Colossians 2:16-23 ~ Therefore

How will we Rock the world with God's Love? 

How to bring God's Love to your Loved ones and mine?

Billy Joel famously sang "Only the Good Die Young." It's a concept widely held about Christianity. And one to think about when people are mad at God. Even the Old Church Lady, on "Saturday Night Live", is believed to be a theological statement of fact. Really.

Would you rather laugh with the sinners or cry with the saints? The sinners sound like much more fun!

Colossians 2:16-23

16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.  

18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.

20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

One thing is absolutely, for sure, certain - The Roman Empire was not swayed on SNL Church Lady principals. El Greco painted a lot of hair shirts - very depressing. I once left an El Greco painting exhibit very saddened. And in the Bible? Potato sacks. A large distance from self-mortification.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God is not in the business of pro-sin. We are not in the business of being God's Judgment.
God is about Balance. Because He wants to save - The World. The Light in all of mankind shines given from Jesus.

We have grace, grace, grace, easy grace on one side and the Spanish Inquisition on the other.
Jesus stands in the Center of Love telling us be in this Love. Get in here.
Father God expects Love to welcome and warm. A Personal Father who created gifts, talents to Love in us.


1 John 5:16
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that.

God sees prayer not as a whim, God says prayer is an effective tool. Approach God in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


What about that Laughter and Joy? And even Long Life?
Joy is right after Love in God's hit parade in Galatians 5.
Jesus spoke of Vineyards quite often too. We need to know Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They spoke of the wonder of knowing Jesus. Awe. Not all people know the Bible.

What if... I told you I dreamed of your house and water was pouring and pouring and pouring from the front door? No doubt, no one would say, "Yay!"

GOD Said, " Water, Pours from His House." Many times. Jesus called Himself Living Water - Water Goes in any way it wants. Better than a 600 LB Gorilla. Water covers. Soaks. And in Living Water - Redeems and Renews to Re-Birth.

We have an important call.
We are called to say to the people we Love - "I'm going to Heaven and, by GOD, I'm not going without You. Because I Love You That Much!" ""So, Know the Love God has for You, More Than Mine!" 

Papyrus 46 is 300 pages of Early second to first Scripture. No mistake. This is written in the time of the life of John the Apostle. Matthew walked with Jesus. Matthew had a very complicated and political career.

God is an Abba - a Pappa. He doesn't take Matthew's exciting life and say, in effect, can you improve? Let me add one more task to your to-do-list, you might improve. Matthew records what Jesus said to him, something his heart could hear.

Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

God is saying, let Me nurture, care and Love you.

Mark wanted to be with godly people. Sometimes he was seen as being the one who was unreliable. And Mark later was adopted by Peter and nurtured Peter at the end of his life. What did Mark see in Jesus for the ups and downs of life not being a charming life all the time?

Mark 12:29
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."


One?
Life can be pretty confusing. We can hardly know which way to go fast enough some days. Pulled by family, friends, fun, career, house, chores, and the thoughts of our goals. Soon our chin rests on our collarbone. Mark finds God is One. All of our cares are temporary. We are pulled like an airplane flight. From the clouds into the brilliant and nurturing Love God has for us as we burst through the clouds of a regular day and life and discover Light - GOD IS GOOD. God is above. God clears our thoughts and we are lifted far, far above our concerns. God is for us.

Father God calls us to His House on Sundays. We worship and discover - we are Fed. Given a higher thought to remember as the new week comes into our lives. Seeing a higher path. A place to take a deep, clean breathe and renew again. New Fire.

Long life? The early Church calls Mark John - Mark and records he went on to lead a life in Ephesus. Medieval times change this to Mark the Evangelist. Ephesus was a haven. Bishop Ignatius of Antioch to the Ephesians in the early 2nd century AD, that begins with, "Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which is at Ephesus, in Asia, deservedly most happy, being blessed in the greatness and fullness of God the Father, and predestined before the beginning of time, that it should be always for an enduring and unchangeable glory" (Letter to the Ephesians). A legend, which was first mentioned by Epiphanius of Salamis in the 4th century AD, purported that Mary may have spent the last years of her life in Ephesus.

God tends to reward the disciples who stayed to the finish. Like ... Luke.

Luke - died young. Wrong. Luke died in old age. He stayed to the finish with Paul. A physician. A healer.

Luke's take on life is being invited to the homes of the rich and the poor to see their life. Luke saw a variety of life styles. If you look at the website http://www.topverses.com/Bible/Luke, you will see how life flows from privilege to necessity. The Light of the World floods His Creation He calls good - yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Luke 19:9-10
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham! 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost!”


How does Luke demonstrate you take something as HUGE as Salvation? Luke says there is a response Jesus gave to this Large Salvation.

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must [Jesus says if we seek Him, He will arrive because He knows and loves us] stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.

Take the normal of today, do your best. Jesus tenderly loves you. God is for you!

Did John die young? Om, NO. John is recorded by several historians as having disciples and gettin' in all these controversies about Jesus being... Love. In old age, in the Second Century. And I, sure as anything, would raise my hand to live in the cave on top of the mountain with the huge rooms and huge Hobbit Door overlooking paradise on Patmos.

Jesus was just not kidding about Abundant Life. No mortgage. None.

If you presented a loved one with doubts to John the Disciple, and asked John to speak to someone you love about God. John walked with Jesus and said,"God is Love." 1 John 4:8.

John would tackle this with Love.

John would tell of Jesus coming to Thomas and grasping exactly what that Loved One needs to know about the Source of Love. Jesus would appear to that Loved One and not let their concerns be unmet.

God would tell of all of the wonderful aspects we all have. God would applaud us for our love.

God applauds our ponder upon the Light of God. God does not want us to suffer wrath. God wants us to receive the free gift of His Son, Jesus. Why? For Love! When we wear that as armor in the slings and arrows of life. Like a breastplate. When we know we can expect God to save us like a good helmet. When we encourage and build each other up. Honor. When we acknowledge hard work. When we care for those who have cared for us. When we hold in High Regard those who have loved us. When we work to live in peace.When encouragement is given to the disheartened, help for the weak - in patience. When we always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

God would thank us for loving His Children.

God himself, the God of peace, sanctifies us through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Father God, who calls you is faithful, and He will do His Good Will.

Brothers and sisters, pray for each other.

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you and for you. Always.

 ~ from 1 Thessalonians 5









 

Father God, let me be one of Your number, when the Saints Go Marching In.
In Jesus, we plant the seed, and ask Your Blessing on the Soul to Grow towards You.
You are Love and We are honored by Your Love, Father God.
In His Light, we shall be More than Conquerors.
For the Lord your God, is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory!
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My Power is made perfect in weakness.”
With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved
In Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life."
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly!
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His Might!


Our Hope and Amen is in Jesus Christ the Lord!

 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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