DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR TUESDAY DECEMBER 15
WORD OF WISDOM
The first Christmas was pretty simple ... it's okay if yours is too.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Think Down
"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the
cross."
Philippians 2:6-8
We aren't accustomed to the downward mobility that brought Christ to the
manger and then to the cross. In fact, our thought processes are the very
opposite of God's.
We think "up." By our human standards, we want more recognition, more
achievements, more praise-more us.
But Jesus thought "down." He chose more humility, more service, more
sacrifice.
We tend to think in terms of self-promotion. But Christ thought in terms of
self-emptying: "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for
them in the inn" (Luke 2:7).
We think of how we can have more self-gratification. But Christ thought of
how He could serve: "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto,
but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).
We think of our comfort. But Christ thought of the Father's will: "I do
always those things that please him" (John 8:29).
Our thinking may bring short-term success, but Christ's sacrifice bought our
salvation.
Philippians 2:5 instructs, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus." This Christmas, ask the Lord to help you think the way that
Jesus thinks.
Look for ways to humble yourself and serve others. It will change your
life-and transform your Christmas.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Colossians 1-4 & Philemon
Colossians 1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our
brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father [a]and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their Faith in Christ
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying
always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your
love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in
heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6
which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing
forth [b]fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the
grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow
servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also
declared to us your love in the Spirit.
Preeminence of Christ
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray
for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in
all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the
Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing
in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His
glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving
thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of
darkness and [c]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in
whom we have redemption [d]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or [e]principalities or
[f]powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is
before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of
the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Reconciled in Christ
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on
earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked
works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death,
to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight- 23 if
indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved
away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to
every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Sacrificial Service for Christ
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is
lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the
church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the [g]stewardship from
God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the
[h]mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has
been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: [i]which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and
teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working
which works in me mightily.
Not Philosophy but Christ
2 For I want you to know what a great conflict[j] I have for you and those
in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that
their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining
to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of
the mystery of God, [k]both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are
hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For
though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing
[l]to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7
rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been
taught, abounding [m]in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone [n]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. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of
the Godhead [o]bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of
all [p]principality and power.
Not Legalism but Christ
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without
hands, by putting off the body [q]of the sins of the flesh, by the
circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also
were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him
from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having
forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the [r]handwriting of
requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken
it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed
principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing
over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [s]festival
or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the
[t]substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking
delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things
which he has [u]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not
holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit
together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
20 [v]Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the
world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to
regulations- 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all
concern things which perish with the using-according to the commandments and
doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in
self-imposed religion, false humility, and [w]neglect of the body, but are
of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Not Carnality but Christ
3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things
above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden
with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also
will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6
Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of
disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another,
since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the
new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who
created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor
uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in
all.
Character of the New Man
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies,
kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another,
and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even
as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things
put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God
rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be
thankful. 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. 17 And whatever you do
in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through Him.
The Christian Home
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to
the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not
with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance;
for[x] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid
for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
Christian Graces; Final Greetings
4 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you
also have a Master in heaven.
Christian Graces
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3
meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the
word, to speak the [y]mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4
that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let
your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how
you ought to answer each one.
Final Greetings
7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the
Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for
this very purpose, that [z]he may know your circumstances and comfort your
hearts, 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you.
They will make known to you all things which are happening here.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of
Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome
him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers
for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a
comfort to me.
12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always
laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and
[aa]complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a
great [ab]zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in
Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15 Greet the
brethren who are in Laodicea, and [ac]Nymphas and the church that is in
[ad]his house.
Closing Exhortations and Blessing
16 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. 17 And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have
received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."
18 This salutation by my own hand-Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with
you. Amen.
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Philemon New King James Version (NKJV)
Greeting
1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to [a]the beloved
Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon's Love and Faith
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of
your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the
saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the
acknowledgment of every good thing which is in [b]you in Christ Jesus. 7 For
we [c]have great [d]joy and [e]consolation in your love, because the
[f]hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
The Plea for Onesimus
8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is
fitting, 9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you-being such a one as
Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ- 10 I appeal to you
for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once
was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.
12 I am sending him [g]back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own
[h]heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might
minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I
wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it
were, but voluntary.
15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might
receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave-a beloved
brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in
the Lord.
Philemon's Obedience Encouraged
17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if
he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am
writing with my own hand. I will repay-not to mention to you that you owe me
even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the
Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you
will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room
for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
Farewell
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark,
Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
