Watching Daily At Wisdom's Gates

  Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. Colossians 4:7 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/col.4.7.ESV Tychicus might only get a few mentions in the new testament. Yet he is immortalised as someone who stood shoulder to shoulder with Paul in his ministry. How will we be remembered (if at all?) many years after we're gone? How great it would be to be remembered as a beloved brother in the family of Christ! No one wants to be remembered as the prodigal son, or even the Pharisaical older brother. We just should want to faithfully plod on in the service of God. Tychicus's ministry wasn't to serve himself, as i suspect many ministries nowadays are that are named after themselves, or 'giants' of the faith (with nonetheless feet of clay). Paul and Tychicus didn't minister to themselves, accumulating a private jet for themselves for example. They ministered for Christ and His glory. ...

  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/col.3.17.ESV If we say and do everything in Christ's name, there'll be certain things we won't say or do at all. It's not possible to swear or to cheat in Jesus's name for example, so we wouldn't do that. If we can't do something with the Lord's blessing, we shouldn't do it at all. On the other hand, if we say and do things in Jesus's name, there's certain things we might not naturally say or do that we will say or do. So we will be ambassadors for Christ. In our words and deeds, we will consciously represent Him. If we were to lie and steal for example, that wouldn't make us good ambassadors of Christ. Instead, we should be honest and generous with people. By doing so, we will be good witnesses for Him. This verse isn't about pulling ourselves up by our ...

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/col.2.8.ESV I'm not an expert on the philosophies and deceits that may have tempted the Colossians, although I wonder if there was a similar tension to what there is nowadays. Some, call them Epicurian progressives perhaps, think we have to leave religion behind to become enlightened. Others, maybe stoical conservatives, think we should go back to our old ways. Worldly philosophies often have an element of truth in them. Of course we want to be progressive, not stagnant or even regressive. Yet where are we progressing to? That is the question! We should be conservative in the sense that we want to conserve what is good in society. Yet do we not want to progress from what isn't so good in society? God calls His people to progress towards holiness and t...

  We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, Colossians 1:3 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/col.1.3.ESV Much of Colossians was written as a corrective: to make sure that the Colossian church was satisfied in Christ alone and not thinking He isn't enough. Before launching into that though, Paul starts off with real encouragement. He and Timothy were genuinely encouraged by the Colossian church. Why were Paul and Timothy encouraged? In summary, because of the Colossian church's faith in Jesus, their love for one another, and their hope of eternal glory. This is true of Christians whether we're tempted to follow false teachings or not. What is the ground of our faith, hope and love? It isn't being particularly clever or intelligent. Our faith, hope and love are rooted in Christ our Lord. Paul and Timothy were regularly in prayer for the Colossian church. Are we regularly in prayer for churches we know of? God, help us to be faithfu...

  I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/php.4.13.ESV Paul wasn't saying he was superman. He wasn't suggesting he could fly to Mars. In the context, he was talking about contentment. Whatever life throws at us, we can be content, through Christ who strengthens us. We can stay reliant on God when we're prosperous, and we don't have to become embittered when we're in need. Even in the midst of persecution, we can know we're blessed, because great is our reward in heaven. Paul wasn't saying he could win the lottery. Jesus pronounced woe upon the rich, but blessed the poor. If we're living our best lives now, we're heading for hell! Thankfully, there's a glorious eternity to look forward to. Humanly speaking, it's impossible for sinners like us to make it there. Through Christ's death and resurrection, we can attain to glory however. 'Dear Lord, thank You for the truth th...

  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Philippians 3:10 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/php.3.10.ESV Death is inevitable, unless Jesus returns first. Yet resurrection is also inevitable. Just as Christ rose from the dead, so shall we all, to face the final judgment. Death isn't an easy way out. Resurrection isn't something we can shortcut to. Before He defeated death, Jesus had to suffer it. We might not like suffering, yet it is a necessary evil. Just as it was necessary for Jesus to suffer for our sake, so it is necessary for us to suffer for His sake. If we do, our reward is great in heaven. Jesus doesn't save us to have an easy life. He expects us to follow in His footsteps. If we do, we will live forevermore. 'Our Heavenly Father, we praise You for the suffering, death and resurrection of Your Son, in whom we have the victory. In His name we pray, amen'

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  For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 1 Kings 11:4 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1ki.11.4.ESV Polygamy is rightly not encouraged in the West nowadays. We have plenty of Biblical examples of how dysfunctional polygamous families are. Solomon is one of the most extreme. We need to choose our partner wisely, if we decide to have one. Are they going to encourage faith in the Lord, or discourage it? Sadly, most of Solomon's marriages were political alliances, not healthy spiritual unions. We mustn't be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Marriage is the most intimate of human relationships. We should choose our spouse wisely, not just for the most humanly expedient person. The Lord our God is a jealous God. He wants hearts that are wholy true to Him. This doesn't mean to say we can't love a spouse, but He must be number one. 'Lord our ...

  Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 1 Kings 10:9 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/1ki.10.9.ESV The queen of Sheba recognised the blessedness of Solomon, who reigned during the golden age of ancient Israel. It was almost as though the streets were paved with gold, it was such a prosperous time. Above all though, Solomon administered justice and promoted righteousness. This son of David is a picture of the Son of David. Solomon's father David was promised a Descendant whose reign would never end. Solomon's unfaithfulness to God led to civil war and the break up of Israel. He was not David's promised Son. David's promised Son was a humble carpenter turned Teacher called Jesus. His Kingdom isn't some worldly entity. Instead it is a spiritual reality. Jesus's Kingdom will never end. His new creatio...

Living in the Borderland Near the shifting, listless sands Around the lazy River North, where southerners shiver. We are all moving on up, Unless we're down on our 'luck' Heading down where we deserve Or up to where we will serve- - we will serve the King of kings Who His people to Him brings Who serves us eternal life And saves us from all our strife. In the meantime now I live Blessedness others to give Call into the Borderland Out of a lifestyle of bland Life isn't just about stuff This claim isn't just a bluff Everything you need is love Love of God and neighbour love If you can read or hear this You're my neighbour, so I sus We're all in the Borderlands Sinking; time's relentless sands We must build upon the Rock That can withstand any shock The Rock is Christ and His word Which is my reading preferred The Bible, though much maligned Will stand the tests of all time It will outlast all the years When we leave this ...