Tag: christ

Losing Connection

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Colossians 2:19

“They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”

At some point in life, we have all experienced losing an Internet connection. It can be pretty frustrating. Not to mention losing connection with the Lord in any way. We certainly don’t want that to happen.

I asked the Lord what He would have me share today, and I was given Colossians 2:19, which speaks of those “who have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”

In Colossians 2, Paul’s goal was that his audience might be encouraged in heart and united in love. He offered a warning about people who were misleading the church with teachings that sounded “spiritual” but were actually pulling believers away from Christ. He wanted believers to have the “full riches of complete understanding,” that they may know Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Clearly, Paul wanted them to remember who they were in Christ; what He’d done for them.

Paul was concerned that people might be deceived by fine-sounding arguments, even though they were people who were disciplined and firm in their faith in Christ. He wanted to make sure that they would continue to live their lives in Him, “rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith,” as they were taught. He reminded them that no one should take them “captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

How easy it could be today with so much information available to us on “spiritual” things, to embrace ideas that are totally opposed to, or maybe even similar to, but with a twist of opposition to the teachings of Christ.

Nevertheless, Paul went on to encourage their fullness in Christ, having been made alive with Him, by forgiving their sins, “canceling the charge of their legal indebtedness” which stood against and condemned them, nailing it to the cross. He highlighted their circumcision by Christ, when they had been dead in their sins, were buried and raised with Him in baptism through their faith in God, who raised Christ from the dead.

He warned not to allow people to judge them by what they ate, drank, a religious festival, a New Moon celebration, or a Sabbath day. He explained that those things were a “shadow” of the things that were to come; the reality being found in Christ. Paul also warned about allowing people who delighted in “false humility and worship of angels to disqualify them”, and how those people “went into great detail about what they had seen, being puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual minds.”

Clearly, Paul was concerned about those rules that were merely human teachings, which had an “appearance of wisdom”, but self-imposed worship and false modesty, with harsh treatment of the body, yet lacked any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Paul described certain teachers who delighted in visions, strict rules, or mystical practices. The problem wasn’t only that their teachings were off—it’s that they were no longer connected to Christ, who Paul called the head. Christ is the essential source of unity and nourishment. Without Him, the body falls apart.

Anyone who abandons Christ—no matter how impressive their spiritual claims—cuts themselves off from the only true source of life and growth. The church grows spiritually because God works through Christ, not because of human-made systems or mystical experiences. Believers grow when they remain connected to Christ.

It’s true for us today that we keep our focus on Christ and stay rooted and grounded in Him, rightly dividing the Bible, so as not to be misled in our lives. The Greek word for “rightly divide” in 2 Timothy 2:15 is orthotomeō, which means to “cut straight,” “cut straight paths,” or “rightly divide”. It is a compound word formed from orthos (straight) and temnō (to cut), implying the accurate, precise handling or teaching of the word of truth.

I find comfort in knowing that God has provided the Bible with Jesus’ teachings as our guide for living. In addition, He has graciously given the outpouring of His Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth. In this glorious generosity, He has provided ways for us to avoid being misled and to stay connected to Him. We just need to pray, study, believe, and remember specifically what He said. He loves us and will certainly work with us to keep us on track.

The Christian Walk: Faith and Love

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Galatians 5:6

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

Have you ever thought about which is more important: faith or love? These are two vital aspects of one’s Christian walk. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Not to mention, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Additionally, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

There are many ways to study faith and love and much can be discussed about them. However, since this blog is meant to be simple and not many minutes, I’d just like to share a few thoughts.

Learning the principles of these two attributes are of paramount importance to a Christ follower. Perhaps faith is not currently taught as often in church as in the past because of the real or assumed mismanagement of the Bible’s teaching on faith. However, because of some teachers’ mishandling, whether intentional or not, we mustn’t avoid the many scriptures on faith and how they relate to our lives.

Jesus certainly made clear the importance of it in the lives of his followers, so we should as well. This involves following and teaching those elements of faith that seem impossible or difficult to believe. I call them SUPERnatural factors. If we don’t, we rob ourselves of the necessary elements for successful Christian living and bringing God the glory we should allow shown in our lives.

Furthermore, without faith, we can’t experience the salvation Jesus provided us with his death and resurrection. It is the main attribute in personally receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior; believing He died for our sins and rose again. It must remain a large portion of our teaching as in varying instances with Jesus actions and teachings, faith was required.

Likewise, “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10). As this wonderful action is continually exercised, it flows into everything we do and protectively affects any temptations to sin. Our measurement of love is seen in how we treat God, ourselves, and others.

A critical notion is, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26). So, if we show no love in our behavior, our faith has no life. When we have faith, we believe, trust and stand on the truth of the matter. If we have love, we show consideration, compassion and respect for others.

There will be many opportunities in life for us to practice faith and love. I want to learn all I can about both so as to put them more increasingly to work in my life, as well as teach them to others. The Bible shows there are also wonderful benefits to demonstrating each and there’s no harm in desiring them.