"SIMPLY JESUS" DAILY DEVOTIONAL
GUARD THE TREASURE
Tuesday, 14 October 2014
COLOSSIANS 2:8,9 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in HIM dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
In Christ we have found treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2,3) I love the way Fanny Crosby expressed it:
Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ
Wealth that can never be told!
Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace,
Precious, more precious than gold!
Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Who shall their greatness declare?
Jewels whose luster our lives may adorn,
Pearls that the poorest may wear.
The Apostle Paul warned the Colossians to guard this precious treasure. He cautions them against smooth talkers who would rob them. (Colossians 2:4). He exhorts them to beware of those philosophies and vain deceits that devalue and destroy their faith in Christ. (Colossians 2:8).
If vain philosophy was a threat to the Gospel in the 1st century, it is surely a threat to the Gospel in the 21st century. Ideas matter. Ideas have consequences. And when it comes to the things of God, ideas have eternal consequences.
We hold to Christ and reject the notion that all ideas and philosophies are equally valid. We are not afraid of error and neither are we afraid to expose it for what it is. Christ affirmed a culture of life. Godless men embrace a culture of death. History is replete with examples of nations that rejected Christ and died, not by murder but by suicide. (Arnold Toynbee). They execute their children, sanction unions that cannot naturally reproduce, and reject objective virtues for subjective values that destroy civility.
We cling to Christ who is "the way, the truth, and the life," (John 14:6) and shamelessly confess that every other road--philosophical or religious--will lead men to perdition. Yes Christianity is superior to Hinduism, Voodoo, Islam, or Buddhism. Our confidence is not grounded in self-promoting pride. Rather it is our humble acknowledgement that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father that compels us to affirm Him and His truth.
We believe what Christ said about sin and salvation. The popular prophets of our day preach a feel-good-without-being-good message. They ply pop psychology not theology. They promise their followers health and wealth and prosperity. We will not let these pretenders steal the treasure we have found in denying all for Jesus.
I am drinking at the fountain, where I ever would abide;
For I've tasted life's pure river, and my soul is satisfied;
There's no thirsting for life's pleasures, nor adorning rich and gay,
For I've found a richer treasure, one that fadeth not away.
Tell me not of heavy crosses, nor of burdens hard to bear,
For I've found this great salvation, makes each burden light appear,
And I love to follow Jesus, gladly counting all but dross,
Worldly honors all forsaking, for the glory of the cross.
We are sure that Christ has gone to prepare a place for those who love Him. He promised, "In my father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may also." John 14:1-4. And we are just as sure that there is place of eternal torment awaiting those who will not love or serve the King.
Ah we who have found in Christ--wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption--have found that treasure that truly satisfies. (1 Corinthians 1:30).
In 1671 Thomas Blood, better known as "Captain Blood" disguised himself as a priest and along with three accomplices entered the Tower of London where the British Crown jewels were secured. After convincing three unsuspecting guards to surrender their guns, Blood made his way to the jewels. Unfortunately for Blood, the Keeper's Son showed up unexpectedly and an alarm went out to the Tower Guard. The jewels were saved and the thieves were apprehended and tried.
With the Keeper's Son we sound the alarm--our treasure in Christ is at risk. Stand guard!
And who is this treasure? SIMPLY JESUS
GUARD THE TREASURE
Tuesday, 14 October 2014
COLOSSIANS 2:8,9 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in HIM dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
In Christ we have found treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2,3) I love the way Fanny Crosby expressed it:
Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ
Wealth that can never be told!
Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace,
Precious, more precious than gold!
Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Who shall their greatness declare?
Jewels whose luster our lives may adorn,
Pearls that the poorest may wear.
The Apostle Paul warned the Colossians to guard this precious treasure. He cautions them against smooth talkers who would rob them. (Colossians 2:4). He exhorts them to beware of those philosophies and vain deceits that devalue and destroy their faith in Christ. (Colossians 2:8).
If vain philosophy was a threat to the Gospel in the 1st century, it is surely a threat to the Gospel in the 21st century. Ideas matter. Ideas have consequences. And when it comes to the things of God, ideas have eternal consequences.
We hold to Christ and reject the notion that all ideas and philosophies are equally valid. We are not afraid of error and neither are we afraid to expose it for what it is. Christ affirmed a culture of life. Godless men embrace a culture of death. History is replete with examples of nations that rejected Christ and died, not by murder but by suicide. (Arnold Toynbee). They execute their children, sanction unions that cannot naturally reproduce, and reject objective virtues for subjective values that destroy civility.
We cling to Christ who is "the way, the truth, and the life," (John 14:6) and shamelessly confess that every other road--philosophical or religious--will lead men to perdition. Yes Christianity is superior to Hinduism, Voodoo, Islam, or Buddhism. Our confidence is not grounded in self-promoting pride. Rather it is our humble acknowledgement that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father that compels us to affirm Him and His truth.
We believe what Christ said about sin and salvation. The popular prophets of our day preach a feel-good-without-being-good message. They ply pop psychology not theology. They promise their followers health and wealth and prosperity. We will not let these pretenders steal the treasure we have found in denying all for Jesus.
I am drinking at the fountain, where I ever would abide;
For I've tasted life's pure river, and my soul is satisfied;
There's no thirsting for life's pleasures, nor adorning rich and gay,
For I've found a richer treasure, one that fadeth not away.
Tell me not of heavy crosses, nor of burdens hard to bear,
For I've found this great salvation, makes each burden light appear,
And I love to follow Jesus, gladly counting all but dross,
Worldly honors all forsaking, for the glory of the cross.
We are sure that Christ has gone to prepare a place for those who love Him. He promised, "In my father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may also." John 14:1-4. And we are just as sure that there is place of eternal torment awaiting those who will not love or serve the King.
Ah we who have found in Christ--wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption--have found that treasure that truly satisfies. (1 Corinthians 1:30).
In 1671 Thomas Blood, better known as "Captain Blood" disguised himself as a priest and along with three accomplices entered the Tower of London where the British Crown jewels were secured. After convincing three unsuspecting guards to surrender their guns, Blood made his way to the jewels. Unfortunately for Blood, the Keeper's Son showed up unexpectedly and an alarm went out to the Tower Guard. The jewels were saved and the thieves were apprehended and tried.
With the Keeper's Son we sound the alarm--our treasure in Christ is at risk. Stand guard!
And who is this treasure? SIMPLY JESUS
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