wisdom and knowledge

colossians 2:2-4

2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

knowledge and wisdom are treasures but they are found in Jesus, not things of the world. In fact the wisdom of God seems like foolishness to us, and thats because we couldn't possibly expect to be able to understand him or have him all worked out with our puny logic.

The attitude of the world says we should flaunt what knowledge we've got and, if not, blag it as if we know what we talking about. I don't want to be too afraid or too proud to admit that I don't know everything, I haven't got everything figured out and I'm just trying to trust Jesus.

what's the point

Colossians1:27
God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The glorious mystery that I can have Jesus in me, such an amazing gift, should be all the motivation I need. I should look to that instead looking for earthly signs of "progress" to motivate me.

Colossians 1:28-29
28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

presenting everyone perfect in Christ is a difficult job to say the least. Is a good job that we are struggling with HIS energy, not our own.

turn around

Colossians 1:21-22

21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation

What a U turn! We were alienated from God, enemies doing evil things. But because Jesus died we are now able to be presented holy, without blemish and free from accusation! Woah there. Absolutely mint! Lord, help me never to forget how much you've done for me.

praying for people

Colossians 1:10-14

10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

What a prayer! What are my prayers for other people like? A lot of the time they are focussed on needs. People's relationship with Jesus is more important than their needs and Paul's prayer for the Colossians certainly reflects that.

fruit

colossians 1:6
All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

If I understand and grasp God's grace, how unworthy I am and what he's done for me, then I should automatically be growing and bearing fruit. I'm sorry that a lot of the time I take it for granted.

high places

1 Kings 11

1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done.

7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.

Solomon decided to compromise and do what the people around him were doing and build high places to worship other gods. Then for years, Kings who were trying to do God's will ignored these high places and left them there.

I might not be building an altar to Molech the detestable god in my back garden, but what are the high places in my life, the areas where I've compromised and copied the people around me?