Today’s Reading: Jer 7:30–9:26, Col 3:18–4:18, Prov 13:1–25

Today’s Theme: Seasoned with Salt

One of the main themes today is the depraved nature of man in his sin and backsliding. We also look at the importance of our words and conduct. In the NT reading, we are told to season our words with salt.

We are called to be able to give a reason for our hope, and to walk and talk in a way that is compatible with the Gospel. By being deliberate in seasoning our words and lives in this way, we will naturally guard against deliberate sin and backsliding.

In a sense, the effort we make in seasoning / preparing ourselves, acts as a preservative to us just like salt.

Jeremiah 7:30–9:26

Progressive Backsliding

Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return.(Jeremiah 8:5, ESV)

Perpetual backsliding seems to indicate a complete falling away and that it is something that happens over a period of time, rather than in one faithless act.

Backsliding is often a slow burn, so stem the tide now, plug the holes and let us humble ourselves before we get swept away in progressively sliding back from God.

Stubborn ignorance

I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle.(Jeremiah 8:6, ESV)

Lord, keep us from this folly. We need to be humble enough to accept correction and instruction. If we always think “but what did I do”, then it is possible that we are walking in pride.

Like the passage says; those who do not accept that they have done wrong and cannot be instructed, are like horses running headlong to their own death.

Without wisdom

The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them?(Jeremiah 8:9, ESV)

This is true of all those who reject God’s word, they are without wisdom. True wisdom comes from God and is revealed best in His word.

False peace

They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.(Jeremiah 8:11, ESV)

An epidemic of the health, wealth and prosperity Gospel. One of the major problems with this and other perversions of the Gospel, like universalism, is that they give the people a false sense of peace with God.

The only one who gives true peach with God is His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said I leave my peace with you and it is not like the world’s peace.

The call of the Gospel is not just to a one time decision for salvation, but to a life of repentance, and to live at peace with God and man. We are not saved to be spoilt brats with bad behaviour and high demands.

Brazen sin

Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the Lord.(Jeremiah 8:12, ESV)

Lord, keep us from the callous brazenness of rebellion and debauchery.

Mourn for the lost

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded; I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?(Jeremiah 8:20–22, ESV)

Like Jeremiah, we should mourn for the lost and for the wayward church. Thank God that Jesus is the balm in Gilead.

May truth and justice reign

They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, declares the Lord.(Jeremiah 9:3, ESV)

In some ways this sounds like our country too, so we need God’s mercy over every nation where falsehood has taken hold in the government. Pray that truth and justice will reign.

Conscious depravity

Everyone deceives his neighbour, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity.(Jeremiah 9:5, ESV)

The consciousness of our depravity is apparent in this verse, we are not just victims of sin, we are the perpetrators of sin. Without Christ we are all assigned under God’s wrath, because of our conscious, deliberate, wilful, rebellious sin.

Our culture would have people believe they are guilty of nothing and that everything is either another person’s, or something else’s fault (e.g. society, demons, curses etc.).. We need to accept the guilt that is rightfully ours for our sin, and in light of that, seek God for mercy, forgiveness and transformation.

Don’t refuse to know the Lord

Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the Lord.(Jeremiah 9:6, ESV)

The conscious choice of man in refusing The Lord, is made clear here. We need to realise that our sin is not some momentary slip from conventional standards, it is open rebellion against the King of Heaven.

Called to obedience

And the Lord says: “Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it, but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.(Jeremiah 9:13–14, ESV)

This is why judgement came, because of disobedience. We are called to obedience to God’s ways and word, this is not legalism as some would assert, this is just new life in Christ. Why would we not want to obey God, if we are in a loving relationship with Him and our nature has been transformed by the Holy Spirit?

The privilege of knowing the Lord

but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”(Jeremiah 9:24, ESV)

How privileged I am to know You Lord. Let us boast and rejoice in that today.

Be circumcised in your heart

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh—(Jeremiah 9:25, ESV)

Even from the OT the Jews were taught that circumcision was really a matter of the heart. This is why the bible says a true son of Abraham is one who believes God’s promises and is circumcised in their heart.

Colossians 3:18–4:18

Don’t be harsh

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.(Colossians 3:19, ESV)

Lord, help us as husbands to not be harsh to our wives, but to love them.

Don’t provoke your children

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.(Colossians 3:21, ESV)

Lord, help us to encourage our children and not challenge and set them up against other children, for example, but instruct and nurture them in the truth.

Provoking our children can come in so many forms, including; neglecting them, ignoring them, being too harsh with them, leaving them to their own ways, being too soft on them etc.

Work heartily

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,(Colossians 3:23, ESV)

This is really important when doing any task at work or church, we should do it sincerely and heartily unto the Lord.

You are serving Christ

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.(Colossians 3:24, ESV)

Lord, help us to remember and not lose sight of this. We should be encouraged by the truth that all our serving WILL be rewarded.

Be watchful and thankful

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.(Colossians 4:2, ESV)

This is the attitude we should have when we pray, we should be watchful by being alert to the prompting of the Spirit, and thankful in faith that God has already answered.

Use time wisely

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.(Colossians 4:5, ESV)

Time is a precious and fleeting thing, we should make the best use of it.

The way we talk matters

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.(Colossians 4:6, ESV)

We are all called to watch the way we talk. We should ensure that the very words we use and the tone that we talk with, is in keeping with the Holy Spirit.

As Christians we can’t just blurt out whatever comes to mind, we need to season our words, think about and prepare in our hearts what we will say, as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

We should not use derogatory language, crass jesting or thoughtless words, instead we are called to apologetics which is the measured, mature and reasonable response to those who have questions about the hope we have in Christ.

Taking time to meditate and study will help us all, in this call to “know how to answer each person”.

Struggle for the saints

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.(Colossians 4:12, ESV)

As well as having a heartfelt desire to see God’s people grow through teaching, fellowship etc., this should be accompanied with this type of struggling / fighting in prayer for them, to that end.

Proverbs 13:1–25

Guard your mouth

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.(Proverbs 13:3, ESV)

Lord, help us to guard our mouth and to be less talkative.

Choose diligence

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.(Proverbs 13:4, ESV)

The choice is diligence or sluggishness, I chose diligence.

Gather little by little

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.(Proverbs 13:11, ESV)

Lord, help us to apply this principle to our finances.

Hope in God

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.(Proverbs 13:12, ESV)

God will fulfil the desires which are in line with His word and Spirit, so place your hope in God because He NEVER fails.

Accomplish tasks

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.(Proverbs 13:19, ESV)

This is why accomplishing a task feels so good, it is sweet to the soul.

Walk with the wise

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.(Proverbs 13:20, ESV)

Wisdom rubs off, so stick around wise people.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Colossians 4

Today’s Reading: Jer 6:1–7:29, Col 3:1–17, Prov 12:1–28

Today’s Theme: Desire God’s Word

Today we see a strong theme about us desiring the word of God. We also see a very important theme about us putting off the old man and putting on the new man in Christ. This goes hand in hand with the first theme because we need to desire the word and then apply and live it.

Today’s reading is rich and full of lessons about applying the word, looking to the ancient paths, watching our words, working hard, being diligent and so much more.

Jeremiah 6:1–7:29

Take pleasure in the word

To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.(Jeremiah 6:10, ESV)

This is an indicator if we are off, do we take pleasure in God’s word? Ask yourself that question today.

This is why the Lord tells us to be careful how we hear, how are you hearing God’s word, do you always hear it as a negative thing? Is reading the bible like a chore? If this is true then something is wrong with your heart, you should be hungry for and delight in the word of God.

Are there other things that have taken the place of the bible? Are you full up with other things and so have no appetite.?

Receive the word with joy today.

False healing

They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.(Jeremiah 6:14, ESV)

Lord, we don’t want to be people who heal wounds lightly by coming with soft, lying words to comfort the sinner.

In this we understand the fire of God’s ministers as they bring the truth to God’s people, teaching, rebuking and prophesying with all authority, according to the truth of the bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Know shame

Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the Lord.(Jeremiah 6:15, ESV)

This is a horrible condition. Lord help us to always have the ability to experience reasonable shame, it keeps us safe and sane.

None of us should be so bullish that we are never ashamed, we really must be sensitive enough to know shame, for our own good and the good of those around us.

The ancient paths

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’(Jeremiah 6:16, ESV)

Lord, this is a key principle, we must not neglect those who have gone on before or weary ourselves reinventing the wheel. We can stand on the work of the Apostles, Church Fathers, Reformers, Puritans and all the saints of the past, who have won many battles for the sake of the kingdom.

For example, the old councils of the church did all of the legwork for us, around crucial doctrines like the divinity of Christ, the hypostatic union (The God-Man), the definition of the Trinity, the elements of salvation and so much more.

Finding and walking in the ancient paths will bring rest to our souls. We reaffirm the truth established in the battles won in the church’s 2000 year history. Even reading the work of those who have gone on before like Charles Spurgeon, is so refreshing to the soul.

Listen to the watchmen

I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’(Jeremiah 6:17, ESV)

Help us to pay attention to the watchmen in our day and heed his warning. Pay attention to the words of our Pastors.

Amend your ways

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.(Jeremiah 7:3, ESV)

God is always calling us to repentance, we must amend our conduct and actions.

Personal responsibility

Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’(Jeremiah 7:4, ESV)

We must not have false confidence in institutions like the church, but each of us must repent and amend our ways before God personally.

Conditional promises

then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.(Jeremiah 7:7, ESV)

The dwelling in the land is conditional in this passage, on the repentance of the people, and we know that after the Babylonian captivity the people did repent and God did restore them to the land as promised.

We need to realise that nearly all the promises of God’s word are conditional, we need to meet God’s conditions to qualify for the promise. The condition could be something as simple as humbling ourselves in repentance.

Deceptive words

“Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.(Jeremiah 7:8, ESV)

No matter how much we believe in deceptive words from either the church or the secular world, they will not benefit us in anyway because they are false and have no power.

The Temple, just a shadow

therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, and in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh.(Jeremiah 7:14, ESV)

God did not tie Himself perpetually to the temple, which is why there is not one today, it was a shadow of the real temple fulfilled in Jesus.

Stop praying

“As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.(Jeremiah 7:16, ESV)

We need to know when we should stop praying for a person or situation. This is why we must be led by the Holy Spirit.

Queen of Heaven

The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven. And they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.(Jeremiah 7:18, ESV)

The spirit behind the Marian worship of Roman Catholicism. This is heresy, there is nowhere in the bible teaching us to worship Mary. Mary herself was a believer and worshiped God alone.

Obedience born of love

But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’(Jeremiah 7:23, ESV)

God’s call is to obedience, not sacrifice and sacrament, but heartfelt obedience born out of love and relationship.

Listen to God

But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.(Jeremiah 7:24, ESV)

Lord, we don’t want to be like that and be stubborn, going backward instead of forward, please help us to listen to Your voice.

When we stubbornly disobey God, we are going backwards. We can only progress by listening to and obeying God.

Colossians 3:1–17

The prosperity gospel destroyed

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.(Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Surely this blows away the prosperity gospel. We are called to set our minds on the things of the spirit and eternity, not on the temporary things of this world.

Kill sin

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.(Colossians 3:5–6, ESV)

We must consciously put these passions to death today. Be killing sin or sin be killing you!

Active sanctification

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices(Colossians 3:9, ESV)

We are called to active sanctification which means it is always turned on, we are always walking in it. One way we work this out is by being honest with each other.

The new self

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.(Colossians 3:10, ESV)

In Christ, we can be what God intended us to be. When we put off the old self with its practices, we put on the new self in two senses.

We embrace the virtues of life as Christians, as disciples of Jesus Christ, making our behaviour conform to godliness.

Jesus as the new Adam is the leader of the new humanity, which we are corporately a part of. We have been recreated in Christ with new a new nature, new desires and are governed by new laws. We put on Christ.

A good way to think of this is, taking off an old dirty jacket and then putting on a new one.

The new humanity

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.(Colossians 3:11, ESV)

The new humanity in Christ, we are one new man.

The tone of our lives

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,(Colossians 3:12, ESV)

This is the tone our lives should have as Christians with compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

Forgive

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.(Colossians 3:13, ESV)

We must forgive each other as we too have been forgiven, taking slights (insults) or offence as an opportunity to be like the Lord.

Love

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.(Colossians 3:14, ESV)

The love of God binds our new nature, behaviour and tone together, in perfect harmony.

Let the word dwell richly in you

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.(Colossians 3:16, ESV)

This is a case for loving God’s word, studying it and teaching or sharing it in everyday Christian fellowship together. The word cannot dwell in you richly if you do not love it and take it in.

Be thankful

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.(Colossians 3:17, ESV)

Everything we do we must do unto the Lord, with thankful, joyful hearts.

Proverbs 12:1–28

Don’t be stupid

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.(Proverbs 12:1, ESV)

Sometimes we can be stupid… Lord, help us to love discipline and knowledge given by elders (even elders who are dead, through the books they have left etc.).

Excellent wife

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.(Proverbs 12:4, ESV)

There are two calls here, one is to wives, that they should desire to be an excellent wife to their husbands. The second is that husbands should give God thanks for their excellent wife.

Good sense

A man is commended according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is despised.(Proverbs 12:8, ESV)

We ought to have good sense, sometimes simply called common sense.

Don’t play the man

Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.(Proverbs 12:9, ESV)

I see so many men doing this and the wife and children suffer for their delusions of grandeur, help men to avoid this immature pitfall. We are called to be good stewards and to live within our means.

Care for animals

Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.(Proverbs 12:10, ESV)

We should care for our pets and wildlife too. We should be good stewards of God’s creation.

Work is good

From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.(Proverbs 12:14, ESV)

We must have a healthy theology of work. You will reap what you have planted.

Ignore insults

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.(Proverbs 12:16, ESV)

More insults will come in life, Lord help us to ignore them.

Don’t be rash

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(Proverbs 12:18, ESV)

Lord, forgive us when our words have been rash, may our tongue bring healing.

Be diligent

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labour.(Proverbs 12:24, ESV)

We are called to diligence.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Colossians 3

Today’s Reading: Jer 4:19–5:31, Col 2:6–23, Prov 11:13–31

Today’s Theme: Alive in Christ

Today’s theme is that we are alive in Christ and so should live in light of that and bear fruit like trees planted by a stream of water. The principles of godly living are found throughout today’s readings.

Jeremiah 4:19–5:31

Don’t be stupid

“For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.”(Jeremiah 4:22, ESV)

God has not called us to simplicity or stupidity, rather God has called us to faith, holiness, wisdom and knowledge.

God’s word is fulfilled

“For this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above be dark; for I have spoken; I have purposed; I have not relented, nor will I turn back.”(Jeremiah 4:28, ESV)

When God purposes something, it will come to pass because He is free, powerful and Sovereign.

Justice and truth

Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her.(Jeremiah 5:1, ESV)

We should seek truth and mobilise in action to seek justice for our community, city, nation and world.

Don’t be stubborn

O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.(Jeremiah 5:3, ESV)

Lord, please keep us and forgive us from making our face like rock in stubbornness and rebellion.

Flee spiritual adultery

“How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores. They were well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor’s wife.(Jeremiah 5:7–8, ESV)

What a terribly sad situation. Lord, You feed us so well both physically and spiritually, please keep us from this kind of adultery, it is a horrible picture but all too common.

Powerful words

Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts: “Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.(Jeremiah 5:14, ESV)

Lord, our words can be so detrimental, help us to watch and use words with wisdom and power. Help us to respect the words spoken by Your servants.

Listen intently

“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.(Jeremiah 5:21, ESV)

This condition persists, since Jesus’ day until today,  some who have ears but do not hear. Determine for your part, to listen intently to the Lord today.

God is worthy of our fear

Do you not fear me? declares the Lord. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it.(Jeremiah 5:22, ESV)

We should fear God for His mighty acts in creation, let alone redemption and our lives.

Don’t be kept from good

Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you.(Jeremiah 5:25, ESV)

Lord, we want to enjoy the good life You have provided, please keep us from sinful ways which will bring robbery and disqualification from the good You intend for us.

Sin keeps us from God and ultimate good.

Social justice

Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?”(Jeremiah 5:29, ESV)

We are called to pursue social justice. We must always remember to do it in context to the gospel and in the name of Jesus.

Beware false prophets

the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?(Jeremiah 5:31, ESV)

This is happening today through prosperity preachers in the Word of Faith movement. Lord, help Your people that they will not be deceived by these false prophets.

Colossians 2:6–23

Be rooted and established in Jesus

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.(Colossians 2:6–7, ESV)

We are called to behave in a new way, to reflect our new belief. Our roots, progression and growth in the faith is all in Jesus.

Be rooted in Jesus today, you are alive in Him, bear the fruit of praise, thanks and good works to the glory of God.

The incarnate God

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,(Colossians 2:9, ESV)

Jesus is the incarnation of God, the fullness of God in bodily form. Jesus is God, in His incarnation, He is the one unique God-Man. We are made alive in Him.

Jesus is sovereign

and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.(Colossians 2:10, ESV)

Jesus is Sovereign over all rulers, this should give us boldness as we pray today.

Faith in God’s great power

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.(Colossians 2:12, ESV)

We put our faith in God’s great power, the same great power that rose Christ from the dead.

The devils claim, wiped out

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.(Colossians 2:13–14, ESV)

Contrary to contemporary theology, the devil has no legal claim on us, it was wiped out by the cross. Hallelujah, those in Christ are free from the devil’s claims on us. The legal demands have been met in the cross of Christ.

The devil is defeated

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.(Colossians 2:15, ESV)

God’s great victory over the demonic through Jesus. Sing praise to His glorious name today, because our great enemy Satan was defeated at the cross and resurrection of Christ, to God’s glory and our salvation.

Fulfilled in Jesus

These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.(Colossians 2:17, ESV)

The feasts of Israel, the mosaic diet and even the Sabbaths, were all pointing to Christ and find their fulfilment in Him.

False visions

Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,(Colossians 2:18, ESV)

This can happen in the church today, when someone gets a vision etc and it is not checked against the bible, or is seen on the same level as the bible.

Growth from God

and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.(Colossians 2:19, ESV)

God brings church and personal growth.

Self made religions have no value

These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.(Colossians 2:23, ESV)

A blast against legalism, and false religion in all its forms.

Proverbs 11:13–31

Be trustworthy

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.(Proverbs 11:13, ESV)

Lord, we have seen this so often in the church and may have been seduced by it ourselves, help us to be trustworthy.

Don’t fly solo

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.(Proverbs 11:14, ESV)

This is why fellowship, relationship and discipleship under godly leadership is so important. It also makes a case for looking to the work of others, when studying. For example, seeing what a trusted commentator says about a difficult verse etc.

Good violence

A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.(Proverbs 11:16, ESV)

There must be a type of violence or aggression in our spirit as men. Don’t be passive, we should have violent faith in the spirit.

Be kind

A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.(Proverbs 11:17, ESV)

This is a great reminder to always show kindness.

Delight the Lord

Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight.(Proverbs 11:20, ESV)

We should bring delight to The Lord in our conduct.

Have discretion

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.(Proverbs 11:22, ESV)

The idea of discretion has been so horribly eroded today that many women do not even know what it looks like. May the biblical picture of manhood and womanhood be restored.

Good desires

The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.(Proverbs 11:23, ESV)

When we are walking in righteousness, we can trust our desires to help guide us.

Be a blessing

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.(Proverbs 11:24, ESV)

This is hugely important, this is why we should give freely, generously, lovingly and honestly to The Lord and needs which arise in the church community… To both be a blessing and be blessed ourselves.

Trust the Lord

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.(Proverbs 11:28, ESV)

We should not put our trust in wages, banks, property, we trust in The Lord.

Be wise

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.(Proverbs 11:30, ESV)

It follows that we must use wisdom to capture souls.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Colossians 2

Today’s Reading: Jer 3:1–4:18, Col 1:15–2:5, Prov 11:1–12

Today’s Theme: The Christ Hymn

Today we enter one of the richest passages in the entire New Testament known as the Christ Hymn, where we learn some fascinating things about the person, power, work and position of Christ.

Jeremiah 3:1–4:18

Be genuine

Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the Lord.”(Jeremiah 3:10, ESV)

Is this why Josiah’s reforms had no effect, was it done in pretence? Anything done in pretence will have no lasting impact and has no impact with God at all, because He knows our hearts and mind, so we should be genuine and heartfelt in everything we do.

The teaching Pastor

“ ‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.(Jeremiah 3:15, ESV)

A Pastor’s job is to teach and to teach well, not to abuse or neglect the sheep. Give God thanks today for our own Pastors and all good Pastors who seek to feed and teach God’s people.

Sexual sin and worship

Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.(Jeremiah 3:23, ESV)

It seems false worship is always connected to sexual sin. This explains the enemy’s tactic of flooding our culture with sexual deviancy and perversion.

Circumcise your heart

Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.”(Jeremiah 4:4, ESV)

Even in the OT circumcision was about the heart. Through the OT we see clear connection to the revelation of the NT.

To circumcise our hearts is to cut away anything that is unclean and seeks only the selfish and destructive pleasures of sin.

Wicked thoughts

O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?(Jeremiah 4:14, ESV)

God calls us to this washing today too. Lord, keep us from having wicked thoughts stuck in our heads.

Colossians 1:15–2:5

Jesus, the perfect image of God

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.(Colossians 1:15, ESV)

Verse 15-20 is known as the Christ Hymn and was part of a creed or confession sung by the first church. It is one of the most important passages in scripture because it quite clearly states the divinity of Christ as distinct, yet connected to the Father.

The word used for ‘image’ is the Greek word ‘eikon’, which is also used in Genesis (1:26-27) when God says He will make Man as His image bearers. This connection alone teaches us a number of important truths.

Jesus is the perfect revelation of God’s nature and being, reflected to us as humans in His earthly mission from incarnation to resurrection.

Jesus brings God into our human understanding by making the invisible God visible, He is God’s ultimate self revelation.

We only see what the unspoiled image of God looks like in Christ, the image we should have been but fell short of in sin. He fulfils humanity’s creation role to be the vehicle for God’s own self expression in the earth.

Jesus the Creator

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.(Colossians 1:16, ESV)

Jesus created all things and therefore cannot be Himself created, He has always exited for all eterrnity.

Jesus holds it all

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.(Colossians 1:17, ESV)

Jesus is the force holding all reality and every atom together, without Him reality and creation itself would not be here and could not be sustained.

Jesus the preeminent

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.(Colossians 1:18, ESV)

The word ‘firstborn’ and ‘preeminent’ are linked. Christ is unique and preeminent.

The term firstborn means preeminent and has nothing to do with the order of creation, the image here is of the son who is entitled to the inheritance. Jesus is eternal because He is God.

Jesus comes before all creation, is above all creation and is distinguished or set apart from creation.

The watchtower Society and others have perverted the interpretation of this hymn, claiming that Jesus was the first creature created. By this very assertion, Jesus cannot be divine as they blasphemously hold that he is just the greatest creation or the mightiest of all the Angels. This is heresy.

Jesus the incarnate

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,(Colossians 1:19, ESV)

We celebrate this every Christmas, it is in the incarnation that Jesus brings us the fullness of God in bodily form, as the one and only God-Man.

Called to persevere

he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.(Colossians 1:22–23, ESV)

Jesus has reconciled us in order to present us as blameless and above reproach before the Father, however this is not disconnected from our responsibility to persevere in sanctification and holiness. We must continue in the faith.

Suffering for the name of Jesus

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,(Colossians 1:24, ESV)

The suffering of Christ on the cross was complete and sufficient, this verse simply means Paul suffered for the church on Christ’s behalf and so should we all.

Warn and teach

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.(Colossians 1:28, ESV)

Thank God our Pastors do a lot of warning and teach too, just like Paul and the Apostles.

Use the energy God supplies

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.(Colossians 1:29, ESV)

We should work hard with the energy God has given.

The lukewarm church

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,(Colossians 2:1, ESV)

Laodicea is the church that became lukewarm, this is despite the struggles and work of Paul for them. We must be alive to the danger of lukewarmness despite the efforts of our leaders, it is each of our responsibility as believers, to stay on fire for God.

Full assurance

that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,(Colossians 2:2, ESV)

Understanding and knowledge of God’s mystery should lead the believer to full assurance in Christ. We should not doubt our salvation or Christ because doubt itself is sin.

Go treasure hunting

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(Colossians 2:3, ESV)

We should go treasure hunting in the very person of Christ.

Eroding arguments

I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.(Colossians 2:4, ESV)

The plausible arguments of errant theology can subtly erode our assurance and confidence in the Lord… Paul is writing to combat this.

Proverbs 11:1–12

Guided by integrity

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.(Proverbs 11:3, ESV)

Thank you Lord that Your integrity guides us this morning.

The bondage of lust

The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.(Proverbs 11:6, ESV)

This is true, lust will take you captive at its own will.

Learn to be silent

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.(Proverbs 11:12, ESV)

This verse talks about the virtue of staying silent. The previous verse is not saying that speaking bad of the city mystically pulls it down, it is alluding to the result of the bad words politically and socially.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Colossians 1

Today’s Reading: Jer 1:1–2:37, Col 1:1–14, Prov 10:1–32

Today’s Theme: Deep Knowledge

Today we begin two new books, Jeremiah and Colossians. I found reading the introduction to each book incredibly useful so have pasted the intro from the ESV for you below.

Today’s theme is deep knowledge, God has deep knowledge of us from before we were even born. We are called to have deep experiential knowledge of God, which inspires and feeds our intellectual pursuit of the knowledge of God.

Jeremiah Intro (ESV)

Jeremiah, often called the “weeping prophet” because of his sorrow over the persistent message of God’s judgment, prophesied to the nation of Judah from the reign of King Josiah in 627 B.C. until sometime after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586. He dictated his prophecies to a scribe named Baruch (36:4, 32). Jeremiah’s task as a prophet was to declare the coming judgment of God. However, throughout the book we also see God’s concern for repentance and righteousness in individuals as well as nations. This dual focus is seen in God’s instructions to Jeremiah: he was “to pluck up and to break down” but also “to build and to plant” (1:10). Jeremiah sees a future day when God will write his law on human hearts, and “they shall all know me,” and “I will remember their sin no more” (31:33–34).

Colossians Intro (ESV)

Paul wrote to the church in Colossae to fortify it against false teachers who might try to impose strict rules about eating and drinking and religious festivals. Paul shows the superiority of Christ over all human philosophies and traditions. He writes of Christ’s deity (“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” [1:15]) and of the reconciliation he accomplished with his blood. He explains that the right way of living in this world is to focus on heavenly rather than earthly things. God’s chosen people must leave their sinful lives behind and live in a godly way, looking to Christ as the head of the church (1:18). Paul wrote while in prison, probably about the same time as he wrote to the Ephesians.

Jeremiah 1:1–2:37

Chosen before birth

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”(Jeremiah 1:5, ESV)

The first part can be applied to any of our lives, the second part was specifically toward Jeremiah.

God knew us before we were formed in the womb, this shines light on two important truths.

Firstly, life begins at conception so abortion is always murder.

Secondly, God knows us from before we were even born, before we ever make a decision to do anything He elects us and sets out a destiny before us, that means your life has a purpose.

Don’t be afraid

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”(Jeremiah 1:8, ESV)

Delivering God’s word can be a frightening thing, it is good that Jeremiah did not have false confidence and so had to depend on the Lord. We don’t have to be afraid when delivering God’s word in anyway, if God is with us.

Authority by God’s word

See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”(Jeremiah 1:10, ESV)

This was because the Lord had put His word in his mouth. With God’s word in our mouth, we too have a degree of influence and spiritual authority over nations and kingdoms.

Like Jeremiah, this authority does not come from our own words or thoughts, but from God Himself and His words speaks through us.

God watches and performs

Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.”(Jeremiah 1:12, ESV)

God actively brings His word to pass. God is not passive, He is watching over His own decrees and sees that His royal decrees are performed in whichever way He sees fit.

We can take great confidence in God’s word with the knowledge that He watches over His word and actively brings it to pass.

Dress for work

But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.(Jeremiah 1:17, ESV)

We must prepare ourselves for the Lord’s work. This principle is picked up in the NT where we are told to put on the Lord Jesus, good works and the armour of God.

See Romans 13:14, Ephesians 6:11, Colossians 3:10, 12, 14, 1 Thessalonians 5:8.

Become what you pursue

Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?(Jeremiah 2:5, ESV)

You will become what you pursue.

If we pursue God we will become more like God. If we pursue the things of the world, we will become more like the world. If we pursue God’s word, we will become more like the word we consume.

Whatever we pursue and consume will become a part of us.

We cannot sit on the fence, as creatures we will pursue something and will be given over to whatever we pursue, so we need to make a decision to pursue God through His word everyday.

Leaders should know God

The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.(Jeremiah 2:8, ESV)

The leaders of God’s people must know and seek God experientially. We should pray for all the churches where the leaders do not have a living relationship with God and have accepted heresy and compromise, that God would replace the leaders with men who love Him.

Our supreme treasure

for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.(Jeremiah 2:13, ESV)

We must recognise God as our supreme treasure, how can we exchange Him for something else?

Your words judge you

Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord God of hosts.(Jeremiah 2:19, ESV)

Jesus picks up on this by saying that peoples’ own words will judge them on the day of judgement. See Matthew 12:37

We are not free, choose your master

And you, O generation, behold the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, ‘We are free, we will come no more to you’?(Jeremiah 2:31, ESV)

The self deception of our libertarian way of thinking today, keep us from this pitfall Lord, of thinking we can do whatever we want without consequence.

We are not truly free, we have to choose a master; will it be the dictates of the flesh and the enemy or will we submit to God?, There is no middle ground of freedom, we are slaves to sin or to righteousness, make the choice today.

Colossians 1:1–14

Faith and love

since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,(Colossians 1:4, ESV)

Faith and love are always spoken of together, there is an important reason for this, one cannot truly exist without the other.

The word of truth

because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,(Colossians 1:5, ESV)

The Gospel comes in words not just actions, these are words of truth about the hope we have laid up for us in heaven. Let’s be very clear, the Gospel is the word of truth.

Hear, understand and do the gospel

which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,(Colossians 1:6, ESV)

We need to hear the gospel, understand it and do so in sincerity.

Rooted, experiential knowledge

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,(Colossians 1:9, ESV)

As Pastor often teaches us, this is about experiential deep rooted knowledge of the Lord, not just intellectual assent but personal recognition of God’s will.

Increase in knowledge

so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.(Colossians 1:10, ESV)

This knowledge of God is to do with our minds, so the experience should feed the mind’s appetite to learn more about God and vice versa. We must increase in our knowledge of God.

Endure with joy

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,(Colossians 1:11, ESV)

We must endure with Joy but can only do this by God’s power. We are called to persevere, not in misery but in deep rooted joy.

Jesus has delivered us

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,(Colossians 1:13, ESV)

Jesus HAS delivered us from the domain of darkness, this is actual and present tense.

You do not need a “man of god” to deliver you, or a deliverance ministry or a Shaman or witch doctor or juju man. None of these are needed because Jesus has already delivered you, so put your trust in Him.

Proverbs 10:1–32

God will feed you

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.(Proverbs 10:3, ESV)

A promise to stand on for provision of food, even in hard times.

Be diligent

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.(Proverbs 10:4, ESV)

Lord, help our hands not to be slack in anything but to be diligent workers.

Receive God’s commands

The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.(Proverbs 10:8, ESV)

Lord, keep us from just babbling, give us wise hearts to receive your commands

Have integrity

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.(Proverbs 10:9, ESV)

We absolutely must walk in integrity.

Don’t keep offence

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.(Proverbs 10:12, ESV)

Father please forgive us where our heart keeps offence, help us to walk in love.

Money

The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.(Proverbs 10:16, ESV)

God allows the money we make to lead to life.

Restrain your lips

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.(Proverbs 10:19, ESV)

Lord, help us to do this, to hold back our words and to exercise self control.

Find pleasure

Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.(Proverbs 10:23, ESV)

We should find pleasure in God’s word.

Desires granted

What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.(Proverbs 10:24, ESV)

God will grant our righteous desires, thank you Lord.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Colossians 1