Jeff Stevens

When we focus on heaven, when we look to our Creator, it becomes easier to realize the attributes that we should put on as believers. We are called to lives that look like the attributes that Christ exhibited during His ministry. These are attributes of the new creation that we are in Him. Everything we say and everything we do should come directly from an intimate, thankful, loving heart and in the name of our Lord Jesus. 

God doesn't give us more than we can handle...Or does he?

Does the Bible support such a statement? Let's look at it and see how we deal with life when it's too much to handle, creating stress and anxiety.

When we fix our eyes on Heaven, we put to death the things of this earth. Paul's call for believers to walk, act, talk and live differently than the world is not just a call to follow rules. It is a call to freedom from our former lives. Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. He is your life, and His desire is to see you with Him in glory when He returns. When your heart is for the Lord, your eyes will be on heaven!

Finishing the second chapter of Colossians has us hearing Paul remind believers that we are not disqualified, by the false practices and philosophies of the world. Paul has expressed his struggle to keep believers on track. We need to be reminded who Jesus Christ is and what we are set aside for. We live not for ourselves any longer, we live and are alive in Christ Jesus.

This is good news! What an amazing study that shows us Christ's victory over sin and death. We have been buried in baptism and raised in faith! He is our victory! And in Him we find our joy and our hope!

When life gets really messy and just does not seem to be going our way, are we still thankful? It is very easy to be thankful during the easy times. We need to be reminded that God has us right where he wants us. He is developing us , deepening our roots, building us up and establishing our faith, for His glory! Let this message from Paul, in Colossians, be a reminder to be thankful for the work that Christ Jesus has done in your life. 

As believers, as members of a family, as members of this church body, we should strive for maintaining a firm foundation of truth. We should rejoice in the good order and firmness of faith that we have in Christ. And our hearts should be encouraged, knit together in love, understanding God’s mystery in Jesus Christ. He is our hope. He is our Joy.

Paul's ministry for the Christian Church comes with persecution and afflictions that he bears because of Christ. Through his trials, he will toil in Christ's strength. He shows that church ministry has three very specific purposes that we can follow. Those are: Proclaiming Christ; Warning the church; and Teaching with wisdom. Join us as we finish Colossians 1 and discuss church ministry.

It is imperative that we know who God is. It is imperative that we call upon the right Jesus. Because of whom he is, he elicits a response of faithfulness and obedience. God did not just send a prophet or worker. You are not an afterthought. The Creator of heaven and earth loved you so much that He came for you Himself! Join us as we discuss who Jesus Christ is, as Paul reveals His nature in Colossians 1. 

Paul's prayer for the Colossians develops the concepts of faith in the truth of the Gospel, love for one another as believers and the hope that is laid up for us in heaven. We bear good fruit and increase in the knowledge of God realizing that we are qualified, delivered, redeemed and forgiven. This is who we are in Christ Jesus. This is why we are always thankful to God the Father. And it is more evidence for our hope in Him!