The Upper Room Daily Devotional of Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Staying within the Ropes" for Thursday, 7 September 2017 - Read Colossians 2:6-12-------
Colossians 2:6 Therefore, just as you received the Messiah Yeshua as Lord, keep living your life united with him. 7 Remain deeply rooted in him; continue being built up in him and confirmed in your trust, the way you were taught, so that you overflow in thanksgiving.
8 Watch out, so that no one will take you captive by means of philosophy and empty deceit, following human tradition which accords with the elemental spirits of the world but does not accord with the Messiah. 9 For in him, bodily, lives the fullness of all that God is. 10 And it is in union with him that you have been made full — he is the head of every rule and authority.
11 Also it was in union with him that you were circumcised with a circumcision not done by human hands, but accomplished by stripping away the old nature’s control over the body. In this circumcision done by the Messiah, 12 you were buried along with him by being immersed; and in union with him, you were also raised up along with him by God’s faithfulness that worked when he raised Yeshua from the dead.
8 Watch out, so that no one will take you captive by means of philosophy and empty deceit, following human tradition which accords with the elemental spirits of the world but does not accord with the Messiah. 9 For in him, bodily, lives the fullness of all that God is. 10 And it is in union with him that you have been made full — he is the head of every rule and authority.
11 Also it was in union with him that you were circumcised with a circumcision not done by human hands, but accomplished by stripping away the old nature’s control over the body. In this circumcision done by the Messiah, 12 you were buried along with him by being immersed; and in union with him, you were also raised up along with him by God’s faithfulness that worked when he raised Yeshua from the dead.
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Be rooted and built up in [Christ Jesus], be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught. [Colossians 2:7 (CEB)]
My twin eight-year-old daughters take swim lessons at the YMCA. The pool is long, and the lanes are separated by ropes and buoys. The youngest children in the class look like they are swatting flies when they swim. They zigzag into the lane ropes, then have to stop and untangle themselves. However, they still make it to the other end. The swimmers in the middle age group are more coordinated, but they too swim into the ropes. The oldest and most experienced swimmers slice through the water, staying in their lanes the entire time.
Our Christian walk can be like this swim class. As new Christians, we may be excited and full of energy but need someone more mature in the faith to mentor and guide us. Otherwise, we might keep swerving out of bounds.
Swimming straighter does not come simply with age; neither does living the spiritual life. Improvement comes with experience and obedience. The better swimmers listen to their instructors, learn from their guidance, and practice. Mature Christians study the Bible and seek the counsel of other believers to better serve God. No matter what our experience, we might still swerve into the ropes. But by persevering and growing in faith, we will make it to the other end.
Read more from the author, here.
More from Bob LaForge
I have been a Christian since 1977 when God showed me that when I am in control of my life it will not go well and that God needs to be the one true Lord and Savior. I am married to Toni and have twin daughters, Sarah and Danielle, who were born in 2006. At the church that we attend, Grace Bible Church, I oversee the bookstore and teach Adult Sunday School. My wife sings in the choir and is on the Fellowship Committee. Our two daughters are in AWANA and American Heritage Girls.
One topic that I feel particularly strong about is the crucial importance of knowing who and what God is. I believe that the more deeply we know God the more likely we will fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). When we accept Christ, God puts our feet on a new foundation. But if our spiritual eyesight is dim we will not clearly see what we are standing on and every wind and wave will panic us. But as studying the Bible improves our spiritual vision we will see more clearly that what we are standing on is the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Our confidence will grow and we will have a greater desire to become more like the one who delivered us (Colossians 1:13).
My book “Contemplating the Almighty” came from a time in my life that was particularly rough. I was in a prolonged discouragement and thought about the best way to break out of it. Being overly busy, TV, and video games were only distractions. Finally I realized that the only way out was to know God better. So for almost two years I did a focused study on what the Bible says about God. The result answered the question in Song of Solomon 8:5, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her [his] beloved?” That was me and my beloved was God. So no matter what topic I teach or write on the central focus and example is always God. He is indeed our Rock and our Fortress. [Bob La Forge]
The Author: Bob La Forge (New Jersey, USA)
Thought for the Day: I can grow in faith by serving God.
Prayer: Dear God, teach us faith that is strong and straight. Thank you for other Christians who mentor and guide us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Children learning to swim
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Be rooted and built up in [Christ Jesus], be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught. [Colossians 2:7 (CEB)]
My twin eight-year-old daughters take swim lessons at the YMCA. The pool is long, and the lanes are separated by ropes and buoys. The youngest children in the class look like they are swatting flies when they swim. They zigzag into the lane ropes, then have to stop and untangle themselves. However, they still make it to the other end. The swimmers in the middle age group are more coordinated, but they too swim into the ropes. The oldest and most experienced swimmers slice through the water, staying in their lanes the entire time.
Our Christian walk can be like this swim class. As new Christians, we may be excited and full of energy but need someone more mature in the faith to mentor and guide us. Otherwise, we might keep swerving out of bounds.
Swimming straighter does not come simply with age; neither does living the spiritual life. Improvement comes with experience and obedience. The better swimmers listen to their instructors, learn from their guidance, and practice. Mature Christians study the Bible and seek the counsel of other believers to better serve God. No matter what our experience, we might still swerve into the ropes. But by persevering and growing in faith, we will make it to the other end.
Read more from the author, here.
More from Bob LaForge
I have been a Christian since 1977 when God showed me that when I am in control of my life it will not go well and that God needs to be the one true Lord and Savior. I am married to Toni and have twin daughters, Sarah and Danielle, who were born in 2006. At the church that we attend, Grace Bible Church, I oversee the bookstore and teach Adult Sunday School. My wife sings in the choir and is on the Fellowship Committee. Our two daughters are in AWANA and American Heritage Girls.One topic that I feel particularly strong about is the crucial importance of knowing who and what God is. I believe that the more deeply we know God the more likely we will fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). When we accept Christ, God puts our feet on a new foundation. But if our spiritual eyesight is dim we will not clearly see what we are standing on and every wind and wave will panic us. But as studying the Bible improves our spiritual vision we will see more clearly that what we are standing on is the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Our confidence will grow and we will have a greater desire to become more like the one who delivered us (Colossians 1:13).
My book “Contemplating the Almighty” came from a time in my life that was particularly rough. I was in a prolonged discouragement and thought about the best way to break out of it. Being overly busy, TV, and video games were only distractions. Finally I realized that the only way out was to know God better. So for almost two years I did a focused study on what the Bible says about God. The result answered the question in Song of Solomon 8:5, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her [his] beloved?” That was me and my beloved was God. So no matter what topic I teach or write on the central focus and example is always God. He is indeed our Rock and our Fortress. [Bob La Forge]
The Author: Bob La Forge (New Jersey, USA)
Thought for the Day: I can grow in faith by serving God.
Prayer: Dear God, teach us faith that is strong and straight. Thank you for other Christians who mentor and guide us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Children learning to swim
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