Author: Karen deBlieck

Read Colossians 4

Key Verse: Colossians 4 “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”

Paul had a very strong view on prayer. The Greek verb he uses here was also used by an historian (Polybius) in describing the stubborn persistence of a siege. This powerful imagery is not an overstatement — it is merely consistent with the high view scripture has of prayer: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (Jas.5:16). But it’s to be something else too.

Prayer is to be the communication of someone who is “vigilant” (or, “watchful”) and “thankful” (NIV). It’s not just to be the crying out of felt needs, but the intelligent expression of alert observation and grateful dependence.

To be alert in prayer means, among other things, to be in touch with the world. Prayer is not an “eyes-closed-get-in-touch-with-my-inner-needs” kind of exercise. Rather, its a “what’s-happening-in-the-world-and-what-are-my-neighbours-needs” kind of of exercise. That’s not to say we don’t include personal concerns in our prayers from time to time. But it is to say that prayer is to be much more than it is for many of u s in reality; prayer is so often an exclusive petitioning on behalf of one person: ourself. What’s more, that self-absorption is also presumptuous — we presume to give God our agenda, expecting him to perform our will.

That’s why gratitude in our prayer is so important. Gratitude says you acknowledge God’s grace, accept your dependence upon Him, and recognize you’re just one of the millions who have embraced His offer of forgiveness for sin in Christ. Most importantly, gratitude is the context in which which we most naturally pray, “Not my will, but This be done.”

Read Colossians 3

Key Verse: Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

These are two ways of interpreting “the word of Christ”. The first is fairly straightforward: the word(s) which Christ spoke — His teaching. The other is a bit more complicated but no less probable: the “word” is the prevalent Greek concept “logos”, which referred to the divine essence imminent in the universe and present in the individual soul. Paul uses this concept but gives it teeth, as it were; he personalizes it and calls it, “the Logos of Christ” or “the Logos, which is Christ” (See John 1:1). But both interpretations apply. Both refer to the “substance” of Christian faith: Jesus Christ and Him crucified; and Christ is to dwell in you richly…” The question is “How”?

Here’s how: “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” Two things stand out here. One is the assumption of Paul that everyone in the church has a responsibility for the spiritual welfare of his brother and sister in Christ (see 1 For. 12:7). The other is a remarkable comment on the richness and depth of early Christian music. Their music was substantial — it was full of lyrical theology and literally taught the people.

A question we should ask whenever assisting the relative value of Christian teaching and music is not, “Do I like the style?” Your personal taste is not the issue. The question is: “Is Christ the substance of this teaching or music, and is it directed to the Lord?” If the answer is “Yes,” then sing with all your heart.

March 31, 2021

Alms, Prayer, & Fasting 6:1-18

The Quid pro Quo of Forgiveness vv. 14 & 15

I’ve already referenced these verses commenting on v. 12. But to emphasize the point, take a look at Jesus’ hyperbolic parable of the unmerciful servant in ch. 18:23-35.

Here’s a guy who owes the king ten thousand (!!) bags of gold. The king wants to settle accounts, but his servant can’t repay. Under threat of being sold into slavery he throws himself on the king’s mercy and the king cancels the debt. Then, even as he’s leaving the king’s presence, he sees a fellow servant who owes him a mere hundred silver coins. He grabs him, chokes him, and demands payment. The fellow who has just been forgiven a humungous debt throws the poor wretch into debtors’ prison. The other servants report this incident to the king. And the king, in total outrage, sends the unmerciful fellow to prison and torture.

Jesus looks his audience in the eye and says, “This is how my Heavenly Father will treat each of your unless you forgive your brother and sister from your heart.” Whoa! Where do I sign?

Read Colossians 2

Key Verse: Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

In chapter two, Paul confronts the heresy spoken of in the introduction. Its most fundamental flaw is its dependence upon “human tradition” and “basic principles of this world” (NIV) rather than on the finished work of Christ. The “human tradition” referred to, among other things, the rite of circumcision (v. 1), borrowed by the Gnostics from Jewish practice. The “basic principles” or “elemental spirits” (RSV) of the world refer to the elementary constituents of which the physical world is formed (earth, air, fire, and water — in Greek philosophic tradition). The heresy was comprised of a Jewish tradition/Greek philosophy hybrid with a little of Jesus thrown into the mix. As far as Paul was concerned, this mix was bogus. Faith in Christ alone was enough — nothing need be added.

That’s why Paul says, “He [God] has made [you] alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements [the written code — NIV] that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (vv. 13, 14). Because the Mosaic Law has been “nailed to the cross”, Paul tells the Colossians not to be intimidated by legalists (v. 16) Legalism kills. Jesus makes us alive (v. 13).

He also tells them not to be intimidated by spritualizers who “delight in false humility and worship of angels” and “[intrude] into those things which [they have] not seen” (v. 18). These mystics, Pauls says, have  “lost connection with the Head (v. 19 NIV). They are full of flapping and flurry, just like a chicken with its head cut off.

Paul’s point is clear: “[in Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (v.9). All we need is Jesus; that’s all!