Paul
tells the Colossians that he has agonized for them and others because
he wants them so badly to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties
of love...to have complete confidence that they understand God's
mysterious plan, which IS Christ himself...and that in Christ, ALL the
treasure of wisdom and knowledge are hidden! Then he goes on to say
that if anyone tells them differently, those peeps are trying to deceive
them.
I love Paul's zeal! I want his heart for
others...believers and non-believers! I want to feel the burden on my
heart to pray for others and think of others before myself! I want to
be consumed with the want of leading anyone and everyone to Christ
himself so all people can find the treasures!!! Too often I want these
things second to whatever is going on in my little world. Anyone else
experience this?
Then Paul tells them that even though he is
away from them, his heart is with them. I think I love this so much
because it is so real and raw. I mean, how often do we feel this? My
physical body may be in one place, but my heart, thoughts, yearnings are with another...with a friend who is in the depths of heartache,
etc.... I think I always enjoy spending time with Paul in the Word
because I can identify so much with him, yet I still want to be more
like him!
My study note spoke of Paul's warning against deception and how he wanted this letter passed on to the church at
Laodicea...the one that Jesus later rebukes for being lukewarm! God
always raises up a forthtelling prophetic voice of warning to bring
believers back to the right path! Praise Him!
WE have to be vigilant
that we are not deceived in these days. We can only do that through
knowing the Word. We can only know the Word by soaking in it. God
flipped my mindsets and homeschool upside down this year by focusing us
on the Word first and foremost and fitting everything else into it,
instead of fitting "Bible" into 20 minutes a day. When this world, this
economic system, this government that is denying God comes crashing
down, I want my family standing on the Rock of Salvation. I want to be
about the "right" things. I have NO DESIRE to be lukewarm.
Make time for the Word friends. It is your lifeline of truth! Don't let
other things take precedence! Praying for us all
