191222 Who was This Baby?

Two of the Gospels, Matthew, and Luke, begin with the story of a young woman, her fiancé, and her firstborn child. We will begin with Matthew and move on from there.

Matthew 1:18-25: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (Note that Joseph was not consulted beforehand. He did not react as many men would have. He could have demanded she be executed by stoning. Instead, he took his time thinking things over.) ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

²³   “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

I am very impressed with the story in Matthew and the portrayal of Joseph here. We do not know how far along she was but it didn’t matter. Every day that passed she was farther along. Joseph was important to the process because his ancestral lineage came from King David through his son Solomon. Mary’s lineage came from King David but it was through his son Nathan. The promise had been that the lineage for the Messiah would come through the true heir of David. That heir was Solomon. Joseph was needed to confirm the Messiah’s genealogical legitimacy.

Joseph had been confronted in a dream. But Mary got a direct visit from a named

angel. Let’s look at Luke’s record of the events.

Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy —the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

The angel Gabriel had traveled from Jerusalem where he had been speaking to Zachariah the father of John the Baptist. It’s interesting to me that apparently, angels have to travel from one place to the other the same way we do. It may be that Gabriel flew from Jerusalem to Nazareth but it seems to me unlikely. The average everyday angel is never described as having wings as they are depicted in paintings throughout history. 

Apparently, as soon as Mary ended her interview with Gabriel and, we assume, settled the issue with Joseph she traveled to Ein Karem, a village situated on the western slopes of Jerusalem where, tradition holds, the home of Elizabeth and Zachariah was situated. The journey would have taken several days since it involves a distance of more than 60 miles. When Mary arrived Elizabeth was in the house and we pick up the story from Luke.

Luke 1:41-44 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴² and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Mary’s memory would have been very sharp. Luke interviewed many people in producing his gospel and the book of Acts. Therefore, the story is Mary’s! Elizabeth was a godly woman who understood immediately who this young girl was. John, not yet born, immediately recognized the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Is there a stronger example of the life of a baby inside its mother? Mary would have been able to peacefully assist her cousin, Elizabeth, right up until the birth of John. Then she left and returned to Nazareth.

Whether in the inspiration of the moment or in memory years later Mary produced a song, undoubtedly from the Holy Spirit.

Since Mary and Joseph were of the house of David it would be necessary for them to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem which is only a few miles from Jerusalem. Because the ruler of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, sent out an order to take a census of the known world. Of course, that would be the world ruled by Rome. It would have taken years for the census because of the great distances involved and the limited ways of communication. At just the right time the decree was sent and it required everyone to be registered in their ancestral home. in order for Jesus to be born where the prophecies foretold the entire Roman Empire was shaken.

There are two places called the city of David. Jerusalem where he ruled and Bethlehem where he was born.

When they arrived in Bethlehem there were no rooms available at any price. The regular hotels were filled and the bed and breakfasts as well. They had no way of sending ahead for reservation so they had to take what was available, and that was space in a manger!

Luke tells us that there were shepherds with their flocks outdoors. Either it was an unusually warm year or it was not December when it happened. We have traveled in the Holy Land and were there in March one year and there was a dusting of snow. Anyhow, the shepherds were there and so was an angel! Gabriel? We are not told and it doesn’t matter which angel it was. Let’s return to Luke’s account and see what happened with them.

Luke 2:9-11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

All of the portrayals I have seen of the event present an angel flying, with wings, and he is usually chubby and cute. I submit to you that the angel that was standing in front of them was awesome in appearance. He would have been one of Jesus’s guardian angels. I have no doubt that angels looked on with great curiosity while the baby Jesus grew and developed as a human. We do know that when Jesus was baptized and then went into the wilderness to fast and pray angels ministered to him. Later, when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus assured his disciples that he could call on the Father and he would provide 12 legions of angels to protect the Son. Since we already have observed that angels had to travel much as we do those angelic legions must’ve been available and in the vicinity.

The angel that confronted the shepherds was immediately surrounded by a large number of angels praising God! When the angels went away from them into heaven the shepherds hurried over to Bethlehem. They immediately were put on the right path to see Joseph and Mary and the baby lying in the manger. They told their story to Mary and, remembering their first responsibility, hurried back to their sheep. But they were changed from laborers into worshipers. Luke tells us that they returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.

At the end of eight days, the baby was circumcised and named Jesus!

According to the law of Moses 33 days after being circumcised and named the mother and child were both considered purified. They brought with them a pair of turtledoves and sacrificed them according to the law.

There was a man named Simeon in the temple that day, as he was every day. God had promised him that he would see the Lord’s Messiah before he died. The Spirit moved him into the path of this young family. He took the baby in his arms and praised God.

Luke 2:29-32 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation ³¹ that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³²          a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon continued his blessing when he told Mary that the child was appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel and a sword would pierce through her soul. There was also a prophetess named Anna. She joined Simeon in praise giving thanks to God. Immediately she began to tell everybody what had just happened.

Who was this Baby? He was called King of the Jews when he was born…

Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

And when he was crucified…

Matthew 27:37  And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

We do not have time to look at all the names and descriptions of the Son of God.

When John the Apostle wrote his gospel he began with a description of the one who came: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

Let’s conclude with John the Apostle’s description towards the end of the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 19:11-16 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. ¹³ He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. ¹⁵ From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

That’s who the baby was! He came into the world as a lamb and left the world as a Lion! The wise men from the East came looking for one born King of the Jews! The existing government made every effort to destroy him! But in the end, the government of Rome proclaimed him to be, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:19) He’s My King! Is he yours? Trust in him today!

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.

Who was This Baby?                                                                                                 191222 

Two of the Gospels, Matthew, and Luke, begin with the story of a young woman, her fiancé, and her firstborn child. We will begin with Matthew and move on from there.

Matthew 1:18-25: Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (Note that Joseph was not consulted beforehand. He did not react as many men would have. He could have demanded she be executed by stoning. Instead, he took his time thinking things over.) ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

²³   “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

I am very impressed with the story in Matthew and the portrayal of Joseph here. We do not know how far along she was but it didn’t matter. Every day that passed she was farther along. Joseph was important to the process because his ancestral lineage came from King David through his son Solomon. Mary’s lineage came from King David but it was through his son Nathan. The promise had been that the lineage for the Messiah would come through the true heir of David. That heir was Solomon. Joseph was needed to confirm the Messiah’s genealogical legitimacy.

Joseph had been confronted in a dream. But Mary got a direct visit from a named

angel. Let’s look at Luke’s record of the events.

Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy —the Son of God. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

The angel Gabriel had traveled from Jerusalem where he had been speaking to Zachariah the father of John the Baptist. It’s interesting to me that apparently, angels have to travel from one place to the other the same way we do. It may be that Gabriel flew from Jerusalem to Nazareth but it seems to me unlikely. The average everyday angel is never described as having wings as they are depicted in paintings throughout history. 

Apparently, as soon as Mary ended her interview with Gabriel and, we assume, settled the issue with Joseph she traveled to Ein Karem, a village situated on the western slopes of Jerusalem where, tradition holds, the home of Elizabeth and Zachariah was situated. The journey would have taken several days since it involves a distance of more than 60 miles. When Mary arrived Elizabeth was in the house and we pick up the story from Luke.

Luke 1:41-44 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴² and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Mary’s memory would have been very sharp. Luke interviewed many people in producing his gospel and the book of Acts. Therefore, the story is Mary’s! Elizabeth was a godly woman who understood immediately who this young girl was. John, not yet born, immediately recognized the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Is there a stronger example of the life of a baby inside its mother? Mary would have been able to peacefully assist her cousin, Elizabeth, right up until the birth of John. Then she left and returned to Nazareth.

Whether in the inspiration of the moment or in memory years later Mary produced a song, undoubtedly from the Holy Spirit.

Since Mary and Joseph were of the house of David it would be necessary for them to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem which is only a few miles from Jerusalem. Because the ruler of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, sent out an order to take a census of the known world. Of course, that would be the world ruled by Rome. It would have taken years for the census because of the great distances involved and the limited ways of communication. At just the right time the decree was sent and it required everyone to be registered in their ancestral home. in order for Jesus to be born where the prophecies foretold the entire Roman Empire was shaken.

There are two places called the city of David. Jerusalem where he ruled and Bethlehem where he was born.

When they arrived in Bethlehem there were no rooms available at any price. The regular hotels were filled and the bed and breakfasts as well. They had no way of sending ahead for reservation so they had to take what was available, and that was space in a manger!

Luke tells us that there were shepherds with their flocks outdoors. Either it was an unusually warm year or it was not December when it happened. We have traveled in the Holy Land and were there in March one year and there was a dusting of snow. Anyhow, the shepherds were there and so was an angel! Gabriel? We are not told and it doesn’t matter which angel it was. Let’s return to Luke’s account and see what happened with them.

Luke 2:9-11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

All of the portrayals I have seen of the event present an angel flying, with wings, and he is usually chubby and cute. I submit to you that the angel that was standing in front of them was awesome in appearance. He would have been one of Jesus’s guardian angels. I have no doubt that angels looked on with great curiosity while the baby Jesus grew and developed as a human. We do know that when Jesus was baptized and then went into the wilderness to fast and pray angels ministered to him. Later, when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus assured his disciples that he could call on the Father and he would provide 12 legions of angels to protect the Son. Since we already have observed that angels had to travel much as we do those angelic legions must’ve been available and in the vicinity.

The angel that confronted the shepherds was immediately surrounded by a large number of angels praising God! When the angels went away from them into heaven the shepherds hurried over to Bethlehem. They immediately were put on the right path to see Joseph and Mary and the baby lying in the manger. They told their story to Mary and, remembering their first responsibility, hurried back to their sheep. But they were changed from laborers into worshipers. Luke tells us that they returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard.

At the end of eight days, the baby was circumcised and named Jesus!

According to the law of Moses 33 days after being circumcised and named the mother and child were both considered purified. They brought with them a pair of turtledoves and sacrificed them according to the law.

There was a man named Simeon in the temple that day, as he was every day. God had promised him that he would see the Lord’s Messiah before he died. The Spirit moved him into the path of this young family. He took the baby in his arms and praised God.

Luke 2:29-32 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; ³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation ³¹ that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³²          a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon continued his blessing when he told Mary that the child was appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel and a sword would pierce through her soul. There was also a prophetess named Anna. She joined Simeon in praise giving thanks to God. Immediately she began to tell everybody what had just happened.

Who was this Baby? He was called King of the Jews when he was born…

Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

And when he was crucified…

Matthew 27:37  And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

We do not have time to look at all the names and descriptions of the Son of God.

When John the Apostle wrote his gospel he began with a description of the one who came: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)

Let’s conclude with John the Apostle’s description towards the end of the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 19:11-16 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. ¹³ He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. ¹⁵ From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

That’s who the baby was! He came into the world as a lamb and left the world as a Lion! The wise men from the East came looking for one born King of the Jews! The existing government made every effort to destroy him! But in the end, the government of Rome proclaimed him to be, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:19) He’s My King! Is he yours? Trust in him today!

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.

191201 Always Thankful

Three days ago across America, and to some degree around the world, millions of households sat down at a common table to “break bread” together and remember to be thankful. Depending on the family history and culture many different things could stimulate an attitude of thankfulness. Historically, we look back to 1621 when the pilgrims shared in a common meal with the Native Americans celebrating their first harvest. In 1789 our first President, George Washington, proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was not a national holiday until 1863 when President Lincoln called for a day set aside to give thanks to God for turning the tide of war in our country. Today, Thanksgiving Day is often called “Turkey Day”.

Paul certainly had better reasons for being always thankful.

Colossians 1:3-4 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints.”

Paul sent this letter to the Christian believers in Colossae from prison. So far as we know, Paul was not the missionary who founded the church. In fact, he may not have known anyone in the church personally. We do know that Paul was informed by one of their ministers named Epaphras. God willing, we will come back later to do a detailed series of messages based on Paul’s letter to Colossae. Right now our focus is on Paul’s faithfulness in prayer that stirred him to always thank God for the Colossian’s faith and love. Their faith and love were bearing fruit and increasing. However, the church in Colossae was experiencing division because of false teachers who claimed the Gentiles were not equal to the Jewish believers. After Paul’s first missionary journey the church at Jerusalem had settled these issues. Luke recorded the event in Acts chapter 15. So, Paul now needs to equip the Colossian believers for the battle with the Judaizers that lay ahead of them. He called on them to remember how they were taught, look at Colossians 2:6-7,

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Let’s look at what Paul had to say to the Colossian church, and to us. Since we have been raised with Christ we should set our minds on things above. We should put to death the earthly things that hold us back from spiritual growth. The Jewish false teachers were wrong. This was no longer a case of Jew versus Gentile since we are all one in Christ. We can now choose to live a life abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:12-13 tells us, Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

It is true that God originally chose the nation of Israel to be his people. Now everyone who is in Christ is a “chosen one”! As such, we have the ability to put on a new lifestyle that reflects who we are. We are chosen to be holy and beloved therefore we can have compassionate hearts. The Judaizers would take them back to Moses rather than forward to Jesus. Since we are now sons and daughters of Abraham and Sarah “sin will have no dominion over you, since you’re not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Having been freed from the law we are able now to live out that freedom.

Our compassionate heart will allow us to display kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. We are no longer enemies. The new believers become sons and daughters of Abraham and Sarah. We are now able to bear with one another.

That is an interesting phrase! Bear with one another! It certainly speaks of a great need for love and tolerance in the body of Christ. It’s easy to find something to complain about in another person. Yes, even among Christians! The cure for intolerance is forgiveness! What do we base our forgiveness of another person on? Think about who you were before you were saved — if you are saved! Our great need is salvation that involves the forgiveness of SIN and the sins it produces.

Christian believers are able to forgive any complaint we may have against another brother or sister in Christ. We are able to forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven us! After all, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32). Since our Heavenly Father paid such a high price so we can be forgiven should we not also forgive others? Anytime we have a hesitation about forgiving another we should pause to consider the great price he paid in forgiving us.

Now that we have dealt with forgiveness we can go on to the highest character trait — LOVE!

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians chapter 13 magnifies love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Remember? That chapter ends in verse 13! So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Jesus told his disciples one of whom passed it on to us: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35).

Therefore Paul could build on Jesus’ words telling the Colossians that putting on love like a garment is above all else. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14.

In a similar vein, Paul had written to the Ephesians. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2). Once again we see how great his love is for us! I remember my mother had a framed picture of the cross with the caption, “I asked Jesus how much do you love me?” “This much” he answered, then he stretched out his arms and died.” Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13).  His friends! Our life should be filled with thanksgiving because of his great love for us.”

When we accept his love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony, we have new abilities. Paul continues, And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:15). Please note that having put on love as a binder we now have the ability to allow the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts. Please don’t mistake what I say! We cannot cause ourselves to somehow be loving and peaceful but we can allow love and peace. Having been called into one body then we can be thankful.

What can we do to strengthen these qualities in our life? I look at the next verse: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16). Please note how the Bible answers our questions! Never hesitate to ask questions of the Bible Then read the contextual passages (before and after) many times the answer will be immediately obvious. Sometimes we will have to meditate on the passage until we have it burned into our memories and then when we need it, we will understand it. So how do we go about letting the word of Christ dwell in us? The word of Christ is the Bible. We need to know it in order to question it. In order to know the Bible we have to read it. Paul goes on to say that we are to teach each other and sing the word of God! The best hymns and spiritual songs are those that are based on the truth of the Bible. For some reason God has designed us so that we memorize better what we sing. Once we have buried the Bible in our memories we will be able to be thankful, not just on the surface, but deep in our hearts.

Paul concludes And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17).

“Whatever you do”. Not just in talk but in action! “Everything” means all things, small or large, in our lives. If you find yourself doing something that you cannot do “in the name of the Lord Jesus” give it up!

It may be a thought pattern that needs to be abandoned. It may be acting out those thoughts. Everything we do or say begins in our mind. Many times we act as though we must speak every thought. I’m here to tell you that’s not necessary. The easiest way to end wrong thinking is to stop it while it is still in our brain. Once it’s spoken or acted upon it can’t be taken back. So nail it down in the brain and leave it there till it dies!

Everything we do in the name of the Lord Jesus enables us to give thanks through him.

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton, Ill, Standard Bible Society.