CONTENTS
- Come to Jesus Daily devotional
- Monday – Are we Focused on God’s purpose?
- Tuesday – Speak for God’s purpose
- Wednesday – Focus on maturity
- Thursday – Work hard for God’s purpose with God’s power
- Friday – God’s power leads to a focus on God’s purpose
- Community Group/Family Study
- Outline of the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ devotional method
You can listen to all the messages at: Click this link to audio content
For more information visit www.communitychurchputney.com
1. COME TO JESUS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
These daily devotionals follow the ‘Come to Jesus daily’ devotional method (See the last page of this for a fuller outline)
This week all of our devotions are based on Colossians 1:28-29
MONDAY – ARE WE FOCUSED ON GOD’S PURPOSE?
Somebody once said, “I always wanted to be somebody. I should have been more specific.” If we don’t have focus and direction we will end up somewhere that we never intended, and will be a person we never wanted to become. Paul, speaking of his focus wrote,
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. (Colossians 1:28-29)
Paul could say ‘He is the one we proclaim’, ‘so that we may’ and ‘To this end…’ all of these phrases speak of purposeful focus.
All of us need to take a good look at our lives and check that our focus is on what God is focussed on.
How did Paul, and how do we, find the right focus for our lives? This is not to say that we all do the same things in life; but it does mean that in whatever we do, we have the same goal.
What was Paul’s purpose in life?
Here, Paul speaks of an overarching purpose: ‘To present everyone fully mature in Christ’. We are not all bible teachers and apostles like Paul, but we all share Jesus’ Great Commission, where we are told to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20).
Let’s allow God to reset our focus and purpose. Let’s hear His call to commit to our own maturity and helping others to grow in their faith.
Meditation on Colossians 1:28-29
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.
1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?
Paul was focussed on you. He was so aware of your greatness, glory and worth that he wanted everyone to know you. He saw your work on the cross as the centre-point of history; so much so that he said to everyone, “where ever you are looking in life, I want you to look at this…look at Jesus!” You and your gospel were the centre of his passion and ambition. Holy Spirit, please fill me with such a loving focus on you. Like Paul may I be able to say ‘For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified’ (1 Corinthians 2:2).
2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?
God’s focus is God!
Paul could say ‘He is the one we proclaim’, ‘so that we may’ and ‘To this end…’ all of these phrases speak of a purposeful focus to know you and make you known.
May you take the highest place in my heart and mind. You are of greatest worth. Like the host of heaven may I sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise! To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:12-13)
3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?
Paul’s purpose was to ‘present everyone fully mature in Christ’. He didn’t just want converts, he wanted to make disciples (learners). He wanted to help others to focus their minds and lives on Jesus.
How are you doing at helping others to focus on Jesus?
4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?
Paul spoke of his purpose when he said, ‘He is the one we proclaim’. His ambition was to speak to everyone about Christ.
Father, I’m sorry when I’ve have not made you, and making you known, my greatest ambition for my non-believing friends. Would you give me grace so that your cross would become my greatest focus and message.
TUESDAY – SPEAK FOR GOD’S PURPOSE
Words have great power. With words, God created the world and with words, we can offer salvation in Christ, and help people to become mature. We live in a culture that is very irresponsible with words. We receive and give more verbal and written words than ever in history, and I think that much of it is incorrectly focussed. Let’s learn to speak for God’s purpose. Paul writes,
‘He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ’ (Colossians 1:28).
I’m sure that Paul engaged in lots of ‘small talk’ and discussed many everyday things, but, the great focus of his words was to ‘present everyone fully mature in Christ’.
How do we use our words? Are we wise? James warns about the power of the tongue, ‘The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell’ (James 3:6).
Paul, however ‘proclaims, admonishes and teaches, with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ’.
Like Paul, we must learn that words are tools for blessing and building. Through the wise use of them, we help to ‘present everyone perfect in Christ’.
Let’s allow God to refocus our use of words. He says to us, ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen’ (Ephesians 4:29).
Meditation on Colossians 1:28
Colossians 1:28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?
Lord Jesus, you are at the centre of the gospel (the good news). You are ‘the one’ who came to earth as a man, to die, to rise, for my salvation. May you continue to be, and increasingly become, my ‘wisdom’ - my way of salvation, transformation and the heart of every part of the bible. May you be my ‘wisdom’, may I say like Paul,
1 Corinthians 1:23-25 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?
You, Father, have given us your word of truth - the Bible. It’s your will that I love it and learn from it. May you continue to ‘proclaim, admonish and teach’ my mind and heart about you.
I’m sorry for when I have not loved your word and your gospel; that I have often neglected to study and feast on your truth. I turn the faculties of my mind, and the time that I have, to your purposes of spiritual growth toward maturity.
3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?
Paul ‘proclaimed, admonished and taught’ about you, Lord Jesus. He used his words to help to mature others. You have given me a commission to “Make disciples, teaching them to obey everything you have commanded us….” May I help my Christian friends, particularly those in my Community Group, to put you, and your gospel, central.
4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?
Lord Jesus, you want me to be able to say, ‘He is the one we proclaim’. May I take every opportunity that you give me to speak to my friends about you. I know that example is important, but you also show me that the gospel is a message about you. today, you encourage me to, ‘Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone’ (Colossians 4:6).
WEDNESDAY – FOCUS ON MATURITY
I’m told that it takes around ten-thousand hours of practice to master anything. It’s easy to start things, but it’s faithfulness toward maturity in anything that is hard. Paul was not just interested in helping people to become Christians; He was equally focussed on their growth toward maturity.
Are we focussed on growing in Christian maturity, and helping others to do the same? And, what is Christian maturity anyway? Paul writes, ‘He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ’ (Colossians 1:28).
‘Mature’ means to be fully grown. To move from being a baby Christian to being a mature person who can stand in times of trial and help others in their growth; maturity develops in those who are faithful to learn and obey, to the point that they’ve got some experiences to pass on.
As Christians, and as a church, it’s part of our vision to ‘bring non-believers to Jesus’. This is a good focus, but it’s certainly not everything. Are we also passionate and diligent to help those that God has put into our lives to become ‘fully mature in Christ’?
How does one grow in maturity? Paul speaks of his ‘proclamation, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom’ as a means to ‘present everyone fully mature in Christ’. He says elsewhere, again highlighting the importance of truth, ‘Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body.’ (Ephesians 4:14-15).
Are we being faithful in our study of the bible and learning? Are we helping others to grow in understanding of God and His word? Let’s allow God to refocus us on the importance of maturity.
Meditation on Colossians 1:28
Colossians 1:28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?
Father, you call me to be ‘mature in Christ’. There are so many things that I can seek to learn about and develop in, but ‘maturity in Christ’ is your greatest desire for me. The church in Acts 2 were ‘devoted to…breaking bread’ - that is devotion to remembering the gospel. I will only be mature as I learn to look at everything through what you, Jesus, have done.
The following parable is a strong encouragement to me to ‘dress in Christ’. Each day and through the day may I be dressed in the gospel, this is maturity.
Matthew 22:12-13 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?
It’s your will that I grow toward maturity throughout my life. Paul, reflecting your will, said ‘To this end I strenuously contend’ (1:29); He made a tremendous effort for his own and others maturity. You are calling me to growth. You are calling me to holiness. But, most importantly, you are calling me to maturity ‘in Christ’. To be a person whose whole outlook is shaped by the gospel.
3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?
You want your church to be growing in maturity. Part of our vision is to be ‘bring one-another to Jesus’. May I be helpful in this regard. May I ‘proclaim, teach, admonish with wisdom’; may I be a true friend who helps my Christian family toward maturity in Christ.
4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?
Our communities need more mature Christians and churches in them; Christians who are secure and loving because of their knowledge of Jesus. A baby is ‘ego-centric’ (self-centred), but, as they grow, they learn to turn outwards, to serve the world.
May I, and may our church, grow in Christian maturity. May we increasingly take of the likeness of Christ in this dark world.
THURSDAY – WORK HARD FOR GOD’S PURPOSE WITH GOD’S POWER
Paul speaks of His focus, his goal, when he says, ‘He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ’ (Col. 1:28). Such an ambition requires hard work; he says in the next verse, that he ‘strenuously contends’ for their maturity; he works really hard to teach and mature them. ‘Strenuously’ (kopiaó) means to toil, grow weary, work with effort, of bodily and mental labour. ‘Contend’ (agónizomai) means to struggle, to strive as in an athletic contest or warfare. Clearly, maturity in ourselves or others requires hard work!
However, Paul adds that anything that he is doing is done, ‘with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.’ Paul does not boast in himself. To do so would be like the flower boasting of its growth compared to others because it had turned its ‘face’ toward the sun! Paul says something similar elsewhere,‘But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me’ (1 Corinthians 15:10).
For us to be mature, and help others to grow in their faith, we need to work really hard, but it’s a labour that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is not to say that you and I will have the same capacity for work and ministry. Paul was Paul, you are you, and ‘by the grace of God I am what I am’! Maturity means for you to work really hard (according to the grace given you) whilst relying on His power.
A Jumbo Jet can weigh up to 970,000 Ib. that’s around 100 elephants! However, when empowered by the right fuel a person can fly the thing up to 6000 miles! The Christian life is to be lived in the power of the indwelling Christ.
Meditation on Colossians 1:29
Colossians 1:29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?
I thank you, Father, for the generations of faithful labourers who have taught the gospel. I thank you for saving, calling and empowering Christians to witness and build your church.
Paul, was a man who hated you and the gospel, and yet here he is ‘strenuously contending’ for the faith he once tried to destroy. You turn enemies into servants by your power.
I thank you for your grace in my life. I’m not yet as mature as I want to be, but you have put a fire for your name in my heart. Thank you that you are ‘powerfully working in me’.
2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?
It’s your will that your people work hard whilst also depending on your Spirit. You show us that without hard work and prayerful dependence we will achieve very little, Paul says,
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:7-8)
The writer to the Hebrews encourages us, “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (Hebrews 6:12)
Where does such motivation for hard work come from? One cannot just turn this on! One must be inspired to this. Our text today shows us that sacrificial energy came out of Paul’s ongoing relationships with Jesus in the word and prayer. As the next verse makes clear - a life of joyful suffering service (1:23) comes from the energising power of the Holy Spirit.
3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?
Paul loved the church. Love is demonstrated by hard work and sacrifice. Paul ‘strenuously contended’ for their maturity. Read the following text and seek God for His heart toward His people,
‘Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.’ (Colossians 4:12).
4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?
Paul said that ‘He is the one we proclaim’. He knew that it was God’s will that he seek to share the gospel with everyone; as he wrote previously, ‘To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory’ (Colossians 1:27).
Knowing that something is God’s will should inspire us, like Paul, to work hard and pray. We work hard knowing that this is God’s will, and we pray hard that He would add His supernatural power to our endeavours. Regarding evangelism, Paul wrote, ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should’ (Col. 4:2-4). Paul worked like it depended on him, but prayed like it all depended on God! How are you doing at striving and praying for your non-believing friends?
May we be able to say of our efforts to bring our non-believing friends to Jesus, “ I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”
FRIDAY – GOD’S POWER LEADS TO A FOCUS ON GOD’S PURPOSE
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.
The focus of Paul’s ‘proclamation, admonishing, teaching and strenuous contending’ was Jesus. He wanted to ‘present everyone fully mature in Christ’. Paul had, and remained faithful to, this focus because of the work of the Holy Spirit in him. He says ‘to this end’ (the end of helping people to become mature in Christ) ‘I strenuously contend…with all energy Christ so powerfully works in me’. Do you see that God’s power (the power of the Spirit) leads us to focus on God’s purpose – ‘to present everyone fully mature in Christ’?
I can look at someone like Paul, or another hero of the faith, and feel a little deflated. How, I think to myself, can I muster up the heart and energy to live like this? This approach is the reverse of what one needs to do. It is more helpful to ask, where did this normal man or woman get the heart and energy to live like this, and is this source open to me? Paul’s focus and hard work are the fruit of a relationship with the Spirit, who gives us power and focus. Jesus said of the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit,
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” (John 16:13-14)
If you and I want our focus sharpened. If our energy for serving Jesus needs to be ‘revved up’. If we want to be bubbling over with the desire to help people to know Jesus, to the point that it dominates our lives (as it should!) then we need to come to Jesus daily; ask Him to fill you with His presence, with His ‘energy and power’.
Meditation on Colossians 1:28
Colossians 1:29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?
Holy Spirit, when you are active in our lives, we love Christ and seek to make Him known. Your presence makes the gospel our most precious truth. When you, Holy Spirit, inspire us, the cross jumps out of history, off of the pages of scripture, and stands before us, and we hear Jesus saying to us personally, “Take and eat; this is my body.”Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28).
2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?
Holy Spirit, we need you, and I thank you that we can depend upon you to fill and empower us. May we never ignore you, the living God, and opt for living formal and ‘religious’ lives. You are a God who comes near. We read earlier in Colossians 1, ‘God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ (Colossians 1:27). You, Lord Jesus, are in us by the Spirit! May you never say of us, as Paul wrote of the Galatians, ‘Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?’ (Galatians 3:3).
3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?
When the Spirit is active among us, we focus on the things that are of value to God; the church is of great value to God! Paul said, ‘To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.’ Paul worked hard for the local church’s development, as he wrote, ‘so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.’ When the Spirit is working in us, we will strain and contend for the good of our local church. If we are finding our church community boring, annoying, unimportant…ask the Spirit to energise you with His power again.
4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?
Through this devotional, we have seen that when God’s power (the Holy Spirit) is at work in us, we will focus on what is important to God. Something of great importance to God is taking the gospel to people who, as yet, don’t believe. When the Spirit energises us with His power, we will ‘strenuously contend’ to share our faith.
One of the ways that He does this is to freshly impact us with His grace toward us. As we understand How He has had mercy on us, this naturally leads to a desire to share such good news.
May the Holy Spirit freshly remind you of what Jesus has done for you. May we, like the demon-possessed man whom Jesus healed, hear Jesus saying to us, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19). And, like Him, may it be said of us, ‘So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.’ (Mark 5:20)
2. COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY
’Work hard for God’s purpose with God’s power.’
Read Colossians 1:28-29
Introduction
Paul could say ‘He is the one we proclaim’, ‘so that we may’ and ‘To this end…’ all of these phrases speak of purposeful focus. All of us need to take a good look at our lives and check that our focus is on what God is focussed on. How did Paul, and how do we, find the right focus for our lives? and how do we get the passion and energy to stay true to God’s will for us? Let’s explore this together.
Discuss together
- What does 1:28 say about how Paul seeks to mature this church?
- Paul works hard to keep the church centred on Jesus. Why is it vital to remember the gospel every day and how do you do this?
- Paul says ‘to this end…’ to show his purpose. What was his ambition for them and how can we do this in our lives and Community Group?
- Paul spoke of working hard in serving God and the church, but to what did he credit all that he did? (See 1 Corinthians 15:10).
- Sunday’s message was entitled, ’Work hard for God’s purpose with God’s power.’ Paul ‘strenuously contended’ to ‘present everyone fully mature in Christ’ with ‘all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.’ Remaining true and energised for God’s purpose requires the Spirit’s empowering. How does one ensure that they are filled with God’s empowering presence?
- Paul wrote ‘He is the one we proclaim’; he aims to talk to people about the gospel. Starting on the 4th March we have our first ‘Hospitality Week’ Share and pray together on what you plan to do for this.
3. ‘COME TO JESUS DAILY’ DEVOTIONAL METHOD
This structure can be used to aid you in your devotions.
Begin by thanking God for salvation/the gospel (GC); Worship Him (UP); Pray for Christian friends and yourself (IN); Pray for your non-believing friends (OUT). As you go along, God will remind you of Bible texts; turn to these, and pray/worship out of them.
This structure can also be used for bible meditation. As you read, pray that God would speak. As He highlights something in the text, use the following questions to help you meditate, worship and pray out of the Bible:
- GC (Gospel–Centred) What does the text say about Jesus?
- What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him, and how will you now worship and pray in response?
- UP – What does it say about God?
- What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…how will you worship and pray in response?
- IN – What does it teach about God’s people?
- What does it teach about God’s people – how He thinks of them, how we are to treat them?
- Is there anyone that you particularly want to pray for?
- This is a great time to pray for your Community Group and church.
- OUT – What does the text say about non-believers
- What does it say about non-believers and God’s mission?
- What does this inspire you to pray or do in response for non-believers or problems in the world more generally?
- In this section make a commitment to pray through a list of non-believing friends that God has put into your life.
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