Food for the Journey - extract from Colossians

New for this month is the 365-day devotional Food for the Journey. This volume contains the best teaching from the most-well known speakers from over the years at the Keswick Convention. These readings will teach, inspire and encourage from across the whole canon of scripture.

Throughout July and August we will be sharing inspiring quotes, Scripture passages and extracts to celebrate this new release.

Today's extract is from Colossians

Day 317
read Colossians 2:1–7
Key verses: Colossians 2:2–3

2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete under- standing, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Today, people use tarot cards, look up their horoscopes and talk in vague terms about ‘spirituality’. Our syncretistic, pluralistic culture is not unlike Colossae.

In Colossians 2, Paul confronts a world full of elemental spirits that many believe control their lives and need to be respected and placated. But he offers hope by explaining why Christians don’t need to be controlled by these powers: in Christ there is freedom from such bondage, and fullness of life.

How do we reach that point of freedom and sufficiency in Christ? First of all, we are to be ‘encouraged in heart’ (verse 2). We need more than just friendly churches. In friendly churches you may get a nice warm welcome, but then find that that’s it. Nobody ever invites you home, takes you out for a coffee, offers to babysit or helps with the ironing. Instead of friendly churches, we need encouraging com- munities of people who are becoming like Jesus.

Second, we are to be ‘united in love’, so that we may have the ‘full riches of complete understanding’. Paul wants Christians who are full of love, but also those who grow in their faith intellectually so they appreciate all they have in Jesus. If only we could put these two things together: ‘full of grace and truth’, like Jesus (John 1:14).

Paul wants us to have this understanding so that we may know the ‘mystery of God’. We think of a mystery as a puzzle. But in the New Testament, a mystery is something God has previously hinted at in one way or another and now has clearly revealed. The mystery is that, right from the very beginning, God did not intend to make only the Jewish race his chosen people. His Plan A was to bring salvation to the whole world. The Jews’ election and special status was for a purpose. Through them, salvation would come through Christ to bless the world.

Why is it important to know about the mystery? Because that mystery is Christ. The whole Old Testament was, and still is, pointing forward to him. He is the key to unlocking its treasures and to understanding what its big picture is all about. Indeed, he is the key to life itself, the one in whom are ‘hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ (verse 3). Christ is what everything, the very structure of reality, is ultimately all about.

How would you rate yourself in terms of demonstrating encourage- ment, love and understanding? are you an encourager who puts faith into action? are you loving, striving to unite with others on the fundamentals of the gospel rather than dividing over minor issues? are you growing in understanding – taking steps to deepen your knowledge of God’s Word? Desire to excel in these three areas – encouragement, love and understanding – so that you may know Christ better.

Love the lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
(Mark 12:30)

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