Colossians 1

The Power of Darkness

Posted on by Betsy

This is the time of year when the sun is fickle about making an appearance. It acts like a self-conscious teenager deciding on whether or not to go to the school dance. She shows up too early in the morning and peeks through our bedroom blinds like she needs to see who else is there before she commits. Then she ducks behind clouds for the rest of day, avoiding the scrutiny of the rest of the kids. Finally, she calls her dad and goes home way too early, making us think that midnight has suddenly arrived in the middle of the afternoon as she takes her light with her. We miss the boldness of that summer sun who came out to play and stayed all day! Come back, summer sun!

In our Scripture today, Paul talks to the church at Colossae about the “power of darkness”. This same phrase is used in Luke 22:53 when Jesus describes the sinister forces of Satan as he was being arrested and taken away for his crucifixion. This is the darkness of Satan’s domain. It lulls us to sleep, distracts us, afflicts and depresses us, and is very skillful at hiding.

Colossians 1 (New Revised Standard Version)

For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 

Paul gives us the switch to flood our souls with the light that overpowers the darkness. When we know God’s will we have spiritual understanding. This wisdom enables us to live a life worthy of Christ and bear spiritual fruit in everything we do: The big tasks as well as the small moments of grace that we share with others. God strengthens us and blesses us with endurance and patience. And what is the result? We inherit the light.

13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

God rescues us from the power of darkness ,and we now belong to his kingdom, which is a kingdom of light.

How can you be the light to someone living in darkness today? The days are getting shorter and colder and people living on the edge are anxiously waiting for help and redemption. Who will you save today?

Moonlight Overcoming the Darkness

The Visible Invisible

Posted on by Betsy

Over the last two days, many people in the United States were treated to a stunning display of an aurora borealis. Known as the Northern Lights, this is a phenomenon caused by  “the interaction between the Earth’s magnetic field and charged particles from the sun’s atmosphere that enter the earth’s atmosphere. A solar flare (energetic particles from the sun) floats through space on the solar wind, eventually penetrating the Earth’s magnetic field. Electrons in the magnetic field sideswipe oxygen atoms or nitrogen molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere. The bursts of colorful light—the northern lights—are colliding particles (usually electrons) and atoms; at collision, electrons can return to their initial, lower energy state, and in the process, release photons or light particles we know as aurorae” according to MIT. You need a degree from MIT to follow all that. But in short, the aurora borealis is a spectacular nighttime light show.

We were treated to this beautiful marvel all the way down here in the Outer Banks. I had been reading and hearing about it, and as soon as pictures began to be posted from my local area, I ran out into the freezing wind to see it. It took a little more probing, however, to realize that in my area the lights could only be seen through my iPhone camera lens set to “night mode.” There is a completely scientific reason for that, but the short story is that the lights were invisible to the naked eye.

And yet, they were there.

We continue our lectionary reading of Colossians today. As you read this, take note of the invisible/visible references.

Colossians 1 (Common English Bible)

The Son is the image of the invisible God,
        the one who is first over all creation,

16 Because all things were created by him:
        both in the heavens and on the earth,
        the things that are visible and the things that are invisible.
            Whether they are thrones or powers,
            or rulers or authorities,
        all things were created through him and for him.

17 He existed before all things,
        and all things are held together in him.

Paul helps us understand that Jesus is the visible eikon of God: He is the “stamp” or manifestation of God on earth. Through Christ, the invisible becomes visible. Christ was present at creation, and all things were created by and through him. Every power, throne, principality, and ruler are subject to him. This gives me great comfort in these days of chaos.

18 He is the head of the body, the church,
who is the beginning,
        the one who is firstborn from among the dead
        so that he might occupy the first place in everything.

By saying that Jesus is the head of the church, we are reminded of the importance of not falling prey to “personality cultism,” where parishioners become too enamored of their preachers. When those mortal people fail or leave, the church suffers for having taken their eyes off of Christ, the true head. Does your church worship the pastor? Be careful. I’ve been in those churches, and they always end poorly.

19 Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him,
20         and he reconciled all things to himself through him—
        whether things on earth or in the heavens.
            He brought peace through the blood of his cross.

Christ is both the unifying principle and the personal sustainer of all creation, both in heaven and on earth. As we look to the stars each night, may it be a reminder to never take our eyes off of him.

Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light

Fruit-Bearers

Posted on by Betsy

I love berry season. As soon as I see the signs in the grocery store, my heart and my cart quickly get filled up will all things berry. Blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries … these colorful bits of God’s best work are lovely to behold. Berries are high in fiber, low in carbohydrates, and sweeter than sugar if allowed to ripen properly. The best berries are the ones you can pick from a farm. It is harder to get anything fresher or juicer. Sadly, for berries to be sold in grocery stores they have to be picked on the early side and endure packaging and transit. Still, any kind of berry is not just good to eat but good for you as well.

Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae made me think of how fruit on the vine ripens to perfection when properly tended. Notice in this passage how many times he talks about the message bearing fruit. God’s Good News through Jesus Christ can bear fruit in our lives if we tend it well.

Colossians 1 (Common English Bible)

3 We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. 4 We’ve done this since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all God’s people. 5 You have this faith and love because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You previously heard about this hope through the true message, the good news, 6 which has come to you. This message has been bearing fruit and growing among you since the day you heard and truly understood God’s grace, in the same way that it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, who is the fellow slave we love and Christ’s faithful minister for your sake. 8 He informed us of your love in the Spirit.

You can just feel Paul’s appreciation for this little church. Colossae was a small and somewhat unimportant city. Their trade in fabric dyes had fallen off and their prominence was diminishing. Although Paul never went to Colossae, as an apostle (meaning “one sent”) it was appropriate to send them a letter of instruction. You probably spotted his familiar triad of faith, hope, and love in the first few verses. There was a bit of heresy happening in the church as a result of mixed religions, with each one adding its own flavor to the practices of the church. Paul wrote to instruct them that it is only through deep knowledge of Jesus Christ and wisdom that comes from God that true spiritual understanding would be achieved by the community.

9 Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 10 We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; 11 by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience; 12 and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. He made it so you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy people. 13 He rescued us from the control of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 He set us free through the Son and forgave our sins.

The message that bears fruit in a community is evidenced by the fruit of good works. It is often only through good works that the Messenger can ever be seen and experienced. While we know that good works won’t save us, it is by our good works that others see Jesus. What good works are you doing that are bearing fruit in the lives of those around you? Can you teach? Preach? Serve? Give? Comfort? Feed? Advocate?

Paul reminds us today to be the message that will taste sweet to someone who needs to hear it. In that way we will all be fruit-bearers to a hungry world.

May the Lord will see our efforts and proclaim them to be berry, berry good.

Taste and See that the Lord is Good by Becca Ziegler

Calling All Saints

Posted on by Betsy

Saints. They can be canonized heroes of our faith, plaster statues in a cathedral, a football team in New Orleans, or the person sitting next to you.

We usually balk at the notion that every day folks are saints, and the thought that we ourselves fall into that category is especially squirm-worthy. Comparing ourselves with the likes of the Apostle Paul, Mother Teresa, and Gabriel the Archangel is uncomfortable at best, unless you have a really, really big ego. Most Protestant denominations don’t have saints like our Catholic brothers and sisters do. Our traditions don’t include canonization, but we do have saints of the ordinary variety.

You and me.

All Saints’ Day is a way of marking the ordinariness of extraordinary people of faith. Many churches observe this on the first Sunday of November. Names of those who have died in the last year are read, and a candle is lit for each. Sometimes a bell is tolled as well. It is a sacred and solemn day of remembrance and thanksgiving for the faithfulness of these folks.

The phrase saints appears in the Bible over 60 times. In Colossians 10, Paul assures us that all of us are saints:

Colossians 1:10-14 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

10 So that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins

The root of the word saint comes from the word sanctified. To be sanctified is to be “set apart for holy use.” We have been called out of the world to be the reflection of Christ to a world that doesn’t know him but needs him desperately.

Many years ago, I traveled to Israel. Most of the holy sites are maintained by different churches: Roman Catholic, Coptic, Greek Orthodox, Franciscans, etc. As an American Methodist, I was struck by all of the plaster statues and busts of saints I knew nothing about. It was an interesting distraction from the holy site itself.

When I got home, I reflected on our Protestant understanding of saints as ordinary people, and I sadly realized that in many instances, I have been and continue to be a plaster saint. How about you? Do you ever feel that way … That if people knew what was really going on inside of you, they surely would feel differently about you?

The scriptures may affirm us as saints with the rest of the members of the household of God, but in so many ways, our usefulness as those set apart for holy use only runs skin deep. I may appear somewhat saintly on the outside, but the plaster is covering who I really am and hiding my less-than-sanctified-self from the world.

In our ordinariness, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Then we put on a plaster cast and show a holiness to the world that doesn’t really speak to who we are inside. As they say, actions speak louder than words, and people can easily see past the mask. And so can God.

On this All Saints’ Day, let us spend a moment meditating on that. Do you mirror the image of God in everything you say, do, think, and post? Or is your sainthood just a plaster façade, hiding an inner self you don’t want others to see? Let us mark this day with self-examination, confession, repentance, and change.

As saints, we are called to work hard in every way to do the right thing and endure in good works no matter the cost. We are instructed to grow in our knowledge of God, so keep doing your daily devotionals, people! Thank you for reading! Saints endeavor to live a life worthy of God, not just show up to church occasionally so we can check that box.

You see, the whole point of sainthood is not to be perfect, but to be redeemed, forgiven, and strengthened by the Holy Spirit to live a life that reflects our faith. And someday, when the saints go marching in, oh Lord, let us be in that number!

Stone Saints by Alan Janesch

Glory-Strength

Posted on by Betsy

I discovered last week that lifting an oversized leather couch needs to be done carefully. I was not careful. I instantly felt a tear in the muscles of my ribcage, known as an intercostal muscle strain. It happens when you twist and lift. Apparently, you can twist OR lift, but not at the same time. I spent the rest of the week going about my chores as I helped my daughter and son-in-law move into a new house gritting my teeth as had to bend, lift, move, and breathe my way through the discomfort. Fortunately, this is a mishap that heals itself, but over a week later I still can’t sleep on that side.

Paul talks about the difference between real strength and teeth-gritting strength. I can relate. Had I had real strength for lifting the couch, I wouldn’t have had to grit my teeth for a week. Perhaps real strength would have involved knowing the limits of my own strength and realizing I was in over my head.

In this letter to the church at Colossae, Paul is commending the people for their growth in their faith. Growing in faith requires some heavy lifting.

Colossians 1 (The Message)

9-12 Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

In this Message translation, Paul calls the long-haul strength that faith building requires “glory-strength.” Don’t you just love that? He encourages the followers to keep working hard at it, staying attuned to God’s will and learning about how God works. Always the encourager, Paul tells them that in his prayers he asks God to give them wise minds so they might acquire a complete understanding of God. He reminds us that God makes them strong enough to do what they need to do.

Do you need to be reminded of that today?

13-14 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.

Some of us may feel that we are still in dead-end alleys or dark dungeons. Sin, hopelessness, addiction, abusive relationships, etc. keep us trapped in doom pits and we need a way out. Thankfully, Christ provides it:

Christ Holds It All Together

15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.

18-20 He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so expansive, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.

Read that again. All the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe get properly fixed and fit together by Christ. The blood of the atonement brings us to a state of at-one-ment with God and his purpose for our lives. In him we live, breath, and find our being. And he is the greatest fixer of all that is broken.

Are you broken today? Do you need be fixed? Are you gritting your teeth because your strength is failing? Seek God and his glory-strength and he will restore harmony to your soul.

Glory-Strength by Karen DeBellis