Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 3-4 NKJV

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Thoughts

Today I have a few words for both chapters.

Thoughts on Chapter 3

In chapter 3, verse 2. Paul said: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

What a great reminder for the times in which we live.

About five and a half years ago, I wrote some thoughts down on this very verse. I’d like to read for you a paragraph that I wrote for the Lifespring Family Audio Bible series from 2015:

“Remember, yesterday I spent the entire day writing and producing an episode of the Lifespring! podcast dealing with the SCOTUS decision on homosexual marriage, and then talking about it briefly to you on this podcast. And then when we look at all the other turmoil in the world, with Isis, crazed gunmen killing people in church, the recent riots, etc., it’s tempting to really get bogged down in the cares of the world.”

The crises today are different, but they are really just the crisis d’ jour. The crisis of the day. It’s nothing new. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “What has been, it is what will be, And what has been done, it is what will be done. There is nothing new under the sun.” The longer I live the more I realize that these words are true. 

And then we come to this beautiful verse from Colossians 3: 2 that reminds us that we are really just visitors on the earth. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” This is not our home. God is in control. He is our hope. He is our strength. He is our provider. He is our all in all. He is the great I AM. Why should we focus on the things of the earth when this place will soon pass away? Even if the earth lasts ten million more years (which I doubt), that is nothing in light of eternity. Whatever the current “crisis” may be, it will pass in an instant, only to be replaced by the next crisis. And the next. And the next. 

Keep your eyes up, beloved. God is still God, and as I seem to have said several times in the past few weeks, He does not change. One day soon, we will be in His presence, and as the old hymn says, “…the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”. Hallelujah!

Thoughts on Chapter 4

Do you have just a few more minutes for a comment on chapter four?

Today Paul spoke quite a lot about how we as believers should behave. Let’s focus for a minute or two on chapter 4, verses 5 and 6. Here it is again: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be  with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

“Those who are outside” are non believers, those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus. How do we walk in wisdom in regards to them? We should treat them in such a way that we don’t make it difficult for them to accept Jesus. Don’t be rude to them. Don’t insult them. Treat them with respect. In short, treat them as Jesus treated non believers. Question them as Jesus did, causing them to think about what they believe and why they believe as they do. In answering their questions, give them thoughtful answers.

Remember, our primary purpose for being on planet Earth is to draw people to Jesus. If we follow Paul’s instructions here in chapter 4, we will be more effective than if we pick fights or call them names.