S- Colossians 1:28-29 "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me."
I'm also going to share the NIRV Bible version today. "We preach about him. With all the wisdom we have, we warn and teach everyone. When we bring them to God, we want them to be perfect as people who belong to Christ. That’s what I’m working for. I work hard with all of Christ’s strength. His strength works powerfully in me."
O & A- 1) Paul warns and teaches everyone so they can be perfect as people who belong to Christ. I am so blessed to have a life manual. My Bible! I can look there for lessons in all things! From being a wife and mother to lessons in daily living. The more lessons I learn from God's Word, the more I want to learn and to change and improve to be more like him. It's the best place to go when I'm struggling to know how to handle any situation. His Word is perfect!
2) "I work hard with all of Christ's strength. His strength works powerfully in me." Often I feel like I don't have the strength to do certain things. But, I know that with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”" I've been training to run a 5k with my cool runner sister. I do not enjoy running. As I'm on the treadmill, my mind and body tells me I'm not going to make it to even .5 miles. I start my run with a prayer to have the energy and endurance to finish each days run. As I'm coming up on .5 I pray that I can keep going. "Ok, I did it! Now I can go to .75! Go, go! I did it! Go to .8! Ok, yes I did it! I'm dying, just make it to .9... I did it! Don't stop! Make it to 1.0! Thank you, Jesus! I'm not dead!" Seriously I pray through the whole last 1/2 mile. Only through God will I make it 3.1 miles! Pray I make it 2 miles today in my training!
P- Thank you God for my Bible! Thank you that I can learn so much in any situation if I look there, rather than any other book or manual or worldly advice. Thank you that Your Word is perfect. You are perfect! Thank you that through you I have strength! I am weak and you are strong. Thank you that you live in me! That any good in me comes from you! Please make me more like you daily! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!
Thank you! For praying for me! I made it 2 miles! I haven't run since last Thursday. I missed Saturday, because I got ahead in my training schedule and decided it would be best to switch my training days this week anyway. I planned to run Sunday, but was blessed to have Luke help our friends move and I got to play with the kids. Monday I tried to run and my knee was being lame and hurting so I gave it a break and took it way super easy. I thought for sure today would kill me. Today was my easiest day! WHAT?! That is the power of prayer! I didn't even think "I was going to die" until 1.2 and even then I was just wanting to slow down. I ran .5 miles longer at my fast speed 5.0 than I have before. And finished the last .5 faster than my previous slow speed. It was all God! I thought for sure I was not going to even be able to finish today! God is so good! Thanks again for your prayers! Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”"
A response from one of the ladies in the group. I like how she pointed it to Christ!
Your running/training example made me smile! :) It is such a great example of how we can train for Christ daily! Bit by bit. Mile by mile, or one-tenth of a mile by one-tenth of a mile. We need to pursue God with this same perseverance. I like the visual you gave in your example. Reminds me that I don't have to be "perfect" or spiritually mature all at once. Spiritual maturity is a life-long goal and all I have to do is focus on the next one-tenth at a time! Love it! :D
From another lady in our group…
S: 1:28-29. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me.
O: Paul not only teaches people about God and His plan for their salvation, but also their inevitable fate should they choose not to accept God's gift. Paul's ability is completely dependent on God.
A: My ability to spread the good news is dependent on the wisdom and strength that God gives me. I need to pray daily that God will give me opportunities to share his love with others.
P: Dear God, thank you that it's not up to us. Our wisdom and strength are so limited without you. All honor and glory to you. May your will be done. Amen.
From the blog HERE...
Christ in me.
Any good that I can do is not because of me, but because of Christ in me.
It’s His heart working in my life that enables me to love those who hurt me, forgive those who have rejected me and pray for those who persecute me.
Christ in me….I now have His life flowing through me.
Christ in me….HE is the difference maker.
I can forgive the hurt of rejection from my childhood because He is in me.
I can love instead of hate because Christ is in me.
Christ makes all the difference in my life.
Christ in me. That doesn’t mean that I will be perfect or that I will make all the right decisions. What it does mean is that as I mature in my faith, I learn to allow Christ to live through me…..that I become more like Him each day and less like me.
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