Knowing The Mystery Of God
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Colossians 2 and Psalm 74 (NIV)
(Gordon Tan, Lay Leader Representative)
READ
Colossians 2:2-3,2:6-7 and 2:22-23 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
Paul’s hope for the Colossians and Laodiceans is that they will be “rooted and built up in Christ”. This comes from a firm understanding of the mystery of God. In contrast, man-made rules and practices do not strengthen one’s faith nor encourage unity in love.
This understanding begins with knowing that Jesus is the fullness of God. He is not a god that became man; nor is he the man holy and pure. He is God, the Divine Being that was with God the Father at the beginning of time; fully God and fully man. And the work of Christ is the cornerstone of our faith. With the work of Christ on the Cross, God “forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14) This is the work that has set us free from the bondage of sin.
We are instructed to hold on to this truth and not be swayed by religious practices that promote “false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” Instead, we are to strengthen our faith by continuing to follow Christ and let our roots grow down into Him, and let our lives be built on Him. Then our faith will grow strong in the truth and we will overflow with thankfulness.
APPLY:
I can be easily angered and hold grudges against people who I find offensive. Can my understanding of what Jesus did for me on the Cross spur me to forgive? When a driver cuts into my lane; when colleagues fail to present work up to my expectations; when family members do things I do not agree with; when my spouse corrects me for my wrongs, will I bear grudges, or learn to forgive?
I can be someone who displays passive-aggressive behavior. Seemingly a nice guy, easy to get along with until I can’t. What am I doing? Am I showing love that will build up or tear down the other person? Can I learn to gently and respectfully communicate what I want and expect? Or even learn to say “no”. I need to learn that being too accommodative can result in hurting rather than helping.
I too can harbor spiritual pride when I proudly display I do my devotions, fast and pray regularly or serve actively in Christian work. What are my motives when I do these spiritual disciplines? Do I do it to show off? Or do I do it because I want to grow in my knowledge of God, to understand God’s loving heart?
DO:
I want to cultivate a heart of gratefulness for the work of Christ on the Cross. I want to frequently recall how much I have been forgiven. I want to remember God’s love for me.
I want to be thankful for my family and friends. I want to be patient with those who offend me, who fall short of my expectations. Because God loves me so, I want to learn to be authentic, sharing my thoughts and wishes honestly. I also want to avoid resorting to passive-aggressive behavior.
PRAY:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
