Living the Way of Christ - Himalayan Heights – June 21 Readings: Colossians 2:8-15 – Triumph

 

Colossians 1:15-2:15- Christ in You, Your Hope of Glory

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.

Today's Reading:  Colossians 2:8-15

The Colossian church was beset by heresy, one we do not know specifically. All we know for sure is that it hit at the heart of the Gospel and elevated other things above Jesus. Paul told them our faith was all about Jesus. He exalted Jesus and told them that Christ in them was their hope of glory.

Again, read the entire text of Colossians 1:15-2:15 every day, then focus on our featured passage during this week. This week, we exalt Jesus!

Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. 9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

Through the Bible Readings: 1 Chronicles 28-29, John 20, Psalm 75:7–10, Proverbs15:23–24

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: Living the Way of Christ

Colossians 2:8 holds a special place in my heart, perhaps a place of shame or embarrassment? I attended a Baptist college that had drifted into serious liberal teaching and I was constantly at odds with my professors. I took a philosophy class and was bombarded with teachings I thought were contrary to the word of God. After taking the final (and knowing that I'd done very well on it), I turned it over and wrote an essay to my professor about what I actually believed. I began it with this verse. "Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ."  The professor returned the exam a day or two later, looked me in the eye, and just shook his head.

I am not sure that my brash act was wise, but Paul did warn the Colossians that worldly wisdom could not bring them the wisdom of God. In fact, the philosophies and traditions of the world were more likely to bind them into spiritual slavery and deceit than to bring them into freedom.

It is not education, worldly wisdom, philosophy, psychology, science, human tradition, or any other earthly endeavor that can bring us to God. Paul confronted the heresy with one truth - it is Jesus who we need. He is wisdom and he is forgiveness and he is freedom.

This section culminates with the greatest irony of history. He speaks, in verse 15, of Jesus as a great general, disarming the "rulers and authorities" who he publicly disgraced and triumphed over. This is picture from Roman war practices. A conquering general would parade the defeated foe through the city to shame them and to receive the praise of his people. Think about it. We live in a world where sin seems to be winning, where the tide of evil is rising and many are trumpeting the death of Christianity and the church. They are wrong. Jesus has defeated Satan and all the forces of darkness and has ALREADY brought them to shame. They have been defeated. The world cannot see it yet, because it lives under the deception of Satan's lies, but the enemy is conquered and disarmed and shamed by our Savior. One day, evil will be cast into the Lake of Fire and Jesus will stand supreme.

Here is the irony. How did Jesus do this? He didn't use an army. He didn't fight Satan with his ninja skills or duel him with a sword. He laid down his life and died on the Cross. By his death on the Cross Jesus TRIUMPHED over darkness, over death, over hell, and over Satan. IT IS FINISHED.

Jesus is like no other. Worldly philosophy says conquer. Jesus says give yourself. Worldly philosophy says demand what is yours. Jesus says deny yourself and take up your cross. He did everything like no one else and he triumphed.

Father, I thank you for your Son, who triumphed through his death. May I follow him by denying myself and taking up my cross. 

Think and Pray:

Are you more tied to worldly philosophy or to the way of Christ?
How would your life be different if you lived the way of Christ every day?