Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
This is really such a difficult verse. No one individual is able to (with any certainty) separate out purely “worldview” ideology and human tradition from their spiritual beliefs. Not entirely, at least. I only need to look at the conflicts in our own church to see this in action. Prayer, and focus on Christ must be the way. I cannot discern all truths or know all things about God. I can focus on Jesus and listen to the Holy Spirit.
Lord God, speak to me and show me the way, I pray. Help me to stay out of conflicts I cannot help to settle. Show me how to be and do. Amen
Becky, transforming
Discernment
Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024
Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
All God ask us to do is stay in a relationship with him. All he wants from us more than anything else is not perfect performance, behavior or perfect attitudes, only hearts that will truly love him. God knows our thoughts before we think them, he knows our words before we say them, he knows every wrong decisions we will ever make and he covers them all. God’s forgiveness is forever ongoing in our lives. It is for every day.
Lord, thank…
Colossians 2:8
This verse is so relevant today. We are sometimes overwhelmed with political, religious and societal differences that we sometimes forget to put all the arguments we hear to the test. Is the goal to be like Christ? Is the goal to love everyone like Christ? That is the test we need to put all our decisions in front of. Then we know we will make the right decision.
Prayer: Gracious God, may we hear your voice as we listen to others. May we discern according to your standards. Amen
Colossians 2:8
As modernity evolved into the digital age, our world has become a veritable cesspool of hollow and deceptive philosophy. It has become increasingly difficult to sort through the tidal wave of information available to us and determine what is reliable and what is not. The phenomenon of “artificial intelligence” presents even further challenges as we descend further from doubting reliability to questioning the very reality of what we experience in the world. Depending on the spiritual truth, the ultimate reality, of the Gospel of Jesus Christ releases us from the captivity of the increasingly wicked forces of the world. We cannot hunker down and simply try to ignore what is around us. As best we can, we mus…