Technology! A constant struggle in learning, loving, boredom, disdain, and new appreciation as we embrace the endless line of new gadgets and services. The fight to stay aware of the newest popular tech is nearly impossible. The blogosphere is endless in the stream of new releases, rumors, and rants on the new gear. The same parallel can be made to our lives spiritually..
We are bombarded by information. It clamors for our attention. We have to be intentional to keep the most important things in the front of our minds, like our Faith.
During our series Refresh we have been looking at facets of the christian life and how we are to live..
- Live Belonging to Christ
- Dead to Sin
- Alive in Christ
- Experiencing Freedom
- Serving God
This week we took a final look at Colossians as Paul and Timothy write to the church of Colossae a letter of instruction and encouragement. Paul shares..
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. (Colossians 4:2-4 NIV)
The highlights: prayer, open doors, proclaiming Christ.. and chains. Paul is in chains. We know why he is in chains: for preaching the Gospel of Jesus.
It begs the question: What would I be willing to be in chains for?
It speaks volumes about Paul’s motivation; what he lived for. It also reminds us to be mindful of our motivation. To be intentional in our actions. To change our perspective to one of a Christ-centered worldview. Our perspective fueling our actions…
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5, 6 NIV)
Christ spoke of us living “salty” in the gospel of Matthew
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13 NIV)
We are to be like Salt. Something that in Jesus and Paul’s day was worth great value and brought flavor to life. We see throughout the gospel accounts and Paul’s epistles how we are to be full of grace and love. It is what makes us ‘salty’.
In our last post we saw how we are to be clothed in ” compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience..forgive(ness)..and love.” Called to live a different way than the world around us. This challenge is continued as we see examples of encouragement from Colossians 4. Paul sends a fellow believer to the church at Colossae…
” I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.” (Colossians 4: 8 NIV)
An encouragement. It is a simple and powerful thing to be an encouragement to others. We too can be an encouragement.
The last piece of Colossians 4 centers on sending greetings from several brothers in faith. They are saying hello in a time before tech. They are praying for the church. They care.. because they are in community.
We value community at The Bridge. It is core to our values. It is important to us because it is important to Christ and the early church. And like them, we must be intentional to see community grow.
In these ways we are challenged to live for Christ. Refreshed.
- Be Mindful of Motivation
- Be Salty (Grace & Love)
- Be An Encouragement
- Be in Community
Live Refreshed in Him,
JB