OzThoughts Thursday 1st October 2009

OzThoughts Thursday 1st October 2009

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:1-7. The Message)

Many of us would have been in that place where we have done a training course or some course of study and then had those feeling of inadequacy when we have had to apply that knowledge in the workplace. Paul tackles these type of feelings head on in today’s portion of his letter.

It seems also that there were not only personal feelings of inadequacy being felt by the Colossians but that these feelings were being exploited by others who came with “answers” or the “key” to further knowledge of the ways or mystery of God.

Paul says they have all the answers already to the ways of God. “4I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery!”

Paul says that “School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.”

In the words of the well known advertising slogan “Just Do It !”

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_059.mp3]

Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
Sing, O earth. his wonderful love proclaim!
Hail him! Hail him, highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to his holy name!
Like a shepherd. Jesus will guard his children,
In his arms he carries them all day long.

Chorus
Praise him! Praise him!
Tell of his excellent greatness;
Praise him! Praise him!
Ever in joyful song.

Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
For our sins he suffered and bled and died;
He our rock, our hope of eternal salvation.
Hail him! Hail him! Jesus. the crucified!
Sound his praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.

Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Saviour, reigneth for ever and ever;
Crown him! Crown him! Prophet and priest and King!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious;
Power and glory unto the Lord belong.
Author: Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 184

Colossians 2:1-7 (The Message)
1 I want you to realize that I continue to work as hard as I know how for you, and also for the Christians over at Laodicea. Not many of you have met me face-to-face, but that doesn't make any difference. Know that I'm on your side, right alongside you. You're not in this alone.
2-4I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery! I'm telling you this because I don't want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or "the Secret."
5I'm a long way off, true, and you may never lay eyes on me, but believe me, I'm on your side, right beside you. I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of your faith in Christ.
6-7My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

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