Daily devotion – Thursday 9th September 2021
Colossians 2: 1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
There has been recently, a growing trend for people to tour Churches as if they were on a sales route, spreading a new breed of ‘heresies’ that have but one task – to draw people away from focusing solely on Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord and to divide the Church.
Over the years, differing trends, ‘new teachings’, special insights have attempted to infiltrate the Church and cause division, disruption and anxiety. The Church world-wide is under such an attack again.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Colossae during a time when false teachers were offering supposed insider, secret spiritual understanding that was inconsistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Lies can sound reasonable – Paul says such people, use ‘persuasive words.’
But thankfully in Colossae, the believers there were NOT being deceived by the peddling’s of the false teachers.
They were instead standing firm on the truths that Paul had taught them even though he was absent from them.
Colossians 2: 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
Sadly, I listen however to some people who have been lured by the wisdom of the world and stepped away from following the truth of the Word of God.
When the Church starts going to the world to solve family matters, marriages, parenting issues, value setting, is it no wonder that many who fill church seats are anxious, confused, struggling and failing?
The Christian life is to continue as it began at birth, with faith in the Gospel message. Like mighty trees fed by strong roots, believers are to remain ROOTED in Jesus Christ, both in knowledge and in practice.
That way, growth will occur and protection from false teachers will be provided.
Today – do you go to God’s Word, to the Lord when you need wisdom? Or are you now looking to a lost world to solve your problems?
Mat 4:4 ….. “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”