Sometimes reading Scripture is like looking at a puzzle wondering how it all fits together. Ever since my Florida trip I’ve been pondering Phil. 1:27 – what is ‘conduct worthy of the gospel of Christ’? And today I read Col. 2:6: ‘so walk in Him…’ What on earth does this puzzle mean?!
As I read on in Colossians, however, it was like diagramming sentences (yes, see how old I am!). It suddenly started to make sense. It came together like a flow chart. The questions they teach you to ask while you read popped off the page with little mental energy from me (which is good for 5am and the first cup of coffee!).
Colossians 2:6-7 (NASB) reads: “Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” And as I read on I saw the puzzle come together.
Col. 2:6-7 – the command – the what: ‘so walk in Him’
Col. 2:8 – the watch guard – the how: 8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Col. 2:9-15 – the reason – the why: 9For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. “
Col. 2:16-23 – the result (go to www.biblegateway.com to read the entire passage)
I was just really encouraged with how it just suddenly ‘flowed’ and put the puzzle together. I’m chewing on it and will end here to let you do the same. Add this in with Phil 1:27 and chew away!
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