Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

The things I say...I just say too much. And much of it comes out wrong. It sounds OK to me, but sometimes the things I say don't quite have the right effect.

My speech is not always gracious. Let me rephrase. My speech is almost always NOT gracious. It just doesn't come natural. I have to work and think hard at it.

Paul says our speech should be seasoned with salt. In the right amount, salt adds flavor. Too much salt will choke a person.

I think we go to opposite extremes.

Sometimes we don't say enough. Someone loses a loved one and we stay away and don't express ourselves to them. We don't know what to say, so we don't say anything. Someone is making bad decisions or needs a helping hand and we keep quiet. No salt there. Bland. No flavor.

Sometimes we say too much. We criticize a person's faults. We tell them every time they are wrong. Too much salt. It chokes them to death. It makes them gag. They can't get down everything we are saying. It's too salty.

So, don't forget to salt your words a little. You don't want to be bland! But don't put on too much. You don't want to choke anyone, do you? Just the right amount of salt will make others thirsty for more Jesus, the Living Water!

Colossians 4:5

Colossians 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

The word translated as "conduct" is the Greek word "peripateo." It literally means "to walk." In Matthew 11:5, Jesus literally made the lame walk.

But it also has a figurative meaning, such as when the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders," Mark 7:5. They were using the word to indicate a way of living.

The elite have their own walk. Jesus warned us of them. "Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; " Luke 20:46

How should we walk?

In newness of life. Romans 6:4
Not after the flesh Romans 8:1
By faith, not by sight 2 Cor. 5:7
In the Spirit Gal. 5:16
Not in vanity Eph 4:17
In love Eph 5:2
As children of light Eph 5:8
Worthy of the Lord Col 1:10
In Christ Col 2:6
As Jesus walked 1 John 2:6

A tremendous amount of the Bible is devoted to teaching us how to "walk the walk" of Christ. Does this mean that God thinks our "peripateo," our walk, is important? I think so.

So let us conduct ourselves with wisdom, particularly with regard to those outside the Church. Don't let them use you as an excuse! Make the most of opportunities God gives you to walk as Jesus walked.

Colossians 4:3-4

Colossians 4:3 At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4:4 Pray that I may make it known as I should.

The word that stands out is mystery. What is this mystery?

From the beginning God allowed mankind to go his own way. We have been free to choose good or evil. For the most part, we have chosen evil. This comes with a price. Sin and death plague us.

But God had special mercy on one group: Israel.

His promises originally belonged to them, but they rejected (for the most part) the One whom God sent to save them.

As a result, they have become partially hardened. The hardening of Israel continues today. By and large, they have rejected Jesus.

As a result, God's promises were offered to the Gentiles until the full number has come in. What does that mean? God has a number of Gentiles that will be saved.

What next? After the full number of Gentiles comes in, the partial hardening of Israel will be lifted and Israel will return to God, through faith in Jesus Christ.

We were formerly disobedient, but have received mercy. Israel, disobedient as well, will receive mercy once again.
So the mystery, is this...God has opened the Gospel to the world. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely! See Romans 11 for details.

Colossians 4:2

Colossians 4:2 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Paul is giving final instructions for this letter. He has given much doctrine and now he gives practical assignments.

First is prayer. We should be steadfast in our prayer, persevering and not fainting.

It is a strange thing that God hears our prayers. How can He fulfill age-old prophecies, make destinies come to pass just as predicted and at the same time, hear and answer every prayer that is lifted up by His children? The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write that we should be devoted to prayer. We don't have to understand it or explain it. We just need to devote ourselves to it.

But there is a balancing act. As we pray, we must also watch, keeping alert. How? Pray with one eye open? Paul wants us to balance prayer with action. J. Vernon McGee tells of a farmer who prayed for his corn crop, but said Amen with his hoe! That is a good balance of prayer and action!

How should we pray? With thanksgiving. Too often, we present God with a never-ending list of our wants and needs, never stopping to thank Him when we receive. We are never satisfied. As soon as we get one thing crossed off our list, we start asking for the next thing.

Prayerful yet alert. Child-like in our dependence on Him yet full of wisdom when we thank Him for what He provides.

Contradictory? It's the balanced Christian life.

Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. 3:23 Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people, 3:24 because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ. 3:25 For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions. 4:1 Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.

These verses can be summed up easily and quickly:

Treat others the way you would want to be treated. It is the Golden Rule.

Employees, obey your employers in EVERY respect, not just when they are looking. Don't just go through the motions. Be enthusiastic! You are really working for the Lord. Your extra work and good attitude will be rewarded, either on earth or in heaven. If you slack off, the Lord knows about that, too.

Employers treat your workers with justice and fairness. You are accountable to God for your treatment of those under your authority, whether good or bad. Treat them wrongly and you will pay!

Those UNDER authority must OBEY those IN authority. Those IN authority must SERVE those under authority. This is a Biblical principal that applies in the home and in the workplace.

It's God's way!

कolossians ३:२०-21

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord। 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened.

Paul writes directly to the children। Does he think they will be reading this letter? I don't think so।

This verse is for the parents। Children SHOULD obey their parents. We have too many parents today who have this reversed. We have parents obeying their children. This is not to be and directly violates the teaching of the Bible.

The Bible sets forth a definite structure of authority। Children submit to parents. Wives submit to husbands. Husbands serve the family. The family submits to the civilian government. Civilian government serves the family. All submit to Christ. Christ voluntarily submitted to God the Father.

This is all pleasing to God। No one is putting themselves first. Everyone is preferring and serving others over himself. Organizational and family structures become unstable when this order is not observed. Sin enters the picture.

However, there is another issue। Fathers should not provoke their children to anger! They will become disheartened. Children are at the bottom of the pole. They must submit to everyone! It is easy to get disheartened when you are at the bottom.

So, parents don't hound, harass, and nag your kids. Don't ignore them, either. It makes them angry. But if you give an order, stick by it. Expect them to obey. We are accountable to God for the raising of our children.

''My database does not encompass the dynamics of human pair-bonding। ..." Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines।

Colossians 3:18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 3:19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

''My database does not encompass the dynamics of human pair-bonding। ..." Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines।

Let's not be like Arnold! Let's turn to the Bible for wisdom and guidance।

The Bible encourages wives to submit to their husbands। This is not popular. Submission never has been a popular word in the U.S. From our beginnings, we have been a rebellious lot.

The Bible encourages men to love their wives as much as they love their own body। This is not popular in our me-first society.

At the root of the problem is a lack of understanding of the symbolic nature of marriage। Marriage was intended to symbolize the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church. The Church is to submit to Christ as Lord and follow Him wherever He leads. Christ gave up everything for His Bride, the Church.

Men have the God-given responsibility to lead their wives to a deeper relationship with the Lord। We, husband and wife, are servants to the same Master.

So, wives, submit to the leadership of husbands that love you. If he is not leading like he should, encourage him! Help him to grow into the man that you desire, by the Grace of God. Husbands love your wives as you love your own body, as Christ loves the Church. It's the way God intended!

Colossians 3:16-17

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you. Remember His spoken words as recorded in Scripture. Mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are qualities that Jesus talked about and lived. The Bible is a rich resource because it contains His words, the words of life.

We are to teach and exhort one another with wisdom. Exhort means "to urge, advise, or caution earnestly." It's good to be zealous. But zeal should be tempered with wisdom. We should endeavor to help one another along wisely, step by step, growing closer to Him.

Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Church singing is not just entertainment. Many songs and hymns are Scripture put to music. We should lift up our voices, not with pride, but with grace. We are giving a gift back to God and to other believers.

Everything we do, whether word or deed, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Give your life away to others and thank God for the opportunity.

Paul's vision for the Church, revealed to Him by Jesus, is one of unity and love.

Fulfillment of the soul

Colossians 3:14 And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.

Paul has made a list of virtues: mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness. All of these are wonderful virtues. No one would disagree. The perfect superglue is love. It bonds all of these virtues together so that they operate in unity.

But how can I draw love out of myself when there is none to draw? Sometimes folks get under my skin. Sometimes folks are hard to love.

Is the problem with them? Or with me? It's really both.

My soul needs fulfillment. I need to be content with something. Generally, I look to people around me. Inevitably, they disappoint. Often, I try to find peace within myself. I am disappointed there also. It is hard to love those who continually let us down.

We have exchanged the One that can satisfy our souls, for other things or people that cannot satisfy in the same way. When we look to God for satisfaction, we are not let down. If we are satisfied with God, then we no longer need to look at those around us for fulfillment. They are relieved of this burden and we are free to love them.

Look to God to complete your soul. Then you will be free to love others as this verse commands.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 3:13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.

Elect of God, take off that old man and his practices. Put on the new man, the REnewed man. Let Christ be your all in all.

The new man has a merciful heart. He does not take revenge.

The new man has a kind heart. He is tolerant and considerate of others. He does not wish any misfortune on
any person.

The new man has a humble heart. He is not arrogant or prideful.

The new man is gentle. He is not harsh or stern.

The new man is patient. He bears annoyance, misfortune, delay and hardship without complaining.

Most of all the new man bears with others. He overlooks flaws. He puts up with the peculiar things that people do.

Don't be a doormat, a pushover. If someone bothers you, deal with it. Confront the person. Don't talk about it. Do it. Yet, do it as the Elect of God, clothed as a new person. Air your grievance to the other persons face. Then be ready to forgive quickly.

The Lord has forgiven us for so much. In the same way, we forgive others when they are wrong, in His name, for His sake.

The Pursuit of Holyness

Colossians 3:5 So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 3:7 You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. 3:8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 3:9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 3:10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. 3:11 Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.

My mom told me about some scandals that went on years ago. Wife swapping, divorce, lesbian relationships among people she knew.

Most of them church members.

It shouldn't happen. When we come to Christ, we are commanded to take off the old man like you would take off dirty clothes.

I may fall tomorrow. God forbid. But today, I stand flat-footed before God and say that whatever part of me still belongs to this earth, I wish God would kill it.

The old man needs to be gone. Even though I'm the one that keeps calling him back, I know he needs to be gone.

If you talk the talk, then walk the walk.

06/09/2007
Colossians 3:1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 3:2 Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 3:4 When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.

Tonight was the closing night of VBS at a nearby church. We love VBS and sign the kids up for as many as we can during the summer. Every night, the pastor gave an altar call. Over the course of the week, ten young people responded indicating that they would like to know Jesus. The pastor later counseled the children after the service about how to know Jesus as Savior. It was a good thing.

I'm never as happy as most other people when it comes to professions of faith. I'm more interested in the walk, not the talk. There is a definite theme of continuance in the Bible. Keep seeking the things that are above. Because that is where Jesus is, seated at the right hand of the Father. Keep thinking about things above and not earthly things. Make Christ your life. Do this and you will live!

Keep seeking Him. Keep thinking of Him. Keep running. Keep fighting.

Want to be with Jesus when He comes? Want to be saved? Then you must live out what you have spoken out!