The next two verses in Colossians, which Selwyn looks at today, are (2:6-7, NIV): “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
My first comment is based on Selwyn’s conclusion: “If you do not give thanks regularly for all that God has done for you then you ought to question whether you are indeed a Christian.” I would go even further and say – if you are not ‘overflowing with thankfulness’ then you do not have a relationship with God. Does anyone disagree?
The other area which is well worth thinking about is that our life is summed up by ‘living in Him’. Selwyn writes: “These two requirements – receiving and continuing – should be made clear to every new Christian. And those who have been on the Way some time need to be reminded of them also. … How do we receive Christ? By surrender and receptivity. We give to Him and take from Him. … Our giving involves giving the one and only thing we own – ourselves. When He has that, He has all. … God asks that we give our all, in order that He may give His all.” This last sentence is packed full of the meaning of life! It is an incredible statement – we give very little – He gives us eternal life – how fantastic is that?
Dwell for awhile on these words: ‘continue to live in Him’; ‘the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you’ (we looked at these words, Colossians 1:27, on Monday 17 March); and also from John 17:20-23; ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.”
If you take on-board a millionth of the meaning of these words, you will never be afraid of the unknown – but always be overflowing with thankfulness, that God is with you – who then, can stand against you?
Do you agree that this is one, great study?
Give, take, build
The next two verses in Colossians, which Selwyn looks at today, are (2:6-7, NIV): “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
My first comment is based on Selwyn’s conclusion: “If you do not give thanks regularly for all that God has done for you then you ought to question whether you are indeed a Christian.” I would go even further and say – if you are not ‘overflowing with thankfulness’ then you do not have a relationship with God. Does anyone disagree?
The other area which is well worth thinking about is that our life is summed up by ‘living in Him’. Selwyn writes: “These two requirements – receiving and continuing – should be made clear to every new Christian. And those who have been on the Way some time need to be reminded of them also. … How do we receive Christ? By surrender and receptivity. We give to Him and take from Him. … Our giving involves giving the one and only thing we own – ourselves. When He has that, He has all. … God asks that we give our all, in order that He may give His all.” This last sentence is packed full of the meaning of life! It is an incredible statement – we give very little – He gives us eternal life – how fantastic is that?
Dwell for awhile on these words: ‘continue to live in Him’; ‘the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you’ (we looked at these words, Colossians 1:27, on Monday 17 March); and also from John 17:20-23; ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.”
If you take on-board a millionth of the meaning of these words, you will never be afraid of the unknown – but always be overflowing with thankfulness, that God is with you – who then, can stand against you?
Do you agree that this is one, great study?