Category: Colossians

Day 9 – “… any virtue… anything praiseworthy…”

Phil 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Virtuous and praiseworthy….

Paul is really getting down to brass tacks here.  If you remember, each of the “whatevers” have implied something – my words, others, my actions, how ‘in tune’ I am with Christ, my close relationships, received and given blessings – which brings us to here.  Today’s “whatever” words mean exactly what I think they do.  They deal with me – my inner man.  “Any virtue” is a direct shot at the character and morals of my life.  Character and morals are things that can be easily hidden and glossed over.  John Eldredge – in his book, Wild at Heart – calls it “posing.”

Who I really am is something only God really knows. (Jeremiah 17:8).

It would be really easy to begin meditating on my inner man and listen to the lies of the enemy trying to define me by what I have done in the past.  I think this is why Paul qualifies that we are to meditate on “anything praiseworthy.” Romans clearly says that I have “…fallen short of the glory of God…” and that’s not what defines me. The redemptive blood and resurrection of Jesus is what defines me as a son of God.  Through Jesus, I am a Son.  Through his resurrection, I am an heir.  See Gal 4:6-7 – the verse I based this entire blog on. It is also found in Romans 8:14-18.  That’s who I am.

Colossians 3 in The Message is a great chapter in defining that new life and who I am.

When it all comes down to it, that’s all that is really virtuous in me is Jesus.  All that is really praiseworthy is Christ.  Again, I go back to Galatians 2:20 (Like I’ve said before, I always end up here…)

Gal 2:20 (NKJV) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

My character – my morals – are all rooted in Christ living in me.

“… any virtue… anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

… Running After Papa

Day 3 – “whatever things are noble”

Phil 4:8 (NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Nobility.

Immediately when I hear that word, I think back to an era of Kings & Queens, Princes and Princesses, Dukes and Lords and other noblemen and noblewomen of the day. Being a huge Monte Python fan, I’m careful to separate history from the hilarity of John Cleese being turned into a newt!

So what is Paul saying when he says to meditate on things noble? According to Strong’s concordance, noble means “1. august, venerable, reverend. 2. to be venerated for character, honourable.” This simply means… I have to get my dictionary out! “August” – if you are in Texas means “unending days of 100+ temperatures” – but Webster and the rest of the world defines it as: “marked by dignity or grandeur”; “venerable (or venerated)” means “to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference; to honor with a ritual act of devotion”; and “reverend” means “worthy of reverence; of or relating to the clergy.”

I get the idea. It’s about character. It’s about behavior. It’s about reverence. It’s relating to our actions.

So the question begs, “How?” How do I fill my mind and mediate on things noble?

In Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Whole Bible he states: “a regard to truth in our words and engagements, and to decency and becomingness in our behaviour, suitable to our circumstances and condition of life.”

Colossians 3 is an amazing book. It’s one I’m considering memorizing. It is an entire chapter on how to practically live out this Christian life. If I had to find a couple of verses that capture the essence of what Paul is talking about in this idea of “noble”, as noble is directed at our actions, I think it would be Colossians 3:12-13.

Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV) 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.

So for today, “…whatever things are noble…” I will meditate on and live out and “… put on…” those traits of nobility.

** SIDE NOTE ** It’s getting pretty cool. God is waking me up earlier and earlier – before my alarm goes off to help me have more time to soak in His presence. From a “practically walking this out” perspective, it’s getting hard. The evenings are when my kids like to watch TV shows and there are a few series that we watch together. They keep calling me to watch what we’ve recorded and I’m having to remind them of my 30 day journey…. Keep me in your prayers…. the enemy is in full attack mode (my will, my family, my job) but my God is faithful – this I can be sure of.

…Running After Papa

 

 

The God Express Button

We have a very complex microwave.  There are tons of different settings to cook almost anything you can imagine.  It has the ability to brown and bake using light while cooking the inside with microwaves. It can cook a batch of chocolate chip cookies in 7 minutes.  That 3-5 whole minutes faster than the oven!  It can cook biscuit in 6 minute.  Whatever you want to cook, it can cook and it can do it faster than the convection oven (which is faster than a conventional oven).

However, our microwave has two buttons that are used the most… far beyond any other buttons.  THE single most used button on the microwave is the “Microwave Express” button.  This button turns the microwave on for 30 seconds.  If you touch it while the microwave is on, it adds another 30 seconds.  So, if I want to cook something for 1 and 1/2 minutes, it’s 3 touches of the button.

The second most used button is the one just above it that turns the light on in the microwave, so I can see my food being nuclearized, because I just HAVE to see my coffee get reheated!

I’ve noticed that I’m just that same way with Father.  I want to push the “God Express” button in various areas of my life:

Prayer

How many times have I sent up A SINGLE prayer… a.k.a. the “flare prayer” to God?  “OK Lord, I’ve pushed my God Express button, answer this prayer please…”

Ezra 10:1 Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly.
Neh 1:4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

When Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray… (Matt 26:36-46) Jesus prayed for an hour the first time…

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

He went on to pray for two more sessions.

Col 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
1 Thess 5:18 Pray without ceasing

I’m not advocating that there are not appropriate times for quick prayers to the Lord for wisdom, for an immediate situation, whatever… but if that’s the ONLY kind of prayer I’m offering and I’m expecting immediate results, then I’m treating God more like a Genie in a Bottle than I am the Creator of the Universe.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, immediately after pushing my God Express button, I push the ‘light’ button, because I want to “see” what He’s going to do about it and how He’s going to handle it.

Transformation

To often I find myself with this same attitude in my own personal growth and tranformation.  “Gee, that was a great lesson Dad!  I’m so glad I journaled that,”  never to look at it again or continue working on, studying, or chewing on it.

Phil 2:12-13 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure

“Work out” my salvation?  “Work out?”  That would imply that when I stop, I get weaker and less “in shape.”  Wow.  Great picture and application.  My spiritual walk needs to be exercised and strengthened daily.  There is no express button for instant muscles or instant fitness.  It is a daily, continual, diligent exercise and regiment.  So is my transformation.  Again, I’m not advocating a religious formula or legalistic “do & don’t” list.  It’s an attitude of the heart.  It’s  a process of discipleship based in a real, living, vibrant relationship with Jesus.

Guess what? The God Express Button and the Light button aren’t connected… in fact, they don’t even exist.  They are stickers that I have put on and a deception that I have believed.

Yes, Father lets us “see” our own progress sometimes.  He is a good dad.  He encourages us along the way.   But He wants me to grow.  He wants me to learn patience.

Prov 19:11 A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
Prov 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
Eccles 7:8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
Isa 7:13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also?
Rom 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
Rom 9:22 What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?
2 Cor 6:6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Col 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
Col 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
1 Tim 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
2 Tim 3:10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
2 Tim 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Heb 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
James 5:10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
2 Pet 3:15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

Papa, I repent of believing the lie that there is a “God Express” button that I can push to make you respond in the time frame of MY choosing.  How selfish and prideful I was.  I ask your forgiveness and know that according to 1 John 1:9 You are faithful to forgive me because I have confessed.  Help me to be patient.  I ask for that fruit of your Spirit to manifest and find good soil to grow in my life.  Continue your work in my heart and in my life.  I want to be extinct so that You are all others see, hear and feel.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Changing Lives…

Colossians 1:4-6 (NLT)

4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good New. 6 This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

The Good News bears fruit by changing lives just as it changed mine. There ‘s much to unpack in that statement.

  • Am I sharing the Good News?
  • Is it changing others lives everywhere?
  • Did it change my life? When did it change my life?
  • Is it still changing my life?

OK. These questions are a little haunting, especially if I ask myself is the Good News changing lives in my own home? How different is my family from the rest of the world? Is God’s word impacting their lives? Why or why not? The why or why not is directly related to Question #1. Am I sharing with my family – my wife, my sons, my daughters – the impact and change God’s word has on my own life?

Lord, please help me realize and be attentive to “teachable moments” with my family. I Peter 3:15 says “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ” I ask to be attentive and ready Lord, especially to those in my own household. In Jesus’ name… Amen.