Ephesians 1:1-14 Ephesians! For our reading list, the last of Paul’s nine “city” letters… Paul references the Trinity here, explicitly. He speaks of the Father in verses 3-6 and 9-10 (although Paul’s pronoun usage – Him, His, He – often makes it difficult for us to distinguish between the Father and the Son), the Son …
Author Archives: Fred
August 28 / Colossians 4:7-18
Colossians 4:7-18 I have long known about the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) and God’s warning to them not to be lukewarm in their faith. But it had slipped from my mind that they are mentioned four times in today’s reading (vv. 13, 15, 16). The interesting item here has to do with Paul’s telling …
August 27 / Colossians 3:18-4:6
Colossians 3:18-4:6 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. (v. 20) I’m sure we’ve shared a few times with you all that Carol and I had a broken engagement for almost two years. The fifth (fourth) commandment specifically tells us to “Honor your father and mother…” (Exodus 20:12) Paul makes an …
August 26 / Colossians 3:12-17
Colossians 3:12-17 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (v. 14) It sounds simple enough and it is certainly good instruction for those of us who call ourselves Christians. But almost every time that I find a “love one another” verse, I am drawn back to 2003 and …
August 25 / Colossians 3:1-11
Colossians 3:1-11 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (v. 3) Our lives are “hidden”. Hidden from whom? I have a picture of myself standing behind Jesus. When God the Father looks toward me, he sees Jesus. Moreover, when Satan looks toward me, he also sees Jesus! Unfortunately, in …
August 24 / Colossians 2:16-23
Colossians 2:16-23 Paul writes a lot in today’s reading about “regulations”: Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. (v. 16) In this first quote it sounds like Paul is talking about the Judaizers – Jews …
August 23 / Colossians 2:6-15
Colossians 2:6-15 For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily… (v. 9) This verse is a direct response to the Gnostics who taught that Jesus was not truly God and man, with various interpretations on what that meant and who He really was in body and spirit. And you, who were dead in …
August 22 / Colossians 2:1-5
Colossians 2:1-5 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face… (v. 1) I had a strange thought here, hearkening back to John 17:20, one verse in Jesus’ “high priestly prayer”: I do not …
August 21 / Colossians 1:21-29
Colossians 1:21-29 Paul mentions a “mystery” twice in today’s reading (verses 26 and 27): …the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope …
August 20 / Colossians 1:9-20
Colossians 1:9-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and …