DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6:
WORD OF WISDOM
Consider yourself as God's remodeling project.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Fill up on the Word of God
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are
called in one body; and be ye thankful. 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.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
Colossians 3:15-17
Take a moment to think about the most delicious meal you've ever eaten.
Perhaps it was an old family secret recipe that made the food come alive.
Perhaps it was a high-class restaurant you visited for a special occasion.
But it seemed like every bite was filled with flavor and it was a delight to
eat. Did you clean your plate, or did you stop after two or three bites and
say, "Well that was really good but I don't want to eat anymore"?
If we are to be the people God has called us to be, then a few bites of His
Word now and then are not enough. We need to be like diners in front of a
delicious meal who eat and eat because they cannot believe how good it
tastes. In fact, we should view the Bible as even more important than our
daily food. Job said, "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his
lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food"
(Job 23:12).
We have a generation of spiritually malnourished Christians, and it should
be no surprise that they are not changing the world. John Jay, the first
Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court said, "The Bible is the
best of all books, for it is the word of God and teaches us the way to be
happy in this world and in the next."
If the Bible does not fill our hearts and minds, we will not walk in its
commandments.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Colossians 1-4New 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 and the Lord Jesus Christ.[a]
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 fruit,[b] 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 conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in
whom we have redemption through His blood,[c] 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 principalities
or 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 stewardship from
God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the
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: which[d] 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 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, both of the Father and[e] 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
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 in it[f] with thanksgiving.
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. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all
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 of the sins[g] 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 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 festival or a
new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the
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 not[h] 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 Therefore,[i] 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 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[j] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid
for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
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 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 he[k] 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
complete[l] in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a
great zeal[m] 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 Nymphas and the church that is in
his[n] 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.
Footnotes:
a.Colossians 1:2 NU-Text omits and the Lord Jesus Christ.
b.Colossians 1:6 NU-Text and M-Text add and growing.
c.Colossians 1:14 NU-Text and M-Text omit through His blood.
d.Colossians 1:27 M-Text reads who.
e.Colossians 2:2 NU-Text omits both of the Father and.
f.Colossians 2:7 NU-Text omits in it.
g.Colossians 2:11 NU-Text omits of the sins.
h.Colossians 2:18 NU-Text omits not.
i.Colossians 2:20 NU-Text and M-Text omit Therefore.
j.Colossians 3:24 NU-Text omits for.
k.Colossians 4:8 NU-Text reads you may know our circumstances and he may.
l.Colossians 4:12 NU-Text reads fully assured.
m.Colossians 4:13 NU-Text reads concern.
n.Colossians 4:15 NU-Text reads Nympha . . . her house.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James VersionR. Copyright C 1982 by Thomas
Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
