TREASURE
Today’s Reading: Colossians 2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Jeremiah’s Grotto is where tradition says the Prophet Jeremiah penned his “Lamentations.” His cave is just to the right of what is believed by some to be the Jewish and Roman place of execution. Nowhere does the Bible say that Jesus was crucified on a hill. Executions took place in the most public places. This public place today is a bus station. On top of the hill is a Muslim graveyard. Just to the left is a garden with a rock-hewn tomb (check John 19:38-42).
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Colossians 2:8-10
Beware lest anyone cheat you (take spoil, rob, steal) through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
WARNING! The treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ (verse 3). There are those who are intent on stealing your TREASURE! They use “persuasive words” to accomplish this heist. Paul lists ways they try to break into our lives and rob us: (1) “Philosophy” (it may sound reasonable); (2) “Deceit” (they lie); (3) “Tradition” (Jesus is our focus, not centuries of tradition); (4) “Principles of the world” (materialism, prosperity, etc.); (5) Verse 16 – Requirements for certain foods; (6) Insisting on keeping appointed festivals and holy days as essential for God’s favour; (7) Verse 18 – The deceivers will put on a show of humility and claim to have superior knowledge, claiming to have heard from angels or being deceived themselves, even worshipping the fallen angel who is called in Scripture “The god of this world” (read 2 Cor 11:13-14); (8) Verses 21-23 – Self-imposed regulations or a “self-imposed religion.” Therefore, watch out for thieves!
Galatians 5:1 teaches us to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” AMEN!!!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, there are forces out to cheat me of Your ultimate truth in Jesus alone. Thank You that I am “complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10). I pray for grace to live constantly in that “Blessed Assurance” (click here for the hymn by that name). Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Dr. Ben Carson, the world’s most famous children’s neurosurgeon and a candidate for President of the United States, has a song he sings when he is under great pressure. It’s all about Jesus, and fits well with our reading of the book of Colossians. The song is, “Jesus is all the world to me” (click here for a rendition of the song). Dr. Carson has been a guest on the 100 Huntley Street telecast (click here for the interview from a few years back). Catch Dr. Carson on the Presidential debate this Thursday evening on FOX News live at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Please pray for this man of God.
I was 18 when I came to realize my full freedom in Christ. I had been struggling to live according to certain rules and regulations when I came to the end of myself and said to God, “I can’t do this. I quit!” Then I’m sure I heard the Lord say, “Good, now perhaps you will let Me live My Life in and through you.” He did this! It became a joy instead of a duty to rise in the morning to read the Scriptures and pray. It became a joy to share my faith in Jesus, and so many other blessings followed that I can’t begin to mention them all.
Yours for the true freedom found only in Christ,
David
P.S. In Colossians we are focusing on Jesus. Click here for another instalment of Bruce Marchiano in the Matthew movie.
God bless u Rev. M. We love Dr. Ben Carson also and are praying that God will appoint the U.S.A.’s next President. I love Donald Trump’s spunk and honesty but I’ve never heard him mention Jesus.
I’m struggling with, hopefully just a human tradition or maybe something from the Old Testament, working on Sundays. Trouble weeding the garden, doing laundry, shopping etc. on a Sunday. Does today’s study mean we’re free from that rule? My son does shift-work and some days the shift is on a Sunday. My sister says I’m living in bondage to that rule. If anyone knows, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Have a blessed day this Sabbath fellow saints.
I don’t know what the thought is. I struggle working alternate Sundays as I think I should be in church instead of being at work. Hard to handle it. Always asking God why He put me on 12 hr shifts on Sundays. My heart belongs in church on Sundays. I am that crazy Jesus freak dancing in church. Today I am in church, Amen! Don’t understand. Can anyone help us out here with these thoughts? Blessings to all, do a dance step, for Him, ha! Xo
someone once said “don’t sweat the small stuff” Susan, you also are a precious child of God and I would like to mention that we should give thanks to all those who have jobs.
if you do shop on a Sunday be kind to the staff, and thank you Susan for all the work you do, balancing life around a 12 hour shift, God bless you…….
Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
Romans 14:1-9
Thanks so much Rob. Makes sense. This helps me immensely. God bless u.
Lynda, you are a very special child of God! Keep doing what you are doing! support your son as he works whift work and I am sorry that your sister says that about you.
We are not in bondage to anyone anymore, Jesus Christ died and rose and broke through all the rules, the only requirement from Jesus CHrist is that we love Him above and beyoind any others and that we love each other as He as loved us……have a good day, play some Gospel music and sing, and smile…
I like Mr. Trump also, however, I would like to hear him say that the first rule of order is to look after the children in our world and to look after the elderly. When these two groups are safe and comfortable, I do believe the rest would fall into place,
blessings to everyone,
WOW! I just watched Dr. Ben Carson on the Hour of Power. Right on, Pastor David. Thanks for the links. Blessings!
It is interesting, because the Romans changed the original Sabbath day from Saturday to Sunday. There are a number of scripture verses:
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20:8 NLV
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20:9-11 (NIV)
Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. Exodus 35:2 ESV
However, I agree with Rob; it is up to each person, individually. Pastors work on Sundays when they give their sermons to the congregation. Where would we be without our churches on Sunday? Ultimately, we meet our Maker face to face.
Off to the Bethel Gospel camp meeting. Stay blessed dearest fellow saints in the Lord! You are continually in my prayers. And thank you for your on-going prayers for my back; I see the surgeon Thursday morning.
Please pray for my friend, Beth, for the job she is applying for, that she would excel at, and would very much like to get. And for continued blessings of God’s love and light and protection to surround her with angel’s wings. Amen.
Thanks ever so much Beverlee. I had heard all of these scriptures before too but just couldn’t figure out how to handle them. Listening to Dr. Ben Carson helped me a lot too. God works in mysterious ways. Seek and ye shall find. Love this bible study.
Praying your friend gets the job she would like to get.
Lord I know that you have Beth`s best interest in Your Hands! I know that You will bless her above and beyond her wildest expectations! That is the God that we worship, we thank daily, we rejoice with, we cry with, we LOVE with, we forgive with, we smile with, we walk daily with in our lives AMEN
Lord, I come in agreement with Beverlee’s prayer got her friend Beth…I pray you open the door through which you would have her walk for the exact work place you have for her. Amen!
What a blessed anointed on this blog Rev. David…thank you for bringing in forth…to the Glory of Jesus Christ Our Savior and Lord!!!
Thank you for opening up in such a simplistic way and understandable!!
“Blessed Assurance” one of my favorite hymns, thank you!
I was a nurse, and had to work weekends, this was essential to the wellbeing of our patients. There are many people who have to work, not because they want to do so, but so that they can have a job and provide for their families. The Bible also says those who don’t work should not eat. In Canada, since they opened stores on Sunday, it is nearly impossible to get a job that does not require a person to work Sunday. Perhaps you are feeling guilty, because Satan is trying to harass you. God knows your heart, He gave you the job, and He understands the needs of the job and your need to have a job. If you are still not at peace with working, then pray for God to show you another way to provide for your needs. I trust no one feels judged by my remarks. God Bless you all.
easy everybody! God knows exactly what is going on! a person can’t pIck fights with management about working Sundays or else you won’t have a job! please, pray for all those who are working Sunday AND how many people shop, clean, etc etc etc on Sundays, it’s their only day off!
Yes, Pastors preach on Sundays!
Yes it says “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it Holy”
I believe it means just that! to remember the Sabbath Day, to remember what Jesus CHrist did for all mankind!
I have the situation of not being able to get up in the mornings It is called Seasonal Affected Disorder, that knocked me for a loop! I’ve just learned to accept it, I do this blog, I am advocating for evening church services in my town :because I know that thousand’s of people deal with a sleep disorder! It is difficult, I miss the fellowship! However I have the pool and 7/11 in the evenings, I pray that we all support one another, understand that some people feel very bad that they can’t worship on the Sabbath, however, this blog allows people to come together, read God’s Word, share thoughts and opinions, quite frankly, it doesn’t get any better than this!
That’s how I feel about the pool, I’ve met wonderful Christian people at the pool as well as at 7/11.
PRAY FOR ANOTHER IN ALL WAYS, GIVE THANKS FOR EACH OTHER. AMEN AMEN AMEN