Monday, March 19
Monday, March 19
Colossians 3:16–17 – Rules for Holy Living
The letter to the Colossians was written by Paul during a time when many Colossians were straying from the teachings of Christ and were following the false teachings and philosophies that were popular in that day in the city of Colosse. Paul’s purpose for the letter was to refute these heresies and to stress reliance on Christ alone.
In this passage of the letter, Paul encourages both Jew and Gentile Christians in their efforts to practice reliance on Jesus by providing them with some rules for Christian living. In particular, he encourages them to saturate (richly dwell) their minds with the knowledge of the word that Jesus revealed so that they might be blessed with the wisdom that the Holy Spirit imparts. He directs them to use this wisdom and knowledge to provide instruction and guidance to their fellow Christians – in other words to evangelize. In addition, Paul instructs the misbelieving Colossians to spread the truth of Jesus through song, hymns and psalms as well as speech. Most of all, Paul exhorts the Colossians to be thankful to God for the “Word”; the revelation that God brought into the world through Jesus Christ. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14).
Living Out Lent: During this Lenten season, let us take off the old self and put on the new self following Paul’s call to richly dwell in the word and to study and to share the Gospel by teaching, guiding and singing praises to God. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)
Cheryl Jordan is married to Ray Spitz. She is a paralegal and is recently retired from the Florida Department of Children and Families. She and Ray have three children, seven granddaughters and a grand dog. Cheryl is involved in several ministries at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, including the Daughters of the Holy Cross, Altar Guild, the Mary and Martha Circle, and Alpha.