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 rob 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 former 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 an interview from when he was running for President).
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 installment of Bruce Marchiano in the Matthew movie.
Often times as a single parent of 2 teenage girls, it gets overwhelming.Especially when you see them trying to be brave around the time of their Dad’s passing or when they are in a situation where other kids are involved with their own Dads….. it’s hard!
I can’t tell the number of times I’ve felt like quitting…. But I keep giving God thanks and pressing along.
And I remind them of the fact that Jesus is always with them; He will never forsake them.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Rev. Mainse for your words of wisdom.
It has truly hit home this morning.
God bless you and my fellow blog readers in abundance.
Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine!!
Oh what a foretaste of Glory Divine.
Heir of salvation; purchased of God. Born of His Spirit washed in His blood.
This is my story this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long!!
For you and your daughters, dear Marti. God bless and comfort you!
Elevation Worship – Blessed Assurance (Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsdl8DSZfRo
Thank you Beverlee Kay. God is Faithful.
Amen Marti, I love Blessed Assurance.
Amen Elenor M.
Amen Marti …Jesus I pray for your comfort and peace to enfold Marti and her daughers, thank you Jesus!!!
Thank you for your prayers Irene.
I got goosebumps Marti!!!!!!!thank you for sharing on this blog!
That’s the beauty of sharing God’s Word and to realize that God spoke to David Mainse to do this blog and the lives this blog has reached is outstanding!
please continue to pray for rain, rain and more rain . need the fires out and the fire fighters need some rest……
God bless everyone and Beverlee Kay your music touches many,many souls.Thank you dear sweet lady!!!!
Amen Pastor David. Thank you for your sound teaching, scripture and all links. The Apostle Paul makes it very clear about our position in Christ, the Father and the Godhead. Keep us safe Lord from all other teaching. God bless you David and all.
Amen & Amen.
Sound teaching,indeed.I have learned much via 100 Words.David.Thank you again.After I ‘surrendered’,poems started coming to me as if dictated and shortly was led to a particular grieving site for mothers who lost children.Only later did I realize most of the poems were as if written by one of them.(This is not one of those.)When I relented and finally posted a poem,the site owner made me a member right away,I posted ‘poems of comfort’ for well over a year but when ‘my poems’ changed to poems of faith,I was asked by 2 members to leave.The site owner was unavoidably absent from her site.Others defended me but I left to avoid being the cause of the site collapsing.Anyway,this poem was written for these grieving moms:
I Am The Darkness
I am the darkness and lurk near the edge ,
I shun the light that all can still see.
Where my goal is to guide you off your ledge,
So you will be in darkness just like me.
I am pretentious and seem like a friend,
I will teach within yourself that you will find,
The answers that make your sorrow end,
But not reveal,this will make you blind.
I wait in shadows by the fork in the road,
I may not even know that I lead astray,
As I will seem to help you with your load,
And you and I walk down the wrong way.
I will keep you in sorrow with a soft word,
That eases the pain but blinds the mind,
And twist God’s message you have heard,
So that you also will remain blind.
GW(Bill) Marshall /Tuesday, Sept 18, 2012
Thank you Pastor David for explaining the photo…thank you Reynold for sharing it with us.
Your words of wisdom and exposition of today’s scripture, as always, food for thought. Thank you Pastor David.
Amen to the prayers for Marti and her daughters. Thank you for the poem Bill Marshall. Very meaningful and contemplative right now.