23But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. 24I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 25God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. 28So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfectg in their relationship to Christ. 29That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. (Colossians 1:23-29 NLT)
I take a great deal of inspiration from this scripture. Thank you, Paul. Thank You, Jesus. But this teaching extends beyond those who serve the church and knowingly take on that responsibility for in reality, we are ALL the church and we ALL have taken on the responsibility of sharing the Word and living the life of a follower of Christ. We all, “participate in the sufferings of Christ that continue for this body, the church” – whether we like it, or not – whether we want to, or not. What do I take away from this? I take away a caution from Holy Spirit to NOT live “double lives;” that is, do not proclaim your salvation in the name of The Christ and then go into the world and live like the serpent. Simple, yes – easy, of course not. We are challenged every day, beset on all sides with the pitfalls and lies set before us by the god of this world; yet we are made Holy by the blood of the Host High God and Holy Spirit within us, if we allow Him, will grow us into the people that we are meant to be and in so doing, as I always say, make the world a better place – one decision, one action, one person at a time. Will YOU allow this to happen to you? I pray that you will.
I take a great deal of inspiration from this scripture. Thank you, Paul. Thank You, Jesus. But this teaching extends beyond those who serve the church and knowingly take on that responsibility for in reality, we are ALL the church and we ALL have taken on the responsibility of sharing the Word and living the life of a follower of Christ. We all, “participate in the sufferings of Christ that continue for this body, the church” – whether we like it, or not – whether we want to, or not. What do I take away from this? I take away a caution from Holy Spirit to NOT live “double lives;” that is, do not proclaim your salvation in the name of The Christ and then go into the world and live like the serpent. Simple, yes – easy, of course not. We are challenged every day, beset on all sides with the pitfalls and lies set before us by the god of this world; yet we are made Holy by the blood of the Host High God and Holy Spirit within us, if we allow Him, will grow us into the people that we are meant to be and in so doing, as I always say, make the world a better place – one decision, one action, one person at a time. Will YOU allow this to happen to you? I pray that you will.
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