Monday Morning Devotion-December 31, 2018

Looking Back or Ahead?

In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Colossians 2:3

            If the title to this devotion is confusing don't worry.  This is a somewhat confusing time

of year.  Our hearts are still warmed by the memories of Christmas while we realize it's time to

move ahead and forge new plans and create more memories in the coming New Year.

            An example of this confusion occurred at our house this week.  The Lovely Susette--- GG as her granddaughters call her---was trying to explain this whole holiday thing to our three-year old granddaughter Ellee who had just spent her first Christmas with us.

            GG was telling her about the days off from school because another holiday was coming up.  Ellee immediately thought about Christmas and all the gifts she got to unwrap and wanted to know if it was another Christmas.

            GG explained that it was not Christmas and there wouldn't be gifts to unwrap, but it would be New Years.  Ellee immediately disliked that idea.  She said: "I don't want new ears."

See what I mean by saying it's a confusing time of year.

            For my devotion readers it can be confusing too because for me, as a devotional writer, it can present some confusion.  For the majority of my on-line readers who read this over the internet on Mondays it will be the last devotion of 2018.  But, for my church devotion readers, who read this on Thursday, not Monday, it will be the first devotion of 2019.

            That presented a problem for me because I already have next week's devotion prepared as the "first devotion of the New Year." Which it will be for most but will be the second devotion of 2019 for others.  Now that I have you thoroughly confused let's see if we can make something out of this final, uh…first (whatever) devotion.

            The Apostle Paul, who was under house arrest at the time, was concerned about the believers in the small city of Colossse, which was located in the southwest interior of what is now Turkey. (Quest Study Bible).

            It seems there was a group called Gnostics (derived from the word for knowledge) who were spreading some confusion among the believers.  This group claimed that they possessed privileged supernatural knowledge necessary for salvation.  Paul was writing to warn them about these subtle arguments and false teachings that threatened to undermine the Colossians' faith.

            So you see there was some confusion there.  In looking ahead to their salvation should they look back to what Paul had taught them about it being based on their belief in Jesus as the Messiah?

            Or should they adopt a new mindset look ahead to the future, believe and adopt this hybrid religion and philosophy that mixed Christian, Jewish and possibly pagan beliefs.

            After all they had been taught that Jesus was the "way, the truth and the life and that no man could come to the Father except through Him."  And here these smooth-talking, superior-acting mystics were confusing them.

            Epaphras, a disciple of Paul, had founded the church at Colosse, but the city had now become the center for numerous religious philosophies abounding in the first-century world. 

            Should they look back and embrace all the dynamic, Christ-centered teachings that had captured their thinking, given them hope and warmed their hearts?  Should they believe in the supremacy of Christ or accept this new philosophy that is being propounded by the Gnostics. What should be the religion they should take into the future with them?

            Looking back or moving ahead?

            The book of Colossians with its focus on the supremacy of Christ and what it means for our everyday lives is what Paul intended for the people at Colosse to learn and embrace as the true way to live.  It also has insights that show specific ways we can develop attitudes and actions to honor the Lord and live better lives.

            Paul writes:  "My purpose is that you may be encouraged in heart and united in love so that you may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that you may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ."

            And what was this mystery?  Well, Paul tells us it is a mystery no longer. He was explaining that God chose to bring salvation to the Jewish people even though they were rebellious and undeserving.

            Before Paul met Christ, he would have said that the Gentiles had no hope unless they embraced Judaism.  But now he knew better.  That mystery had been cleared up.  Now he knew and preached that everyone has hope and will be saved when they embrace Christ.

            Sarah Young writes: "The joy He gives us is independent of circumstances.  He gives Himself and all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.  He is infinitely wise and all-knowing, so you will never run out of treasures to search for.  He is a well-spring of joy---eager to openly flow into your life."

            So, the answer to our confusion is to do both.  Look back so you may be reminded of all of the Lord's blessings that got you this far in life.  Grab hold of them and give thanks for each one of these major blessings.

            Then move ahead into 2019, bringing with you these lessons learned and blessings received in the past to help you build on them grow your faith and lead an even better life.

            May God richly bless you in 2019!

Prayer:  Lord we thank you that you have brought us safely to this New Year.  Help us to build on your teachings of the past and use them to grow your kingdom to an even greater degree in 2019.   Amen!