Colossians 3: Are You Heartily Serving God?
Verse of the Day: (V23) “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
1. Hid (V1-11)
V2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Apostle Paul’s life was hidden in Christ so that everyone who saw him actually saw Christ, and not Paul. This was only possible when Paul set his life goal and purpose on Christ alone, and never on himself or his accomplishments. No one should ever look to man, not even if he is the best preacher or Christian, as we are all sinners saved by grace. Only Christ has the solution for all our problems. To hide in Christ means we are dead to self. Our hearts, eyes, hands, etc., are Christ’s, and we live only for Christ. Our hearts are set only on the treasures in heaven, and never on earth. Let us therefore hide in Christ so that everyone around us will see Christ in us, and receive Him as their personal Saviour.
V3 “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
2. Humbleness (V12-17)
V12 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”
To truly hide in Christ means we must humble ourselves before the holy God, and acknowledge that we are nothing without Him. Many Christians fail to hide in Christ, because they are proud and refuse to forgive those who hurt or harm them. Let us therefore humble ourselves, and forgive others, even as Christ, the Son of God, humbled Himself when He died on the cross, and forgave all including those who crucified Him.
V13 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
3. Heartily (V18-25)
V23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
Paul encouraged them that when they shared the gospel of Christ or do good works, they were not doing for man’s sake or applause, but for God’s sake and approval. He reminded them that the omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient God sees and knows all their labour of love, and one day He shall reward them. Let us therefore not be tired and weary in our service and labour for our God, but serve and do them heartily and merrily knowing that one day He shall reward us in glorious heaven because of Christ in us!
V24 “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to hide in You and heartily do Your work and will.
Colossians 2: Are You Rooted In Christ?
Verse of the Day: (V7) “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
1. Received (V1-6)
V5 “For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.”
Though Apostle Paul was imprisoned for his faith in Christ and was not with the Colossians Christians, yet he could feel and sense their steadfast love and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ after they had believed and received Jesus as their personal Saviour. Paul then commanded and encouraged them to continue to walk in Christ and build up their faith in Him despite of their suffering and persecution because of their belief in Him.
V6 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”
2. Rooted (V7-9)
V7 “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Paul commanded them to be rooted and built up in Christ and God’s Word so that when false teaching and crises come their way they would not fear or panic, but would be strong and firm in their faith in Him. Indeed, let us be rooted and built up in Christ by praying, studying and applying God’s Word in our life, and be thankful for His salvation.
V8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
3. Risen (V10-23)
V10 “Ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
In the days of Apostle Paul, just like today, many walked by sight and their own wisdom, and refused to acknowledge that they were sinners who needed the holy God to forgive their sins and unbelief. Indeed, only when we believe and receive Christ as our personal Saviour will we find completeness and contentment in life. Jesus died for our sins and the third day He rose again to conquer death. Once we believe in Jesus, we must then be baptised as an act of obedience to Him, as well as to identify ourselves as buried like Him in the water, and raised in the newness of life, so that henceforth we live for Christ alone.
V12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be rooted and built up in You and You alone.
Colossians 1: Are You Walking Worthy Of God?
Verse of the Day: (V10) “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
1. Word (V1-8)
V4 “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,”
Apostle Paul was encouraged by the Colossians Christians’ love for one another after they had received the word of the truth. Indeed, once we believe and receive Christ as our personal saviour, our lives are transformed in His likeness to truly love God and others.
V5 “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;”
2. Walk (V9-20)
V9 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”
Paul kept praying for the Colossians Christians that they would continue to walk worthy of God by being fruitful in their service to Him. As fruitful Christians, we ought to walk worthy of God by preaching the gospel, loving one another, filling ourselves with God’s Word and wisdom, and striving to be holy and perfect like our Saviour Jesus Christ.
V10 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
3. Wisdom (V21-29)
V27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
Again Paul explained to the Colossians Christians that the mystery of God was that he was commanded not only to preach the gospel of Christ to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. God creates man in His image to glorify Him, however the first man, Adam, sinned and rebelled against God. Since then man continues in their sins against God. This was why God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the whole world, so that whosoever believes in Him, shall never perish in fiery hell, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven. This is the greatest hope of glory for all man!
V28 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to walk worthy of You now and forever.
Philippians 4: Can You Do All Things?
Verse of the Day: (V13) “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
1. I Rejoiced (V1-12)
V4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
No matter what happened to Apostle Paul, he rejoiced always because he knew that God was in control of everything and He never make a single mistake. Even when Paul was imprisoned, he heard that his fellow disciples were even more determined to preach the gospel to as many people as possible at faraway places. In fact, he was thankful and grateful to God as he finally experienced great love and care from the Philippian Christians when he was imprisoned after they had lost contact with him. Indeed, let us rejoice always, in good as well as bad time as we know that God is in control all the time!
V10 “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.”
2. I Can (V13-16)
V13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Paul thanked the Philippian Christians as they were the only ones or church who encouraged and supported him in prayers and finance since he left Macedonia. Nevertheless, he declared that even if no one or no church encouraged or supported him, he could do all things through Christ, his personal Saviour and Lord, who strengthened him. In fact, he learned to be contented in every situation, and trusted God for everything.
V15 “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.”
3. I Desire (V17-23)
V17 “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”
Paul explained to the Philippian Christians that though he desired their love and gifts, yet it was for their own good because God shall richly bless and reward them for their love and support of God’s faithful servants who preached the gospel of Christ. Indeed, when we supply all the needs of God’s faithful servants, not only shall God supply all our needs, but at the same time we are also building up our eternal treasures in pearly heaven.
V19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I can do all things through You who strengthens me.
Philippians 3: Will You Rejoice In Christ Jesus?
Verse of the Day: (V3) “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
1. Rejoice In Christ Jesus (V1-7)
V1 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.”
Though Apostle Paul was imprisoned for preaching the gospel of Christ, yet he rejoiced in Christ Jesus as he counted it a privilege and honour to suffer for Christ. It is not easy to rejoice in bad time, when we lose our job or loved ones or health, but with God we can truly rejoice because through it all we learn to trust in Him. It is not so much the circumcision of the flesh as the Jews would desire to follow their tradition, but it is the circumcision of our hearts where the Holy Spirit lives in us as we rejoice forever more!
V3 “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”
2. Knowledge Of Christ Jesus (V8-12)
V8 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
When Paul received Christ as his Saviour, he counted his achievement as nothing compared to his knowledge of Christ Jesus. He counted it a great privilege to suffer and even die for the gospel, as Christ also had suffered and died for him and the whole world!
V10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
3. High Calling Of God In Christ Jesus (V13-21)
V13 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”
There were many pressing things that Paul needed to do, but the one thing he must do was to forget all the past sins, failures or glories, and look to Christ Jesus, and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The calling of God is the highest calling than even that of the President or the King of the whole world!
V14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to rejoice in Christ Jesus in good as well as bad time.
Philippians 2: Who Are You?
Verse of the Day: (V15) “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
1. The Form Of God (V1-8)
V6 “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:”
God through Apostle Paul commanded the Philippian Christians to worship and exalt Jesus Christ, who was willing to humble Himself by leaving the form of God in glorious heaven to become the form of a servant to live on this lowly earth. Though Jesus loved the people and ministered to them, yet He was eventually betrayed, arrested and crucified, not for His own sins, but for the sins of the whole world. However, Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection and return were already prophesied in the Old Testament. Indeed, on the third day, Jesus miraculously rose from the dead conquering death, and whosoever believes in Him shall never perish in hell but have everlasting life with Him in heaven.
V7 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:”
2. The Glory Of God (V9-11)
V9 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:”
Indeed one day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Christ is the Lord for the glory of God. Let us therefore glorify Christ and share His gospel to all that He loves, forgives and saves all who believe and receive Him as their personal Saviour.
V11 “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
3. The Sons Of God (V12-30)
V13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
What a privilege and honour to know that we are the sons of God when we believe and receive Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord! Let us therefore submit to God, and be blameless and harmless, so that our lives shall shine as lights in this dark and evil world!
V15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am Your beloved son because I truly believe in You.
Philippians 1: Why Am I Here?
Verse of the Day: (V21) “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
1. The Servants Of Jesus Christ (V1-5)
V1 “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”
Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote this letter to the pastors, deacons and the Philippians Christians encouraging them to keep on, keeping on living for Jesus Christ even though he was in prison. The Romans, who were in control of Philippi at that time were against Christianity, had arrested and thrown Paul into prison because he refused to stop preaching the gospel. Though Timothy was not with him, yet Paul identified himself with him as servants of Jesus Christ because they truly loved and served Christ. Though Paul was in prison, yet his letter was full of joy, and he even told the Philippian Christians that he was praying for them. Indeed, Paul was joyful because he knew that God was with him, and he had nothing to fear, but a heaven to gain, and a hell to shun.
V4 “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,”
2. The Day Of Jesus Christ (V6-18)
V6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
Paul commanded the Philippians Christians never to give up but to keep on, keeping on preaching the gospel, as the day of Jesus Christ shall come when He shall receive them with great joy and blessings. In fact, Paul realised that while he was in prison, his fellow Christians were even more determined to preach the gospel not only in Philippi, but the regions beyond. Indeed, God can make something good from something seemingly evil!
V12 “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;”
3. The Spirit Of Jesus Christ (V19-30)
V19 “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,”
Paul was ready to die in the hands of the Romans because he was greatly encouraged by the Spirit of Jesus Christ who indwelt in him. Indeed, the purpose of our existence is to live for Christ, because He truly loves us, and gave His life for us. Whosoever believes in Christ shall never be condemned in hell, but one day, shall live with Him in heaven.
V21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that I am here because of Jesus Christ who truly loves me.
Ephesians 6: Are You Putting On The Whole Armour Of God?
Verse of the Day: (V11) “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
1. Will Of God (V1-9)
V6 “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”
Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit commanded the Ephesians Christians to serve and please God, and not men, and to do the work and will of God from their hearts. Indeed, let us truly serve and please God with all our hearts, as only God and God alone, our Creator and Saviour, deserves our worship and praises, as He loves and cares for us.
V7 “With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:”
2. Armour Of God (V10-16)
V11 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Apostle Paul concluded his letter to the Ephesians Christians with a timeless and precious truth and advice that they must put on the whole armour of God in order to overcome and defeat the devil who seeks to destroy God’s Word and work, and the Christians and the churches. The devil is real and we can never overcome him, unless we have God and His whole armour on us. Let us therefore put on the whole armour of God, starting with the helmet of salvation, follow by the breastplate of righteousness, the loins of truth, the shield of faith, the sword of God’s Word, the shoes of the gospel, and finally prayers.
V12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
3. Word Of God (V17-24)
V17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”
The sword of God’s Word is the only offensive weapon of the whole armour of God. Let us meditate and memorise God’s Word because it not only help us to overcome the devil, but it is also for us to share the gospel of Christ that all may come to know Christ and make Him known. Above all, let us pray to God, and abound in His Word, work and will!
V18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to put on Your whole armour and abound in You.
Ephesians 5: Who Love The Church?
Verse of the Day: (V25) “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
1. Christ (V1-21)
V2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit encouraged the Ephesians Christians to walk in love with Christ and with one another as Christ is love when He lovingly left the splendour of heaven to live among man and subsequently died and shed His precious blood as the ultimate and supreme sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Let us therefore give thanks to Jesus Christ for all that He has done for, with, through and in us.
V20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
2. Church (V22-27)
V23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”
Christ not only loves His church but He is the head of the church, and so the husband is also the head of the wife. The reason why there are so much sorrow and conflicts in a marriage is because sometimes the wife desires to be the head, and in this case, there will be two heads, and the marriage becomes a monster and disaster! Let us therefore love our wife as Christ loved His church, and let the husband be the head of his wife as Christ is also the head of the church, and there shall be joy and peace in the marriage and family.
V25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
3. Cherisheth (V28-33)
V29 “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:”
Let us care and cherish our wife as Christ also cares and cherishes His church. Indeed, when we follow Christ’s example, our marriage shall last till death separates the couple. As for those who are yet to be married, let us pray that our spouse is a Christian, for how can two individuals become one flesh, unless they have the same true and living God!
V31 “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You that You love Your church, and you also love me.
Ephesians 4: How Is Your Walk With God?
Verse of the Day: (V1) “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”
1. Walk (V1-27)
V1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”
Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit pleaded with the Ephesians Christians to walk worthy of God and be a great blessing to others so that the unbelievers would desire to know and believe in the true and living God. How can we win the unbelievers to God when we walk unworthily of His holy name and high calling? Let us therefore walk worthy of God by being humble, forgiving and loving others, including our enemies.
V2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”
2. Working (V28-30)
V28 “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”
Paul rebuked the Christians who were lazy and doing nothing, and some even stole from others. Paul commanded them to find work, and get themselves busy to support not only themselves and their family, but others, especially the poor, the needy and the helpless. Indeed, God sends His Holy Spirit to indwell in us the day we are redeemed. Our salvation is sealed forever as once saved, always saved. However, we cannot abuse God’s grace by walking unworthily as we are grieving His Holy Spirit and incurring His anger.
V30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
3. Wrath (V31-32)
V31 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
Let us walk worthily by letting go of all our bitterness, wrath, anger and evil from our hearts, and let us learn to be kind to one another, and forgiving one another even as Christ has forgiven us. Indeed, Jesus Christ left His throne of glory and came to earth to live and then died and shed His precious blood for the sins of the whole world, for yours and mine.
V32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to walk worthy of Your holy name and high calling.
