Thank You Jesus for Your mysteries that encourage and unite us in love.

Today’s Scripture: Colossians 2:2, NIV- “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,”

Paul was not only writing to the Colossians and the people of Laodicea, which I do not recall ever hearing of, but for us who would never meet him face to face as he wrote in Colossians 2:1. I am thankful that Paul’s words continue to encourage and unite us in love today.

With so much discouragement in the world today, it is wonderful news that the mysteries of Jesus Christ continue to reveal comfort, encouragement, and love for us. If we continue to read God’s Word, we keep opening the treasure chest of God’s mysteries. How can a word written thousands of years ago be so timely to cut through the clutter of today’s confusions?

Life’s greatest riches are found in seeking the understanding of God. In Colossians 2:3, Paul tells us that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. We need not look to the understanding of modern viewpoints that cause confusion and desperation while we have access to the greatest riches of all that most of the world looks beyond.

While modern dialogue continually attempts to outsmart with new thoughts, the depths of wisdom and knowledge are underneath our noses. Paul’s mission was to remind us to turn to the mysteries of Jesus Christ. When we turn to God and Jesus Christ, we do find encouragement and love.

Paul, I am sure, could not envision today’s internet full of videos and podcasts where we can watch and hear enticing and persuasive words. However, he did know the deception of the words of humankind. He knew that these days would require a steadfast faith in Jesus Christ while nonsense was being promoted all around us.

Paul encouraged us to continue to walk in Jesus Christ in Colossians 2:6. As we walk day after day with Jesus Christ, we find encouragement and love that this world cannot conceive. Instead of looking forward we must pause to look at our roots. As we are rooted in Christ, we find flowing through us a thankfulness that may well be illogical.

We were warned in Colossians 2:8 to not be taken captive by the philosophies and traditions of humankind. We are only made complete in Jesus Christ as Paul reminds us in Colossians 2:10. There is no new way or tradition. As Colossians 2:12 promises, as we are buried in baptism with Jesus Christ, we are also raised again by the power of God who raised Jesus.

God makes us alive in Christ and forgives us for our sins today just the same as He did at the time of Paul’s writings in Colossians 2:13. Instead of looking forward let us look back to our roots grounded in Jesus Christ. We can live the fullest and richest of lives living in the body of Christ. God nourishes us day after day with His daily bread.

As God nourishes us, He increases with the increase of God as promised in Colossians 2:19. No other deceptive promises of the human mind can compare to the increases of God. The more we hear the commands and doctrines of human perceptions the more we need to set our hearts, as Colossians 3:1 states, “on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

When our hearts are set on Christ, we find an encouragement and love this world cannot understand without Jesus. Where are you setting your heart today?

Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the love and encouragement You share with us through the mysteries of Jesus Christ. Thank You Jesus for encouraging us and uniting us in Your love. Deepen our roots, Father God, in Christ. Increase our wisdom and knowledge of the love of Jesus. Help us to live today looking up to You and overlooking all the deceptive words and ways of the human spirit. May Your Spirit be our guide to the greatest treasures found in Christ. Amen.