Day 277: Colossians 1:1-17

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” - Colossians‬ ‭1:15-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

How incredible is our Savior, Jesus Christ? He not only died to give us freedom (verse 14); Jesus also is credited in this verse with the creation of everything. And to make things even more impressive, we see that He is currently holding the entire universe together.

Jesus is our:

• Originator

• Redeemer

• Sustainer

So when you hear those who have walked with Jesus for a long time say, “Jesus is all you need,” they could not be more correct. This is not just a trite saying to put on a T-Shirt. We needed Him to exist. We needed Him to die and rise (when we placed our trust in Him), and we currently need Him to hold our lives (and all creation) together.

This should drive us to our knees today (with outstretched arms) in worship!

“No creature is autonomous. All are God’s servants (Ps. 119:91) and dependents (Ps. 104).” - N.T. Wright

Day 276: Philippians 4:1-23

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” - Philippians 4:6 NIV

Ben Witherington writes, "Verse 6 brings a further exhortation, this time to give up counterproductive anxiety, which in any case betrays a significant failure to trust the Lord."

Paul gives us the cure for anxiousness in every situation where we may find ourselves. The antidote is prayer. Yet he gives three different words to describe his prescription of prayer. The first term is the general word used in communicating with God (proseuche). The second word used speaks to the form of prayer that lays out all requests (deesei). The last word used (aitemata) probably speaks to the content of our prayers.

The point? We all need deep, consistent, thoughtful, and earnest prayer. Plus, we have to have a plan for prayer. These three words communicate that Paul believed we have to be intentional or we won’t be consistent in our prayer lives.

What are you anxious about today? What seems insurmountable? We see in the verses following that Paul had been worried about finances, and God had met him with what he needed every time.

Day 275: Philippians 3:4-21

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” - Philippians‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In this section of Philippians 3, we get a great picture of what Paul thought about repentance. He uses the same form of a Greek word three times, zemia 2X and zemioo 1X, in two verses. The idea behind these words is freely forfeiting what you previously had.

We all fear loss. Much of what we do is positioning ourselves to avoid it at all costs. Yet when we lose our former lives of selfishness and pride, it frees us up to receive salvation from the hand of God.

Augustine said it well: "God gives where he finds empty hands."

Are you looking back on your past as something you wish you still had? It is so tempting to live on the energy of our past experiences, even if they were completely misdirected.

Paul said, "I am focusing all my energies on this one thing:  Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead."

All of our successes and failures don't deserve our attention. God is doing a new thing. Do you see it? Trust Jesus to give you something even better for today and then for eternity (see 2:21).

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” - Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Day 274: Philippians 2:19-30, 3:1-3

“Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.'”- Philippians 2:27 ESV

One time as I was going through a music rehearsal at church, I noticed that one of our musicians seemed troubled. This sweet lady had just recently overcome a cancer diagnosis and was healthy (and is to this day). We had prayed for her and wept with her through it. Yet she was still in tears. I had to inquire as to why. She mentioned that she didn't know why she'd been spared and so many others hadn't. I assured her that none of us knew the answer to that question, but I did know that God apparently had more for her to do here. There are more songs to play. There are more people to reach with Christ's love. I can still see her smile through her tears.

Epaphroditus was spared, and Paul chalked it up to God showering mercy (also translated as compassion) on him.

C.H. Spurgeon, writing on this verse, said it beautifully, "Lazarus of Bethany, Dorcas, Epaphroditus, and Trophimus are a few of that great host of sick folk whom the Lord loves in their sicknesses, for whom the promise was written that the Lord ‘sustains him on his sick bed. In his illness, you restore to health (Psalm 41:3).”

Even still, the compassion of God is expressed in so many ways. "Why?!" is the question we may never get an answer to, but "What?!" is the one God will answer each time. Jesus can turn any circumstance, no matter how hard, into something that can make an eternal difference. We know this because we've seen many who weren't as fortunate as Epaphroditus, Paul being one of them himself (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-12).

Even so, we must always remember that if we are spared, it is an opportunity for us to reflect God's glory. For we know that He is the great Redeemer of time.

Day 273: Philippians 1:27-30, 2:1-18

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” - ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The word used for attitude here is φρονέω phroneō. Jesus uses the same word in Matthew 16:23 when he calls Peter “Satan,” and says that he doesn’t have his mind (phroneo) set on the things of God but on the things of man.

So what does it practically look like to think like Jesus thought when He was on this earth, in the flesh? Verses 6-18 lay it out for us.

It has to do with a whole lot of selflessness. It isn’t a downgrading of our value. Instead, it is using all of our worth to pour ourselves out for the sake of others. It is an ego removal surgery of sorts.

When we think like Jesus thought and thus live as Jesus lived, we will stand out like stars in the darkness.

There will never be a shortage of crooked and perverse (selfish) people. So when we put this all into practice, everything we do will be a strong witness of the gospel.

Yes, it will be a lot of work, but God will give us the desire and power to see it through (verses 12-13), and this ability comes directly from the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.

John Calvin, commenting on this verse, masterfully wrote, "There are, however, two departments, in the first of which he invites us to imitate Christ, because this is the rule of life: in the second, he allures us to it, because this is the road by which we attain true glory."

Day 272: Philippians 1:1-26

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 1:6 ESV

An inability to finish has to be one of our most significant flaws as humans. We start a book, only to never make it past the second chapter. We get into a home project, only to run out of steam when it requires getting on a ladder. We resolve to read our Bibles and pray daily, then a week goes by, and we realize we haven't read a single word or prayed a single prayer.

God isn't just a starter; he's also a finisher. Yet the way he finishes is a little different from the way we usually think of checking something off of our list. He sees what he is doing in us as a process. The Bible calls this sanctification (see 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5).

C.H. Spurgeon, writing about this verse, put it this way: "Granted an immutable God, we may be sure that grace will complete what grace begins."

God is committed to our growth, and He will never grow tired of that work.

As we close, it is also worth noting that Paul isn't checking out as God carries this out to completion. As God continues to do the work, Paul is fervently on his knees for these Christians in Philippi. What a great reminder for us that God wants to include us in the work He is doing in the lives of others.

Day 271: Ephesians 6:1-24

“And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” - Ephesians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭NASB

Slavery in the Bible is something that is difficult to stomach, especially as we read the New Testament. Why didn’t Paul say, “Alright! Enough! Slavery is done among Christians. Let them be free!”?

Here in Ephesians 6 we see what Paul (via the Holy Spirit) was doing in the area of slavery (and for all who were marginalized). The groundwork was laid for every culture to recognize the intrinsic truth that all have been created equal in God’s sight. For the first time in human history, we see here equality proclaimed among those who were societal unequals.

Jesus doesn’t favor anyone more than another (never has). All are fit to put on every piece of the illustrious armor of God.

This was a revolutionary thought in the first century, and it is still splitting heads today. The rich. The poor. Male. Female. The famous. The forgotten. All of us matter to God. There should be no ranking system in play within Christianity.

Abolition of slaves was initiated by verses like these.

God doesn’t play favorites.

Darrell Bock, in his Ephesians commentary, brings us into focus even more as we close: “No matter what the social status of people may be, the response that honours God respects other people as those made in God’s image. There is a hint of the mutual submission of 5:21 here because the point is that all submit to the Lord.”

Day 270: Ephesians 5:1-20

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving...giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians‬ ‭5:4, 20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We love being around thankful people, and it is no secret that they are rare in our world today. What is more likely is for us to meet someone who is trying to convince us they've accomplished so much via their solo act. It is then no shock to us that, from Paul’s perspective, the best way to combat the darkness in our lives and our churches is thankfulness from our mouths.

In between the verses above, we also see the exciting quotation in verse 14: “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

F.F. Bruce has an interesting note on this verse:

“The wording may well be that of a primitive Christian baptismal hymn (cf. the early description of baptism as φωτισμός, enlightenment); the very rhythm of the three stichoi is of a type associated in the Greek memory with religious initiation.”

Again, we see that thankfulness, praise, and hymns are foundational to consistently step into the light emanating from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Day 269: Ephesians 4:17-32

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” - Ephesians 4:30 ESV

The Greek word used for grieve here is lypeo, and it means to cause someone to be sad, sorrowful, or distressed. This is the only place in the New Testament this word is used in reference to the Holy Spirit.  (We do see Matthew (26:37) use it to describe Jesus’ state in the Garden of Gethsemane.)

Why would God use such a human word to describe how he feels when we make poor decisions, especially with the way we speak?

As we’ve seen before, God is giving us something with which we can relate.

All of us have experienced grief in some form, and many times it shows itself after we've felt the sting of disappointment or pain. The same word is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:13: "...that you may not grieve as others who have no hope."

So how can we keep from making the Holy Spirit distressed?

Paul lays it out when he says in verses 22, 24: "put off your old self...and put on the new self." Don't climb back into the corpse of anger and hateful speech. Step into a better life with Jesus.

E.K. Simpson and F.F. Bruce’s words are so helpful in their commentary on this verse: “It is not an influence that these sacrileges stifle, but a sacred Person they repel, one who deigns in loving-kindness to dwell in our sin-deflowered souls, to become our Teacher, our Consoler, our Warden, the earnest and ensurer of our final purification. A careless walk implies irrecognition of all we owe to His untiring patience and quickening energy.”

Day 268: Ephesians 4:1-16

“From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” - Ephesians 4:16 NIV

No matter what organization or movement we are a part of, we all love them to grow and succeed. “Scaling” growth is something businesses long to see.

How will we see this “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” within the Church? Do we need to alter our marketing plans or sink more money into advertising? Or what about making our buildings more kept up and shiny?

The message Paul lays down here is that cooperative unity allows us (as Jesus’ Church) to take in and employ the fullness of God’s plan for His redeemed family. Being one and having each individual engaged in their own role is our organic marketing plan.

God has given us all we need: Spiritual gifts, a Christian family, strong leadership, the truth, and Christ Himself.

If growth isn’t happening, it isn’t from a lack of Jesus equipping the Church. It is likely due to our resistance to unity or a refusal to believe we have an essential role to play.

May we become engaged in what God is doing in our midst today. From reading these sixteen verses today, it is vital to the mission!

“Christ is the glue that holds the body together…Jesus is also the source of the body’s growth. As love and gifts are applied with truth, the body grows.” - Bock, D. L. (2019). Ephesians (E. J. Schnabel, Ed.; Vol. 10, p. 131)