Colossians 1:24-2:5 shares a secret for having a joy that is solid rather than fragile; link your joy to advancing the cause of Christ. Those whose joy comes from advancing Christ's purposes can have a solid joy that cannot be stolen even by intense suffering

Colossians 2:6-23 teaches that there is an unprecedented fullness that believers have in Christ. Religions of the world seek to add to that fullness, and by doing so, they strip all value away. Paul encourages the believers in the church at Colossae to evaluate this poor teaching, remove its restrictions, and celebrate the fullness they have in Christ.

What happens when you orient your life around secondary issues? You end up hopelessly lost. Paul's letter to the Colossians teaches that since Christ is at the center of everything, to avoid being lost, you must orient your entire life around Him rather than secondary matters.

In Colossians 1 Paul gives us the secret to a thankful heart for all that God is doing for the church. The secret is to pray deeply for the church so that you recognize how God is at the center of it all. If you neglect to pray that way, Satan will rob you of the joy of praising God for His work in the church

In Mark 11-12 several groups try to trap Jesus as they as loaded questions. The Sadducees are among them, but their absurd question had one problem; it revealed their ignorance of the Word. Jesus' answer addresses that problem and challenges us on our quest to know the Book so we can know our God.

Jesus sends a special message to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11. Because of His nature, He enables you to overcome even death itself, and the treasure He promises richly rewards the faithfulness He requires.

John 13 tells the perplexing story of Jesus washing His disciples' feet. We are left a bit unsure of what the meaning of this act of service is, and we can easily miss the point. However, the text calls us to humble service even during moments of anguish. Christ models humble service, and you can serve like Him too.

In John 10, Jesus not-so-subtly veils a jab at the Pharisees for how they are false shepherds. Using two metaphors, Jesus contrasts Himself from these false shepherds who steal life from the sheep whereas the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

Judges 6 introduces the same cycle of rebellion and oppression as the rest of the book, and we expect God to immediately save His people when they cry out to Him. However, GOd first sends a prophet to condemn them rather than a judge to deliver them. Gideon heard the prophet's preaching, and his responses to the Angel of the Lord echo the words of the prophet. Even as Gideon makes excuses, we see God's grace and sovereignty at the heart of this story.

Many things in life are entirely unavoidable, but human nature is to attempt to avoid them anyway. In Matthew 2, two groups attempt to avoid the unavoidable King, but an unlikely group chooses a different option—to adore Him.