complete in all of God’s will.  Ask Him to empower you to do the same.  You will begin to feel the burning of passion on the inside of your soul that will translate into the intense desire you have to pray for your pastor, leaders and missionaries around the world.  Start today to labor fervently and let’s start sanding perfectly complete in all that God has willed for us. 

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:12-15

 Words

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.  Colossians 4: 6

Words!  The world is full of them.  Words are everywhere we go.  Some are good, some are not so good.  Some are inspiring and some are draining.  Some encourage us to move forward in life and some set us back.  Words are the key in a successful relation or a debilitating one.  Words bring growth or they can also stagnate. Words are what civilizations are built on.  In the case of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11, the passage says their progress was unstoppable because they spoke the same words in agreement with each other.  After their words became confused, all progress stopped.

Today’s scripture is about speaking words of grace.  The God kind of words.    It starts out with, you allowing and selecting gracious words to come out, all the time.  You are the one who has the choice and authority to speak God’s grace into every situation.  God’s Words build up and encourage.  God’s Words motivate and inspire and God’s Words love and honor those who would hear.  The passage also speaks of salty words, words that make others thirsty for the living water.  These are not condemning words or words of foolishness.  Salty words are wise and creative, inspired by the Word of God and His Spirit within you.

Gracious, salty words are not always our first response in life, in fact, most people are prone to respond first of all with a world view.  Because it is popular or basically what we are surrounded by everywhere we go, words often come out cynical and guarded.  God’s kind of language has to be premeditated.  You have to plan ahead of time that you are going to speak encouraging and uplifting words all the time.  If you don’t have them in any given situation, you do not have to speak at all.  Many times we feel pressure that we have to have a comment or sarcastic remark, but these are not responses that are necessary for building others up.  Ephesians 4:29 says, don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up and brings grace to all who hear.  It doesn’t say, I strongly suggest you do this or whenever you feel like doing it, it emphatically starts with DO NOT LET THESE WORDS OUT COME OUT.

Today I want to encourage you to put a plan in place for speaking words of God’s goodness and grace.  Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you that you are now speaking God’s encouraging Words on purpose every time you are tempted to be sarcastic or cynical. Use your inner feelings of disappointment, disgust and discouragement as triggers that you actually need to speak something good into the situation.  Recognize that your words are influencing the direction of every conversation you have in life.  Are they leading to life causing others to look for goodness or are the pointing toward deterioration and leading others down a road of destruction.  As you make your plans for 2021, make speaking God’s kind of Words part of it.  You always have the choice in the words you speak, make the choice one that draws others closer to God, not push them farther away.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:1-6

Give yourself to prayer

Give yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.  Colossians 4:2

Do you pray?  If someone were to ask you about prayer, would you know how to give some pointers?  Most people would say “yes, I know how to pray”.  Certainly, it isn’t difficult, and anyone can pray that wants to.  You don’t need an appointment, you don’t need a special invitation and you don’t need an introduction.  All you need to do is have a conversation with your Creator.  God doesn’t turn anyone away.  Even in the case of Cornelius, who was the first gentile to receive salvation after Jesus’ resurrection, God heard his prayer before he received salvation. (see Acts 10) God hears our prayers and not only that, He looks and listens for them.  Not just some of the time, but all the time.  He is always listening, but He is always guiding and directing too.  It is up to you to shut down and listen for His counsel.  This is what today’s scripture is referring to by being alert. You “tune in” or are listening for what He is speaking to your heart.

Today’s verse talks about giving yourself or devoting time to prayer.  It also instructs us to be alert when we pray, for God’s response.  The verse ends with an admonishing to be thankful. (which is part of praying)  So, what does it mean to devote or give yourself to prayer?  Is it spending all your time talking to God?  Is it just talking to God when you have a need or is it about only praying when you feel super spiritual?  Yes! And no!.  Yes, because we can talk to God all the time, anytime.  We can be in a running conversation with Him as we walk through our day.  Yes, we do talk to Him when we have a need or problem that we need help with.   No, because you don’t have to be feeling super spiritual to go before Him in prayer.  You can talk to Him when you are feeling discouraged and disappointed too. 

The real meaning of devoting yourself to prayer is about having a special time with God.  Setting time aside, everyday, to talk with God about all the different areas of your life.  Getting His thoughts and involvement on all the choices you have to make that day and letting God have an entrance into the secret places of your life. Prayer is essential to your relationship with your Heavenly Father.  Without it, you cannot have a relationship.  Think about it, the thing that brings you closer in any relationship is the time you spend talking and listening to someone.  How much more important is it in our relationship with our Father?

Devoting yourself to prayer is also being able to identify when you need to kick into prayer in times of urgency.  When a crisis arises it is not the time to panic, it is the time to pray.  It is important to know where your relationship with your Father is when difficult circumstances come. This is how you have confidence He is always ready to hear your call.

Today I want to encourage you to set some time aside to talk to God.  This is a good place to start in your New Year planning.  Schedule a time when no one else is around that you can talk to, listen to and give praise to Him.  Get close to you Father in heaven by spending time with Him.  Make it the priority of your day and your year.  Lift up 2021 in prayer and ask for Him to get all the goodness and grace to you that He has planned, despite the outward circumstances of the year.  Prayer is the essential part of your relationship with God and the most important part of your day.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:1-4

Happy New Year

Walk in wisdom toward unbelievers, redeeming the time.  Colossians4:5

Happy New Year!  It’s the new year, and a time for evaluating and assessing all the areas of your life.  What things need to change to make 2021 a better year for you and those around you.? Many think that it is the outward circumstances that determine the kind of year you will have. However, you can actually strategize with God to develop a plan to make this a year full of His goodness and grace. From faith to family, finances to friendships, and fitness to fun, all of these areas need to be examined in order to achieve maximum living.  What can you get rid of, change or add to your daily routine to make your quality of life increase?   This process can seem overwhelming, and the majority of people avoid it, but it is definitely an activity that needs to be done on purpose and with wisdom.  Wisdom is the starting point.

In today’s verse, we learn that we can actually redeem or buy back time by walking in God’s wisdom.  This is good news to me because I spent so many years of my life walking in the opposite of wisdom . . . foolishness.  How much time did I waste and loose because I failed to take the time to start with wisdom? The good news is that my Heavenly Father has provided a way for me to buy back/redeem that time.  The best explanation I can give is that it is a supernatural work of God that He has placed within my ability.  It’s not that I get to go back in time and do it all over again.  Quite frankly, that doesn’t sound like much fun anyway.  It does mean that I get to do new things that His wisdom leads me to.  As I seek God’s wisdom in every area of my life, I find that even the places I seemingly lost because of foolishness, somehow now I can use to make better choices and also to help others.

This passage says to walk in wisdom to the outside world.  Even though I used to be on the outside, now that I know how to get wisdom, I can walk toward others out there and take wisdom to them and their circumstances.  This brings satisfaction and fulfilment.  I no longer live in the foolishness of my own ideas, now I walk in the wisdom of God and can help others to do the same.

Now, the question I know you are asking is: “How do I get wisdom in all areas of life?”  The answer is by asking. James 1:5 says that if you don’t have wisdom, ask God because He gives it generously without pointing out where you have missed it in the past.  He is gracious, loving and eager to help, the only requirement is asking.  However, after you get God’s wisdom, it is up to you to follow it, even the times it doesn’t make sense to you.  Following God’s wisdom will always take faith.  You have to know and believe that He wants the best for you and when you get the thought or idea after asking your Heavenly Father, you by faith, take the steps in the direction He is pointing you to.

Today I want to encourage you to start your new year by submitting every area of your life to God’s wisdom.  Take some time to pray and get wisdom in each area and them ask God for the plan to take the steps of faith required to accomplish it.  As you walk in His wisdom, you will begin to notice that you are using your time more wisely and getting more accomplished.  You will start to eliminate the things that are stealing, wasting and killing your time and replace those with the things that will redeem it.  Take some time to study those who have follow God’s wisdom in the Bible and the many different ways His wisdom works.  This will help you to know your Father better and the way He works with people, including you.  Make 2021 your best year ever by walking in wisdom and redeeming all the time you have lost in foolishness.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 4:5-9

Be vigilant

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it (prayer) with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ,”  Colossians 4:2–3

Prayer!  I am so thankful for it.  God, our Father made a way that we could talk directly with Him.  Not only that, if we learn to listen, God talks to us when we are in prayer and thanksgiving.  We can actually converse with God, our Heavenly Father!  What a great privilege and honor.  Prayer is also a time to talk with God about others who need His help and encouragement.  Today’s passage gives us direction on how to pray for others.  It says meanwhile, or at the same time, we are earnestly and intensely praying, we should be diligently praying that God would open the doors for us and others, that there would be new opportunities to share the Word of God, the good news and to talk about the mystery of our salvation in Christ Jesus with those around us, wherever we are.

We know we are to share the love of God with others, the problem is somewhere along the line we got the idea that we should just go out and do it, never considering that prayer and preparation are needed to be effective.  Paul told the church to pray for God to open the door for his team to get the Word out. Think about it, the Apostle Paul who was probably the greatest witness of the gospel, asked other Christians to pray for open doors for them to share the Word.  How much more do we as believers today, need that same prayer?  We can pray each morning for God to open the doors and give us the words to reach those around us, whether it is in our neighborhood, at our job or in our school, the Holy Spirit will actually go before us and prepare hearts, open doors, and give us words and timing to reach into the lives of others.  How much more effective we would be if we would remember to pray this way for our lives and those we know who have a heart to share God’s love with lost and hurting people.

Another opportunity to pray this prayer is for missionaries around the world.  Those who have chosen to spread the good news of God’s love in other nations.  We can and should be praying for open doors and hearts as they take the gospel to people who have never even heard there is a Savior.

Today I want to encourage you to begin to pray this scripture for yourself and for all believers.  Pray that we would be empowered as God opens doors, provides opportunities, and prepares the hearts of all those around us.  Pray for God’s people to have a greater love for others (the God kind of love) and that we would turn the world upside down just as the church did when it began 2000 years ago.

Today’s scripture reading:  Colossians 4:2-6

You were designed

Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:23

This is an amazing passage of scripture. It is actually step by step instructions on how you were designed/created to operate. In the same way a piece of equipment comes with an instruction manual, God gives us the manual for life in this passage. Colossians 3 is a guaranteed success formula. It is absolutely astounding how we read over these directions and never stop to think, “This could be the answer I have been looking for.” I have written many times before about meditating God’s Word day and night for success and blessing. (Joshua 1:8) Also, how we are like trees planted by the rivers of waters when we keep God’s Word on our thoughts continually. However, In this passage, we actually have the owner’s manual on how this thing was set up to work. God created people this way. This isn’t a set of rules or suggestions to try to control you to make life easier for other, this is the action handbook of how we were made and designed to operate. The reason we have so many issues in the world is because very few people are actually living according to the “rule book”. In other words, very few of us are following the design we were created to follow.

So, let’s take a look at each personality God created and the specifications He designed each one of us with. Identify the names you go by and discover if there are any of the step by step instructions you may be missing.

Wives  –  submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their husbands in everything.  Ephesians 5:22, 24

Husbands  –  love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word.  So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  Ephesians 5:25-26, 28

Children  –  obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”  Ephesians 6:1-3

Parents  –  do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Bondservants (employees) – obey in all things your masters (employers) according to the flesh, not just when they are watching, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.   Colossians 3:22

Masters (employer)- give your bondservants (employees) what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”   Colossians 4:1

Child of God  (holy and beloved) – put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with and forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body; and be thankful.   Colossians 3:12-15

This is the procedure that works and these are the actions that get good results. The reason is because this is the way we were designed by our creator. God didn’t make us to be anything or anyone we think we want to be. He made us to fit into these designated roles and then follow the operation manual on how to be successful in them. Curiously enough, when we begin to walk in the way we were designed, those around us start following their part of the handbook too. We are the pieces in the puzzle of life and when we are in the place were were designed to fulfill, we all make a beautiful picture together.

Today, I want to encourage you to identify where you could have missing parts in your design.  Whether you are a husband, wife, parents, child, boss or employee, decide today that you are going to be the best you can be by following the designer’s instructions, regardless of how others are acting.  Make the choice today to become the godly person you were designed by your Creator to be and watch how your quality of life begins to take a turn for the better. You were born with a set of instructions and you are here to represent the LORD Jesus, doesn’t it make sense to read the manual to represent Him the way you were designed to?

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 3:18-25

Let peace by your guide

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15

The next part of Colossians 3 is a list of activities that draw us closer to God and others.  In the same way that the previous verses (discussed yesterday) list sin that pull us further away from God, verses 12-17 teach us how to become more like Him.  I will list them the same way I listed the activities that are to be put to death in yesterday’s dose.  I would like to point out that the majority of the list today are things you have to put on, they do not happen automatically just because you are a Christian.  You have to plan ahead of time and purposefully do these things until they become who you really are on the inside.

1. Put on tender mercies – Gentleness/compassion
2. Put on kindness – generous acts
3. Put on humility – preferring others first
4. Put on meekness – quiet, not loud and boastful
5. Put on longsuffering – endurance
6. Bearing with one another – hanging on in the tough times
7. Forgiving one another – let go of hurts with love
8. Forgive as Christ Jesus forgave you.
9. Put on love because it is the bond of perfection – love holds us together
10. Let (give entrance to) the peace of God rule in your hearts, which you were called to
11. (you) Be thankful – always looking for the good things
12. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom – meditate God’s Word daily
13. Teach and build others up in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,
14. Sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
15. Do all things in word or deed in the name of the Lord Jesus,
16. Give thanks to God the Father through Jesus our LORD.

Notice that after you do the “putting on”, the door is open for God’s peace to come in.  Not only that, God’s peace can be your guide through life.  If there is no peace, you can be sure there is no faith involved.  Peace in God and His Word can direct you through any crisis, problem or circumstance you face in life.  It is a gauge or measuring stick of the amount of God’s Word at work in your life.  By listening to His Spirit on the inside and confirming that voice with His Word, then His peace will lead the way to the goodness He wants to get you to.

Today I want to encourage you to let God’s peace rule in your heart and be thankful.  Thank Him for the plan He has for you. Thank Him for leading you day by day. Thank Him that you know and follow that plan and thank Him that His path is always plain and clear for you to see and follow.  Let peace lead you through your life journey and while you are at it, enjoy the ride!

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 3:12-17

Get rid of impurities

Therefore, put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.  Colossians 3:5

Yesterday I talked about being too earthly minded and how setting your sights on things of the earth can limit your effectiveness in your eternal purpose.  Today, I want to talk about steps we can take to turn more of our daily attention toward the things of our Heavenly Father and His plan for us as individuals.

Today’s verse contains a list of activities that lead us away from growing in our relationship with our LORD. The list continues throughout the rest of the reading for today.  These are also habits that lure us from the path of His blessings and goodness.  As you read through the list below, consider carefully if any of these acts have crept into your life without you noticing.  Sin is very sneaky and often disguises itself as something that can be justified as needful or good.  An example of that would be criticizing others on the pretense of helping them to improve, but the underlying truth is that it makes you feel better about your own shortcomings.   You may justify in your heart “At least I’m not that bad”.  Hopefully, you will not be able to relate to many of these habits but examine yourself on each one by bringing them before the LORD as you consider.

I would encourage you to talk to Holy Spirit about each item in the list below and ask Him to expose and reveal to you any area where any of these acts may have come into your life.  As you talk with Him, turn each of these sinful activities over to Him and ask that He expose them if they try to get close to you and empower you to never fall into them.

1. Sexual immorality – without morals in thought or deed

2. Impurity – mixed with the world’s standard to become harmful, low quality or ineffective for God’s kingdom

3. Lust – strong desire for what is unhealthy physically, emotionally and spiritually

4. Evil desires – wanting what is against or in the opposite direction of God

5. Don’t be greedy/idolatrous, worshiping the things of this world.

6. Get rid of anger – feelings that try to come when something unfair, painful or bad happens. Rather submit these feeling to God immediately.

7. Rage – violent anger

8. Malicious behavior – intentions to cause harm especially by hurting someone’s feelings or reputation

9. Slander – false statements about others that causes damage to their reputation

10. Dirty language – unclean, unfair, dishonest or unkind words

11. Don’t lie to each other – covering up the truth

12. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

13. Don’t consider if you are a Jew or a Gentile (racial differences), circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free.   Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Today I want to encourage you to make a fresh commitment to be cleansed of all unrighteousness by turning over every area of your life to God.  He has forgiven you and cleansed you, you only need to ask to receive all the goodness He has made available for your life.  Determine to live your life free from the stains of the world and its ways by receiving God’s grace to walk out His plan in all honesty and purity of living. What better way to start 2021 than living free of impurities.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 3:5-11

Too heavenly minded?

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”  Colossians 3:2

There was an old saying years ago that became very popular at the time.  It was, “If you are too heavenly minded you will be no earthly good”.  I’m not exactly sure where it originated.  However, as I recently thought about the statement I thought, “I don’t think there is any scripture to back it up.”  In fact, I could think of only scriptures that said just the opposite.  Therefore, I now believe the statement is a deception that may have taken some off track.  It would be more truthful to reverse the statement to say, “If you are too earthly minded you will be no heavenly good.”  It seems to me that the last is more accurate than the first with much more support from the Word of God.

Today’s key verse encourages us to set our mind on things above, those are the heavenly things, not to be confused with religious rules and rituals.  The things above are what Jesus talked about in His ministry when He was here in the world.  He kept His conversations about the things of God and His Kingdom.  I think it is safe to say that He was more heavenly minded than anyone who ever walked on this planet.  What I’m saying is that if we keep our mind on things above, we will not be distracted by the things of the world.  We will not be led astray by the things of the world and we will not be worried about the things going on in the world.  We do however, keep these worldly concerns before our Father in prayer and ask how we can use our influence for the kingdom of Heaven in every world circumstance.

Philippians 2:5 admonishes us to have the same mind or way of thinking that our Savior Jesus did.  That way of thinking is clearly laid out for us in the gospels and recorded in the life of Jesus.  If we begin to study and live by the example that Jesus gave us, we will become so heavenly minded that we will be goodness for the whole earth, just like Jesus was.  His life exemplified the phrase “heavenly minded”.  There has never been anyone who did more earthly good than Jesus and no one ever more heavenly minded.

Today I want to encourage you to become more heavenly minded and more earthly good.  Looking at and thinking about the things going on in the world today can only make us less effective to those around us.  Instead, turn your attention to the things of heaven and what God is working on in the world.  Hebrews 12:1-2 says that we are to get rid of the weights of the world by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, in that way we can run in this life to accomplish all the plans God has for us.

Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 3:1-4