✝ Daily Encouragement (1/9/25) "Staying Spiritually Based" (Part 6)
Published: Thu, 01/09/25
Updated: Mon, 01/13/25
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(Click refresh or reload for current message) Thursday,
January 9,
2025
"Staying Spiritually Based" (Part 6) Note:
This message
is part of a
series all
week based on
Colossians
2:6,7 which we
contend is
avital key to
staying
spiritually
based. Message
summary:
Today
we consider
the phrase
"
strengthened
in the faith
as you were
taught".
We all need to
be taught and
we all need to
teach.
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“So
then, just as
you received
Christ Jesus
as Lord,
continue
to live your
lives in Him,
rooted
and built up
in Him,
strengthened
in the faith
as you were
taught,
and
overflowing
with
thankfulness”
(Colossians
2:6-7).
Yesterday
I
visited for a
few minutes
with Brian, an
ex-con we
visit weekly
in the course
of our
chaplain
ministry at
the workplace.
Several years
ago I
encouraged
Brian to
attend a local
gospel-preaching
church in his
area and he
followed
through. Now,
whenever I see
him I
frequently
ask, "Did you
get out to
church last
Sunday?" and
he usually
smiles at me
as he nods his
head "Yes".
He's come to
know what I'm
going to ask
next, "What
did the pastor
preach on?"
And he
proceeds to
tell me the
theme of the
sermon.
We
know how
vitally
important it
is for for
every believer
to be
receiving
godly teaching
in a Christian
setting, but I
take it even a
step further
with those who
have
life-altering
addictions or
incarceration
for past
crimes.
Accountability
alongside good
teaching/mentoring
is a must for
individuals
such as these
who are even
more
vulnerable to
the schemes of
the devil to
ensnare them.
Showing up
consistently
to receive
godly teaching
to strengthen
and establish
one's faith
and giving
accountability
is vital.
In
our daily
encouragement
messages this
week we have
been
considering
Colossians
2:6,7 phrase
by phrase.
Today we
consider "
strengthened
in the faith
as you were
taught".
Let's
break this
phrase into
two parts:
1) " strengthened in the faith". Other versions render the phrase:
"constantly
being
established
with reference
to the Faith
(Wuest)
"becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith (Amplified)
2)
"as
you were
taught"
These Colossian believers (the initial recipients) had been taught as has been the pattern in the church from the very beginning. Foundational to the Great Commission to "go and make disciples" is the phrase, "Teach them to observe everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20).
David
Jeremiah
writes the
following in
his devotional
Everyday
With Jesus:
"Make
Disciples" is
the only
imperative
command in the
Great
Commission.
Involved in
that process
are baptizing
and teaching,
corollary
activities to
making
disciples. But
all these
activities
assume
obedience to
'Go
therefore'.
Having gone,
followers of
Jesus were to
make disciples
- additional
followers and
learners - in
all the
nations of the
world. Making
disciples is
not the same
as making
converts.
Converts come
from decisions;
disciples come
from dedication.
And it takes
one to make
one.
Today
consider the
many who have
taught you
either by
words and/or
actions
leaving
distinct
memories in
our mental
journal of
spiritual
growth. I
recall Dave
Cook who sat
down with me
in a
restaurant in
Independence,
Missouri when
I was in high
school and
floundering in
my walk with
Christ.
As
a more mature
believer,
Dave
knew of my
need for
spiritual
growth and
shared a
transformative
teaching from
Romans 12:1,2.
But
most of what
we have been
taught is a
result of
steady
exposure to
truth. Over
the 54 years
of being a
believer I can
distinctly
remember very
few of the
sermons and
teachings I've
heard, radio
programs,
books, and
even personal
Bible reading!
However I'm
confident that
exposure to
truth was
still teaching
and guiding
me.
Consider
those you have
taught. Some
immediately
come to mind
bringing you
joy
and
fulfillment at
their
receptivity.
But you may
not remember
most of them
and really
don't know in
what way your
teaching
impacted their
lives. That's
why I have
long been
encouraged by
a verse that
says our "labor
in the Lord is
not in vain"
(1 Corinthians
15:58).
Each
January
Pennsylvania
holds what is
essentially
our state fair
indoors at a
huge
assortment of
buildings in
Harrisburg
called the
Farm Show
Complex.
Yesterday our
friend Nick
attended and
shared some
photos. I am
pretty sure
this would be
a big bull (a
farming reader
may need to
correct me)
but this
brother and
sister
(presumably)
seemed at
complete peace
resting on it!
Like
most we have
been following
and praying
regarding the
many
devastated by
the massive
fires in the
Los Angeles
area. Just
this morning
we saw news of
a church that
burnt down and
a heartfelt
testimony of
someone who
had been
taught there.
Ester took
this photo in
2018 when we
were flying
into the LAX
airport. The
Hollywood sign
is that white
spot on the
mountain in
the back left.
The fires are
just beyond
this and to
the left. We
have readers
and friends in
that area so
our hearts are
concerned for
their well
being. Today
our area is
having
whipping cold
winds which
helps us to
identify a
tiny bit with
the windy
conditions
they are
enduring.
Taking
Ester to work
this morning
we came upon
what appeared
to be a lost
dog running
along
Colebrook
Road.
Thankfully I
didn't see it
on the way
back so
hopefully this
lonely dog
found its way
home.
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