Good day dear friends.
We continue to lift up God's notion of neighbors and how we should see each other, regardless of background or start in life, as neighbors.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: Please read Colossians 3:11. In that short verse, what is Paul saying to the Christians in the church at Colossae? Why is Paul needed to address differences? Compare this to the story we find about Peter in Acts 10. Read that story and see what revelation God had for this staunch Jew. For one who once thought anything not-Jewish was “unclean” this vision has him have a change of heart and mind. Read it and apply it to your life.
Col. 3:11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
We can back up to verse 8, "But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!" We see that Paul makes this unheard of declaration in the context of "renewal" in "knowledge according to the image of its creator." This indicates Paul's belief, which should be ours, that we cannot stay stagnant in our beliefs, especially towards others, that divisions do exist that can divide; instead Paul sees now as one who has been renewed and now, he who was an ardent Jew in all things, that there is no difference between Greeks and Jews, between those who are circumcised or uncircumised, barbarian or Scythians, slaves and free, but in Christ, we are all one. What a burden falls on those of us who make up the Church. If we are indeed one in Christ, we should live our lives in that way, seeking to build each other up, seeking to build up the Body of Christ.
In Acts 10 (full text will appear at the bottom of this email), we find Peter's encounter with Christ when he was summoned to visit a nonJew. Peter has a vision from the Lord that invites him to see beyond his upbringing and to see all as created by God. As a Jew, Peter had had a strict upbringing about not even sitting with Gentiles. To eat with one was to bring filth upon one. And in this encounter, God brings a new revelation about relationships especially those who believe in Christ.
How can you apply this to your life?
PRAYER: God of all people, bring that renewal Paul speaks of to all who read this. I stand in need of this renewal so that indeed Christ may be in me and as I live and work with those who profess Christ, we may together build up Christ's body. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
