Colossians 2:6-3:17

12 . 5 . 11

Colossians 2:6-3:17

What a perfect section of scripture, one that makes sense of a passage i’ve memorized in the past. So typical to pick a verse to memorize because it’s maybe a powerful one-liner, without first having a deep understanding of the surrounding verses. Blah..

Paul encourages followers of Christ to continue lives “rooted and built up in him (jesus)”, and to be wary of “hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world”. Be strong, know him, sink roots...

“In him you were circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature... having been buried with him in baptism, and raised with him through your faith in the power of God”

Whenever circumcision is mentioned in the Word, I kindof hurry past it, it just makes me a bit squeemish.. this time however, I saw the beauty in it and what it represents... the cutting off of the foreskin in our lives, the sinful nature, the unclean, the suffocating, the starting fresh... what a blessing -- both the actual circumcision as well as the spiritual. And then being baptized, sunk in water representing our being buried, then being raised up and out representing our faith in the power of God to raise us from the powers of this world which bring death... a faith in our place in eternity... a faith ‘which is being renewed in the knowledge in the image of it’s creator’. A descending of the Spirit in the form of a dove to guide our lives...

Baptism. Funny how little i understood of it and it’s significance when I was first dunked... how old was I even, 12 maybe? I’ve no clue...

Jesus brings life to ALL, thats what we read... by dying on the cross he ‘disarmed the powers and authorities of the world’

“therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to religious festival, a new moon celebration or a sabbath day.”

aka -- there is no judgement... through his death, the filthy foreskin has been cut, death is no more, we are raised out of the water by faith and given the gift of the Spirit.

Learn this. Accept this. Daily. Hourly.

Next, we’re warned again about those ‘who delight in false humility... such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”

Amen.

Crazy verse. I am reminded again and again in scripture that it’s not the appearance of goodness that brings one to glory (duh), but the condition of one’s heart.

I’ve met many people in and out of the church who could be described with the above verse... and putting words to their description is always difficult... gosh, there are periods of my life where I could have been described by it as well, losing connection, losing faith in the ligaments and sinews which hold my spiritual life together... thus falling apart.

We then are told that for those of us who in our lives are given a taste of the Spirit (comes in maany forms), our hope is in Christ. When dipped in death, and raised in faith, the growth of the spirit spreading throughout our being will guide us ‘to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature’ ... ‘riding ourselves of all such things... anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language’

... they cannot fully exist, one with the other...

... one must dwell in us with authority; spirit, or world...

The next section (3:12-17) is one i’ve worked to memorize in the past.. i suck at memorizing.. i hate that i suck at this.

I had typed it out, the verse, but now I kindof wanna put it in my own words.. the verse is beautiful, please read it.. i’ll just share here what I read weaving between and through the lines of this passage..

“You are God’s, holy and dearly loved... always. Your eyes now are freed, the foreskin cut, you are a new creation. Your fresh, naked spirit... clothe it with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Forgive others... free yourself, free them, as He has freed you. You will find joy in doing these things... Over all these virtues, coat yourself with Love, God’s love and promises which can bring warmth to even the coldest, darkest, hopeless soul. Love binds all.. love is the deliverer of this fruit.. what good is the fruit if it is not delivered with love? I’ve tasted this fruit before.. with & w/out love. I’ve delivered this fruit before.. with & without love. In all things, let the gifts of the spirit reign, bringing peace. And be thankful. Always. In all things. Through all things. Be thankful. For you know what awaits you... you learn of it in god’s word... let it dwell in you richly, sinking to the deepest levels where it will grow life. With it, let the spirit guide you in teaching and admonishing one another in wisdom, discernment, humility. Worship! Look around you, pause, and look around you... worship the creator of the heavens, the earth and all that calls it home. Worship. You’ve been given this gift, now go and do... let the spirit be your guide, the dove of peace leading the way. Give credit where credit is due, the one who cut the foreskin and pulled the blinders off our eyes that we might see the gift, as well as the promise. Share this fruit... in love.”

If you want to read another translation... like, an actual translation of this verse... click here :)

I’m going to go now. It’s my day off, and I have big plans. Rest.

Be well friends.