Thankful?

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful
On reading this last chapter in Colossians I asked myself the following questions:
How much do I pray?
How thankful am I?
Paul tells us that we should devote ourselves to prayer. How devoted are we? Do we only pray when we need help or are going through some hardship? We need to be praying all the time, we need to share our lives with God through prayer. Its all about communication. If you don't communicate with others then there is no relationship, likewise, if there is no communication with the Lord then there is no relationship.
Paul also tells us in this passage that we should be thankful. How thankful are we? 
It was our Harvest service today at church. I know that this is the time of year that we thank God for what we have, however I really had a revelation this morning. I know that what I'm about to say isn't new and isn't brain surgery, but I do believe its an important statement. 
WE NEED TO THANK GOD FOR WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT HE'S DONE ALL THE TIME! 
When was the last time we just wanted to thank God for the everyday things, the mundane, the stuff that we take for granted? When was the last time that we prayed just to thank God for who He is and left the shopping list on hold? We so often forget to thank God and just pray for our needs and the needs of others, and sometimes even just our wants. I know that it says in scripture that God will give us the desires of our hearts, but this doesn't mean that He is Father Christmas and so just gives us stuff. We need to remember that when we pray we are talking to the creator of the universe. We are communicating with the Saviour of the world. Let's give God the respect He deserves and give Him praise and thanks for who He is and everything He's done. 
 

Who is your life?

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
I don't usually start with the passage, but I love today's passage so much that I couldn't think of a better way to start than God's word!
There is so much in this passage from chapter 3 of Colossians, but I love the fact that Christ is my life! Paul is telling us that we need to make sure that Christ is everything, that Jesus is Lord of our lives, that He is the centre of everything that we do. 
Is that the case though? Is Christ the very core of everything in my life? Is Jesus the centre of every conversation. I remember when living at home with my parents, there was a sign on the wall in the living room that said, 

'Christ is the head of this house, the unseen guest at every meal, 

the silent listener to every conversation' 

I believe that when Christ is our very lives, this above saying comes into play. For us that means that every situation we are in, wherever we are, whoever we're with, we invite Christ to be there.  

What does Jesus mean to me?

I started looking at Colossians today. Once again Paul is writing a letter to one of the churches. I love this letter, it always makes me feel uplifted in my faith.
I love the way that Paul describes Jesus in this first chapter. 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together 

What a great way to describe Jesus. This got me thinking, how would I describe Him? What does Jesus mean to me? 
He is my Lord, my Saviour, my Rock, my Provider, my King, my Creator, my Father, He is my everything, the list is endless. 
If you are reading this, what does Jesus mean to you? Is He part of your life or is He part of a story that you've read? Is He your Lord or is He just a swearword? 
Make Jesus your Lord today - you'll never regret it - it'll be the best decision you've ever made.

I can do anything!

I finished Philippians today reading both chapters 3 & 4. What a great way for Paul to end his letter and his encouragement to the church at Philippi.
In verse 13 of chapter 4 he says these very famous words, I can do everything through him who gives me strength
What a great verse, what a fantastic truth. We like Paul can take this verse and run with it. We can do everything through Jesus who strengthens us. When we get up in the morning we have the knowledge that we can do anything that we put our minds to because Jesus has given us the power and authority to do it in His name!
Let's remember that with Jesus strength there is nothing that we cannot accomplish for Him. We can be bold and courageous and show others Jesus through actions and words. We can pray for the sick and see them healed. We can give words of encouragement and knowledge to people through the Power of the Holy Spirit.There is nothing that we cannot do, because Jesus has given us the Spiritual gifts to get the job done. So let's do it - let's be strengthened today and go out showing the love of Jesus to others.

Why do we do what we do?

Why do we do what we do? Do we go to church because its a Sunday? Do we read the bible because we want to or because we feel obliged to? Do we spend time with God or just say a quick prayer and call it job done? Do we believe that Jesus died for us or do we just think its a nice story that we learnt at church?
In Philippians chapter 2, Paul says that we should do everything humbly, nothing out of selfish ambition or gain. We need to make sure that everything we do is for the right reasons - to glorify God and lead others into a relationship with Him.
In verses 5-11 Paul says this: 
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 
Jesus was humble, He was obedient, He came to earth to serve and to die. We need to make sure that everything we do, glorifies Him. He deserves our praise, our worship, our lives, He deserves and asks for our all - let's not let Him down, let's put everything into our lives for Jesus, so that His name will be lifted high. 

That I would decrease so that He would increase! 

 

Do you contend?

I started Philippians today. This once again is written by Paul, and like Ephesians he starts with some encouragement telling them that he prays for them.
The verse that jumped out at me was verse 27, Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 
The word that really jumped off the page for me was CONTENDING. This word means to struggle, to fight, to engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve.  
Do I contend for people? Do I contend for my family and friends? Do I get down on my knees and struggle for those that mean the most to me? 
We all pray for those that we love, we all pray for those who need prayer, we all pray for the lost. BUT do we fight for them? Do we fight for our churches? Do we fight for our leaders? Do we fight for our communities? I could continue with the questions, but what is the answer?
Personally, I don't think I fight enough. I pray for those I love but I believe that I need to fight for them, I need to struggle for them, I need to contend for them. Come on church - let's start to contend for our lost world. Let's fight for them, let's get on our knees and make a difference with our prayers.
 

Second best is not enough

Ephesians last chapter ends with encouragement for the readers and is full of advice and help for us today. 
In the previous chapter, Paul tells of how we should behave as Christians and he continues with this theme in chapter 6. In the first few verses he speaks of children honouring parents and salves honouring masters. In fact slaves are told to do everything to the glory of God. 
We should do the same. We need to make sure that whatever we do its done to glorify the Lord. 
How can we do this? 
The way to accomplish this is to make sure whatever we do whether big or small, we do in a manner that shows who we are in Christ. We must always do our best, we must never cut corners and think that will do, only our best will do for God, second best is not good enough.
When we behave in this manner, it will show others Jesus. When we get on with things without complaining it shows others Jesus. When we go the extra mile it shows others Jesus. 
Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words