4/3/19 TREASURE BLOG 18 - MAKE TRUE TREASURE YOUR GOAL (COLOSSIANS 2:1-5)

CONTENTS

1. Come to Jesus Daily devotional

• Monday – Show you care
• Tuesday – Aim to have a healthy heart 
• Wednesday – Aim for true unity in love 
• Thursday – Encouragement of heart + Unity in love = treasuring Christ
• Friday – Make true treasure your goal

2. Family Study
3. 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 2:1-5

MONDAY – SHOW YOU CARE

Colossians 2:1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.  

Paul is ‘contending’ for them. His imprisonment, prayers and words of encouragement come from his heartfelt affection for the good and growth of this church. 

But Paul is keen that they know about his love and struggles for them. He says that his goal in suffering, and telling them about it, is that they know his authentic love for them and be inspired to follow his example. 

We are all inspired by other people. Heroes and heroines enrich our hearts and ambitions. Paul was setting himself up as an example to them of love and kindness. Through his care for the members of this church, they will know that they are precious. 

Paul’s love for them would ‘encourage their hearts’ and ‘unite them in love’. When someone whom we respect pats us on the back and says, “I’m for you, keep going” it encourages our hearts and causes us to love others as we have been loved. 

If your love for Jesus and His people is dissipating. If you are feeling like an outsider or as unimportant, it’s probably because you don’t believe that anyone cares enough to suffer for you! 

When one feels like this, as we all do on occasion, let’s remember that Paul suffered so that they would see Jesus. Jesus’ sufferings tell you that you are important to God. Secondly, make a decision to be the kind of friend that you would want for yourself. 

Pray that God would speak to your heart about love and friendship. Pray that your heart would be encouraged and your love for people rekindled.

Meditation on Colossians 2:1-2

Colossians 2:1-2 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.  My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ…

1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?

Paul suffers and ‘contends’ for the wellbeing of this church because He has seen how Jesus has suffered to save him and them. They are important to him because they are precious to God. 

"Lord Jesus, you did not serve me because I was worthy, but because I was needy! As your word says, ‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Romans 5:8)” 

2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

God’s great worth is presented here as Paul speaks of suffering for God. We all give ourselves to what we consider to be most important; what we are prepared to suffer for is the gauge of what we truly value. This text also teaches us that suffering and hard work are often involved in the doing of God’s will.

“Father, would you so captivate my heart and mind that I would give myself for your service. May I ‘contend’ for others to know you because I myself am delighting in you as my true treasure.” 

3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?

Many people work hard and have ‘contended’ for our good and the good of the church. Let’s remember to thank God and thank them for there kindness. Also, let’s allow the lives of exemplary leaders to inspire us. 

“Lord Jesus, thank you that you for suffering for me and continuing to provide me with people who serve me. Today, I hear your words to me, “whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” (Mark 10:44-45)  

4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?

Example is a great teacher. How we live toward the church and toward those outside the church speaks loudly. Our lives either back-up or detract from what we say. Even those who are opposed to the gospel cannot but be impressed by a life of love (that is shaped by the gospel). 

TUESDAY – AIM TO HAVE A HEALTHY HEART

Colossians 2:2 ‘My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart…’

Much is written and sung about the heart. What does the Bible mean when it speaks of the heart? The heart is the centre of who we are and the place from which our actions and thoughts derive. What we do, say and think are the response to the condition of the heart. Jesus illustrates this perfectly,

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognised by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” (Matthew 12:33-35) 

Our lives are a symptom of the condition of ‘inner person’. Just as the organ of the heart pumps blood to every part of our body, so our ‘metaphorical’ heart ‘pumps’ poison or health to every part of our lives. Rick Warren wrote about the heart,

‘The Bible uses the term heart to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections you have.  Your heart represents the source of all your motivations – what you love to do and what you care about most.’   

So, we need to pay attention to our heart! We need the Holy Spirit to make us alive (regeneration) in heart; but we also need to maintain its health through a daily, healthy, relationship with God. 

Today we will see that Paul makes this a goal. He writes,

‘My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart…’ (Col. 2:2)

Take a moment to pray that God would heal, strengthen and sanctify your heart, and that you would be enabled to encourage others in heart also. 

Meditation on Colossians 2:2a 

Colossians 2:2a My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart

1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?

What a beautiful thing to say – ‘my goal is that they may be encouraged in heart…’ In a world full of pressure and goals, Jesus offers to ‘strengthen’ our hearts. May we all learn God’s way of inspiring people to work harder and be more focussed. Oftentimes we urge people forward and faster, but do we appeal to the heart? Do we help them to see God’s reasons for doing a thing? Do we inspire faith and a heartfelt response? For example, someone could set you a goal of praying and worshipping for 20 minutes every day! This is a worthy goal. But we will not be faithful in this if we don’t see that we spend time with God because of His worth and beauty; because He is a treasure of greatest worth; because we can, through the forgiveness of the cross, actually meet the King of Kings… 

Let’s remember for ourselves, or anyone else, true lasting transformation comes from the encouragement of the heart. 

2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

This shows God’s ‘heart’ for us: He desires that our inner person (the heart) is strong as it is focussed on Him.

“Father, may you fill me with your Spirit. As Paul prayed,  ‘I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which he has called me…’

3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?

Here, we also learn, that God uses people, through teaching, example, and prayer to encourage the heart. Meditate and pray out of the following text, which is a great example of this, 

1 Samuel 23 :16  Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 

4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?

It’s important to remember that those who don’t know Jesus, like we ourselves before we asked Jesus into our lives, need a renewed heart. When one becomes a Christian, the Spirit renews the heart (our inner person from which our lives flow). Take some time to pray for your non-believing friends, that God would work in the parts that only He can reach. 

WEDNESDAY – AIM FOR TRUE UNITY IN LOVE

Colossians 2:2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love…

Anybody who leads any type of team knows that it’s just wishful thinking to aim for any type of success without ‘team spirit’. A winning team respects and cares for one another. The manager of any team, no matter how good he or she is, will fail if they neglect this matter. 

Paul’s goal for this church is that they be ‘united in love’ (Col. 2:2). 

What is a church anyway? It’s not a building, but its also not services and meetings for people who like to hear interesting talks on the Bible and sing inspirational songs! The church is much deeper than what we do or where we meet; to base our unity on these things is false and easily broken. One would never equate the family with where it lives and that they eat dinner together! The family, like the church, is deeper than these outward things. 

The church is a family, who have been purchased by Jesus’ death, and who are united in Christ by the Spirit. In chapter 3, Paul will put it like this, ‘Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.’ (Col. 3:11)

If we are to love one another, we must understand our identity together. When we understand our unity in Christ, we become ‘united in love’. 

Let’s not allow traditional thinking or false views of the church to cause us to become ‘disunited in selfishness’. 

Take a moment to pray that loving the church in sacrificial service would continue to be, and grow as a goal for you. If you are finding love for God’s people a challenge, ask God to teach you to understand the nature of the church and your unity with her.

Meditation on Colossians 2:2b 

Colossians 2:2b My goal is that they may be … united in love…

1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?

The gospel is about God’s love for the undeserving. Jesus died for sinners in order to redeem them. It’s not surprising therefore that Love is one of the great attributes of a true church. We read of this result of the Spirit’s work in chapter 1, ‘You learned it (the gospel) from Epaphras …who also told us of your love in the Spirit.’ Col.1:7-8

We are to be ‘united in love’. This can only be maintained as we daily recount and remember the gospel of God’s love for us. 

2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

“Father, you desire that I love your church. You say that,  

‘If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing…’ (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) 

Give me the grace, by your Spirit, to love your church in a way that is pleasing and reflects well on your goodness” 

3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?

Being ‘united in love’ means to ‘keep in step’ or to be ‘woven together’. Without a deep commitment to relationships in a local church, one is not ‘united in love’. 

Take a moment to pray for your church and Community Group. Make a fresh commitment to be ‘united in love’ with them. 

4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?

Love speaks powerfully to the world around us. A community of sacrificial friendship is rare indeed, even in the church! Pray that Community Church Putney would be like a ‘city set on a hill’ as its love speaks of our loving Saviour. 

THURSDAY – ENCOURAGEMENT OF HEART + UNITY IN LOVE = TREASURING CHRIST

Paul’s goal for this church, and God’s desire for us is expressed,

‘My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ (Colossians 2:2-3) 

In other words, God wants us to treasure Jesus above all things. But how do we develop this kind of fervour? Paul presents it as a process: 

Encouragement of heart + Unity in love = Treasuring Christ

Let’s think about this using the metaphor of the human body. For the body to be healthy and to grow one needs a healthy ‘heart’ (healthy desires). The body also needs all the parts working together for the good of the whole (or, as Paul puts it. ‘united in love’)

Likewise, you and I will only reach maturity in our love for Jesus if the church is ‘encouraged in heart and united in love’; desire (heart) and body need to work for the goal of knowing Jesus. 

It’s through the ‘body of Christ’ – a healthy church – that we learn and grow in our faith. As Paul says in Ephesians 4, 

'Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.’ (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Pray that God would encourage your heart - that your desire would be for Jesus; pray that the Spirit would re-inspire your love and participation in the church which is His body.

Meditation on Colossians 2:2-3

Colossians 2:2-3 ’My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’

1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?

It’s God’s desire to make us truly rich! He wants us to know about the precious possessions that belong to every true Christian. He wants us to have,

‘The full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’

God wants to 'encourage your heart’ in the gospel today. As you and I do this as a lifestyle, it will help others to treasure Jesus also. 

Take a moment, to thank and worship Jesus for your salvation. 

2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

God doesn’t want us to live in spiritual poverty (For that matter, much of our material poverty and struggles are greatly inflated because we don’t pray as we can!) 

“Lord Jesus, I’m sorry that I’ve sought all kinds of good things but have often failed  to see that ‘in you are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ You say of yourself, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…” Today, I make you my greatest ambition - to know and treasure you.” 

3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?

In our text for this week, we see that, 

Encouragement of heart + Unity in love = Treasuring Christ

It’s only as each of us allows our hearts to be encouraged - to be set on Jesus, and as we are ‘united in love’ -  become a loving community that encourages one another in our faith; only then will we will come to treasure Christ more and more.

Do you see that the condition of your heart toward Christ and His people will have vital influence! 

4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?

As we treasure Christ, this will naturally ‘burst the banks’ of our lives and church. There are many evangelistic courses and campaigns the one could use, and to some effect! But, the greatest evangelistic power is found when a person and church treasures Jesus. We will join the psalmist in saying, “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.” (Ps. 66:16)

FRIDAY – MAKE TRUE TREASURE YOUR GOAL

Colossians 2:2 -5 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.  For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Not everyone shares the goal of treasuring Jesus. Some people even want to ‘deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.’ We live in an age when there is an abundance of information, much of which is not against Jesus, but is certainly a distraction from our true goal of knowing Christ. 

Let’s think about a footballer taking a penalty. The goal is clear: to get the ball past the keeper and into the net. Many of us agree that knowing Jesus is our goal, but we are like a footballer running toward the ball whilst checking our phone, thinking about irrelevant issues, our pockets full of rubbish, wearing flip-flops… yes, we are going for the goal but we could certainly be more focussed! 

How can we go for the goal more effectively? 

i) Guard your heart

To go for the goal of knowing and treasuring Jesus, we must be ‘encouraged in heart’. Ask God for grace and make a commitment to putting Jesus first in your life. 

ii) Guard your relationships

To go for the goal, we must be ‘united in love’; we need to give and receive teaching and encouragement to one another. If knowing Jesus is your goal for yourself, others, your family… re-dedicate yourself to loving Jesus’ church.

Meditation on Colossians 2:2-5 

Colossians 2:2 -5 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.  For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

1. GC (GOSPEL-CENTRED) – What does the text say about Jesus and salvation through Him?

We are encouraged to treasure Jesus and the gospel so as that 'no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.’ 

There are many philosophies and false gospels that are fine-sounding. They sound fine to us because they offer a way of life that’s attractive to our pride or sensuality (the flesh). None of us wants to look foolish, and to love the gospel of grace will make us look foolish and hateful to many!

“Lord Jesus, I thank you for your cross. May I remain faithful to you. May you look at my life and say “I delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.” like Paul may I always say, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)” 

2. UP – What does it say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

God is encouraging us today. It’s very important to Him that we remain faithful to Christ and the gospel. We read, 

‘For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4) 

May we never be those tho ‘turn our ears away from the truth…’! 

3. IN – What does it teach about God’s people?

In this text, and through this week of studies, we have seen that if we are to be faithful and make true treasure (Jesus) and greatest goal, we need to be surrounded by the encouragement of our church family. 

Much is promised by the things that keep you at arms-length from the church: ‘If I work harder and longer I’ll get…If I go on more holidays I’ll get…If I give more time to my hobby I’ll get…If I stay in bed I’ll get…’ 

Let God speak to your heart today. He tells you of the promise of the joy that comes as you make Jesus your treasure. The Father also tells you that your greater enjoyment of Christ comes only to those who are ‘united in love’. 

4. OUT – What does the text say about non-believers and God’s mission?

We will only become great at sharing our faith if we are deeply in love with Jesus as He fills our lives with joy and hope. May God ‘encourage your heart’ and ‘unite you in love’ so as to treasure Jesus and the gospel. If we are not enjoying the gift, we don’t have a gift to offer! 

2. FAMILY STUDY (NO COMMUNITY GROUPS THIS WEEK)

To make true treasure your goal

Read Colossians 2:1-5 

Introduction

We have all had a variety of ambitions as we go through life; Something that fills our hearts with passion and keeps us up at night becomes forgotten only to be replaced by a new delight. 

God has a goal that He wants us to share. It’s a goal that needs to dominate our lives because it is of the greatest value. His goal, as expressed by Paul, is that we have, ‘The full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ Knowing and treasuring Jesus is to be our highest ambition. 

Discuss together

• What two things (v. 2) do we need in order to know Jesus in a richer way? 
• To know Jesus as our treasure we need to be ‘encouraged in heart’. The heart is the centre of our being from which actions, thoughts, desires etc. come from. To have an encouraged heart is to love Christ at the centre of our being and to live for Him. What are the various ways that one can strengthen the heart for God? 
• To know Jesus as our treasure we need to be ‘united in love’. It’s as the church loves, teaches, encourages one-another that we grow in love for Jesus and the gospel. 
• Firstly, why does a loving community help us to know and treasure Jesus?
• What can hinder us from being ‘united in love’?

3. THE ‘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: 

1. 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? 

2. 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?

3. 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. 

4. 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.