from colossae to cork 3

last week i spent 5 days with other pais project leaders from across europe at the talmidin academy. we were taught by paul gibbs, global director of pais project, on discipleship.

we learned that one of the key things that is necessary for leading and growing those around you is transparency, giving people an example to follow. so, we have each been encouraged to blog our daily devotions from those 5 days...

personal devos from the talmidim academy

day 3: colossians 2:13-23

vs 15  having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

what Christ did for us on the cross was so pure, so holy, so good and so full of true Love...it exposed evil for what it really is.

can our lives do the same?

how?

vs. 16-23

we've tried our own methods....

we respond with fear - ultimately fighting darkness with darkness....leaving us in the dark.

out of fear of doing wrong, we rely on:

- religious rituals

- super spirituality

- strict rules

but is our goal, in the end, to not do the wrong things?

or is our goal to live a holy life so full of Love that darkness is exposed for the sake of others?

so paul rejects all of these...

- religious rituals "these are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ."

- super spirituality "such people go into great detail about what they have seen, and their unspiritual minds puff them up with idle notions. they have lost connection with the head"

- strict rules "these rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings."

paul goes on to instruct the colossians...

colossians 3:1-2  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.

when i look at Christ's example, it's like He brings things to the surface that maybe i have hidden, neglected, or didn't even realize. He makes them public in my eyes.

that crippling fear looks ridiculous in light of His faithfulness and goodness.

those selfish tendencies are absurd compared to His sacrificial Love.

my pride is hideous next to the (my) Creator's humility.

and He inspires me to be more like Him.

can we-as His followers-do that for the world?

vs 3:12-14  therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. forgive as the Lord forgave you.

and over all these virtues put on LOVE, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

asking Father to continue shaping my heart to look like His, that the way i live my life will glorify Him and expose darkness so that others might be set free from it.