The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

The last few days we have been in the book of Colossians and asking ourselves these three questions.

The Word- Am I in God’s Word daily? (Colossians 3:16).
The Way- How am I living in the world and in my home today? (Colossians 3:12-13).
The Worship- Am I truly worshipping the Lord each day? (Colossians 3:1-4).

These questions and Scriptures are extremely important because of Who the Lord is and what He has done and will yet do. Please allow me to bring us to Colossians once again as we see our amazing Savior and how precious He is.

I can never think too highly of Him. He is the “Image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible, and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell” (Colossians 1:15-19).

Think of Christ. Think often of the place He holds, the creation He has worked by speaking it into existence, the perfect sacrifice He made and the position He holds. No wonder He is to have the preeminence. The word for “preeminence” is proteuo (prote-YOO-o) and means “to be first, to hold the first place.”

Just what I need indeed. I truly need to ever keep before myself the splendor and greatness of my Lord and make sure that He holds the place of preeminence.

Over these three days, I have three very important questions for each of us to consider. Let me share these with you and then we will come back and consider the Scripture.

Three very good questions! I wonder how many questions the average person asks during any given day. I am sure that we would be surprised with the number of the many, many questions that are asked and answered in a typical twenty-four-hour period of time. Here are three questions that are very important for us retirees to be asking ourselves.

The Word- Am I in God’s Word daily? (Colossians 3:16).
The Way- How am I living in the world and in my home today? (Colossians 3:12-13).
The Worship- Am I truly worshipping the Lord each day? (Colossians 3:1-4).

Today: We come to The Worship- Am I truly worshipping the Lord each day? Think of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the church family at Colosse. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).

The moments we invest reading or listening to God’s Word as well as our time in prayer ought not to be limited to just Sunday. For you and me the wonderful privilege of worship is something that should be very special every day.

What a privilege to be a believer. We get to adore the Lord by thinking of His wonderful characteristics. We get to confess our sins and experience the joy of His forgiveness. We get to praise the Lord not only for Who He is, but also what He is doing. We get to lift high the Lord in our thoughts and devotion. We get to submit fully to Him as we seek to obey and trust Him. We bow before Him and revere Him. We get to express our love for Him as well as cherish His love for us.

Here’s a little thought to all of us. Throughout our day, let’s worship the Lord.

Over these three days, I have three very important questions for each of us to consider. Let me share these with you and then we will come back and consider the Scripture.

Three very good questions! I wonder how many questions the average person asks during any given day. I am sure that we would be surprised with the number of the many, many questions that are asked and answered in a typical twenty-four-hour period of time. Here are three questions that are very important for us retirees to be asking ourselves.

The Word- Am I in God’s Word daily? (Colossians 3:16).
The Way- How am I living in the world and in my home today? (Colossians 3:12-13).
The Worship- Am I truly worshipping the Lord each day? (Colossians 3:1-4).

Today: How am I living in the world and in my home today? “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies” (literally a heart of compassion) “kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:12-13).
As I live in my home, work, society or even in private, the standard by which I am to live is in the joyous remembrance of how the Lord extended grace in my personal life! The Lord Jesus has been so very kind to me. He desires to create in me a heart of compassion for people and their brokenness. So many are hurting all around me. I know, dear friend, that the same is true for you.

I am not advocating that we create a list of legalistic rules that only address the superficial and outward appearance. Oh no, not at all! I am challenging myself and you to consider the way we live as an outflow of the work of Christ in our hearts. Blessings on you today as you live out Colossians 3:12-13.

Over the next three days, I have three very important questions for each of us to consider. Let me share these with you and then we will come back and consider the Scripture.

Three very good questions! I wonder how many questions the average person asks during any given day. I am sure that we would be surprised with the number of the many, many questions that are asked and answered in a typical twenty-four-hour period of time. Here are three questions that are very important for us retirees to be asking ourselves.

The Word- Am I in God’s Word daily? (Colossians 3:16).
The Way- How am I living in the world and in my home today? (Colossians 3:12-13).
The Worship- Am I truly worshipping the Lord each day? (Colossians 3:1-4).

Today: The Word- Am I in God’s Word daily? “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

I can’t help but think of the fact that here in America we have lots of Bibles in our homes, but somehow it seems like less and less Bible lived out in lives. Here are a couple of little thoughts that have big impacts on our lives when it comes to God’s Word.

Open it daily.
Read it slowly.
Believe it fully.
Apply it accurately.
Live it graciously.

For today: I want God’s Word to dwell (be residing) in me. What a wonderful love letter He has written to us.

If it would have been up to me, I would have written the plans differently, and frankly, I would have messed everything up! If I were to select a man who would be outstanding in his service, who would be instrumental in planting numerous, numerous churches, I would have turned him loose and given him unlimited freedom of travel.

That’s how I would have planned it!

Would I ever have gotten it all wrong. How differently the Lord planned the life of dear Paul the Apostle. It seems that everywhere Paul went, he was beaten, humiliated, and taken into custody. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon were all written during Paul’s imprisonment. Think of this! In Paul’s confinement, God gave expansion to the gospel. Paul was honest about his hardship. He was also excited about his opportunities. Think of what he said:

“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:12-14).

I would have had it all wrong.
The Lord always does what is right.
The Lord expanded Paul’s ministry by his confinement.

Today, I want to be the kind of believer who is confident in the Lord’s plan even if it is not what I would have chosen. What contentment comes even in the hard times knowing that our Father is in control.