Reconciliation

Col. 1:18-23

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation [1] under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Footnotes
[1] 1:23 Or to every creature

• How do you feel realizing that the one who is over everything died for you?
  
• What does the word reconcile mean to you? What must be present for reconciliation to be needed?
  
• When did you realize you were an enemy of God?
  
• Why would Jesus die for His enemies?
  
• What conditions are stated here for remaining reconciled to God?
  
• How important is hope in this passage?

You are different

1 Pe 4:1-6

4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, [1] arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

Footnotes
[1] 4:1 Some manuscripts add for us; some for you

• What is the "same way of thinking" that you are to arm yourself with?
  
• What does "arm yourself" imply?
  
• How does suffering in the flesh relate to sin?
  
• How does God want you to live your life in the flesh?
  
• How much of "what the Gentiles want to do" have you done previously?
  
• Why does the changed life of a Christian surprise non-Christians?
  
• What friends did you lose when you became a Christian?
  
• How different is your life from that of the world?
  
• In what ways do/did you suffer for not "pursuing a course" of sin?
  
• What assurance and encouragement is there in knowing that God is the judge of all?
  
• What is the purpose of the gospel and why is it preached?
  
• How does verse 6 indicate the gospel is about more than conversion?
  
• When you look at your life in the flesh...
  - how different is it from the world around you?
  - how different is it from living in the spirit according to God's will?

Corner stones and stumbling stones

1 Pe 2:6-8

6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,” [1]

8 and

“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Footnotes
[1] 2:7 Greek the head of the corner

• What is the foundation that your life is built upon?
  
• If pieces of your life were removed,
  - which one(s) would cause you to crumble
  - which one(s) would cause you to shake and tremble
  - which one(s) would cause you to breath a sigh of relief
  
• How does your belief in Christ support the various aspects of your life?
  
• Which parts of your life are not based on your belief in Christ?
  
• How is your trust in Christ evident in your life?
  
• How precious is Christ to you?
  
• How is belief and disobedience related?
  
• How is disobedience to God's word like stumbling over Christ?
  
• When has Christ been offensive to you?
  
• Why is it difficult/impossible to truly believe God's word and consistently disobey it?

Christ was prophesied

1 Pe 1:9-12

… 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

• Did you realize that the grace you have received was prophesied centuries before?
  - What is this grace that was prophesied?
  - Which prophets prophesied about it?
  
• Why would _prophets_ search and inquire? Didn't people inquire of prophets?
  - What were the prophets trying to find out?
  - Who was directing the prophets?
  - What did the prophets predict?
  
• Who was being served by the prophets?
  - How were you served by the prophets?
  - Through what means was the gospel preached?
  - Who was unable to look into the gospel?
  
• What is your response to this salvation that you have received?

Patient Endurance

James 5:7-11

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

• How does the coming of the Lord influence you daily life?
  
• Why is it often easier to be patient about the big things than it is about the small thing?
  
• What does grumbling about one another have to do with patience and endurance?
  
• Which would you rather do: patiently endure suffering or receive comfort?
  
• How frequently are you impatient with God?
  
• What is usually the circumstance when you are impatient with God?
  
• If Christ is full of compassion, why are you having to endure the hurts in your life?
  
• When will the hurts of your daily life be over?

Harold's Musings:
My life is full of deadlines, projects, long-range goals, and tactical plans. While I am very aware of the power of a clear long-term vision, results are accomplished in the "now". I find I don't get impatient about the long-term stuff, but I am most certainly impatient about the "now" stuff. I change my impatience by focusing on the long-term plan.
I think my spiritual view is the same. I'm patient about the Lord's coming, but impatient that things are not going my way now. Somewhere I think we have grown to believe that the Declaration of Independence statement "pursuit of happiness" is a Biblical teaching. Even though I know I shouldn't, I want my happiness, and I want it now. I don't want to endure hurts and struggles. But I find that I need to focus on the long-term fact of Christ's coming in order to endure the "now". Jesus is coming, folks. Hang on to that hope.

Jesus was angry

Mark 3:1-6

1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

• What made Jesus angry?
• What action did Jesus take when he was angry?
• What would you have done in this situation?
• What situations routinely make you angry?
• What is the underlying reason for your anger?
• What would Jesus do in the same situations?

Harold's Musings:
I find it very interesting that this is only time in God's Word that it states Jesus was angry. Not the temple cleansing. Not the betrayal by Judas. Not even when he called Peter Satan in Matt. 16:21-23. His anger was not because his enemies were out to get him, but because they had no compassion for the man with the problem. Here they are Pharisees, self-avowed most righteous, and they are more concerned about "being right" than "doing right". Contrast Jesus' anger-motivated action with the Pharisees'. Jesus did a good thing. The Pharisees compromised their principles and values by joining with their exact opposites just to destroy Jesus. I suspect most of us are much more like the Pharisees than like Jesus when we get angry. If you are going to use Jesus' anger as an excuse for being angry, then follow his example and do God's righteousness.

God of All Comfort

2 Cor. 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

• Who or what do you first turn to for comfort?
• How frequently do you look for God's comfort in time of trouble?
• When do you typically look for God's comfort in time of trouble?
• How do you feel when you realize that the trouble you now have may be preparing you to help someone else?
• How does your suffering compare to what Christ went through?

Harold's Musings:
Once again we find sharing in Christ's sufferings. Here we get a bit more insight. As Christ was comforted in knowing that God's will was best and endured what was set before Him, we have the same challenge. When we are suffering because of the will of God, God will comfort us. His mechanism for delivering comfort may be another Christian who understands because they have been through it. Have you been rejected when you have tried to share Christ? He was rejected as Christ. Have you been mocked or insulted because you are a Christian? He was mocked and insulted because He was Christ. Is your suffering about life or about Christ?

Rejoice in Sharing Christ's Sufferings

1 Peter 4:12-13

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

• What is your initial response when things go bad?
• How can ordeals test you and what is being tested?
• Why did Peter imply that we are to expect ordeals?
• What are the sufferings of Christ that we can share?
  
• How does rejoicing relate to the degree that we share Christ's sufferings?
• How often are we more concerned about our suffering than sharing Christ's sufferings?
  
• How does the thought of Christ's coming stir you?

Harold's Musings:
When I think of Christ's sufferings, I see the trial and crucifixion that He endured without complaint. The intended audience of this letter were likely enduring something similar. They were losing their possessions and perhaps their family. The suffering they were feeling was very real. Too many of the things I think I suffer are merely consequences of life and growing old. I have seldom felt real suffering because of Christ. When I deny myself the pleasures of this world, I experience some of the suffering that Christ experienced. When I see religious leaders turning Christ into a political tool, I suffer at seeing my King being used for earthly junk. I think I need to pay more attention to the stuggles in my walk and rejoice.

Rejoice in the Lord

Philip. 4:4-5

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

• How is joy different from happiness?
• When are you happy?
• When are you joyful?
• How is rejoicing in the Lord seen or perceived?
• How do you know when you are rejoicing?
• How do others know when you are rejoicing?
• What does the nearness of the Lord contribute to your joy?

Harold's Musings:
Yet another area that I struggle with. I keep confusing joy with happiness. It is hard to be happy when the bumps of life knock you around. Depending on the day a little bump may be ignored or cause a major crash. Joy is eternal. Joy is knowing that Jesus is with me even when I hit a big bump. It seems to circle around to being fully aware of His presence and trusting that this bump is just a bump and someday there will be no bumps at all. Keep the eyes on the prize.

Clothed in Righteous Deeds

Rev. 19:6-8

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure — for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

• Who is the Bride in this passage?
• How has the Bride made herself ready?
• How was she granted/given the ability to clothe herself?
• What is the purpose for righteous deeds?
  
• How often do you recognize yourself as the church?
• How often do you appreciate the gift of doing righteous deeds?

Harold's Musings:
Funny how God works. This was part of the text for the sermon yesterday. As it was being read, verse 8 jumped out. We know we cannot save ourselves. We know that Jesus' blood is what washes us. We know we are not worthy on our own. So why bother with doing good? It indicates here that we have been granted (NIV/NASB given) the right to clothe ourselves in righteous deeds. Our righteous deeds are part of God's grace. If you will, God has given his Son's future bride a line of credit so that she can have an appropriate wedding gown. The image in the passage shows the gown to be white and dazzling. Are you content with the blue jeans and flannel shirt you have on now? Ouch! I need to go change clothes.

Righteousness dependent on faith

Philip. 3:8-11

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

• How does being in Christ relate to righteousness?
• In what ways do you seek a "righteousness of your own"?
• What does your personal checklist that confirms you are ok contain?
• Why is self-righteousness such a temptation and danger?
• Which would you prefer to have, a good-looking "I'm OK checklist" or to know Christ, His suffering, and death?
  

Harold's Musings:
I frequently talk about an "I'm OK checklist". I have found that many of us have an unseen list of the things we do and don't do that let us feel OK as a Christian. Perhaps it is "faithful" attendance. Perhaps it is "I don't drink, smoke, cuss, or run around on my spouse". Regardless of the contents and the goodness of the contents, the question is "Whose righteousness are you depending on?" I struggle with a righteousness that depends on faith. I don't have much control over that. A righteousness that is dependent on faith is not measurable. I cannot "know" that I'm OK. I have to believe that Christ will forgive my sins and make me righteous. That is harder for me than it should be.

The Way of Righteousness

2 Peter 2:20-22

20For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."

• What comes to mind from the phrase "the way of righteousness"?
• How is righteousness related to commandments and to knowledge of Christ?
• What has happened to the people this passage is about?
• Why would anyone want to return to their spiritual dirt?
• How is this a warning to you?

Harold's Musings:
What delightful images! I have dogs and my parents used to raise pigs; so the picture is very clear to me. When it would be my job to feed the pigs, I was very careful to walk on the path to the feeding trough. If I strayed from the way to the trough, I would be in ... well, I would not like where I would be. When I truly came to know what Jesus had done for me, I committed to following Him along the way of righteousness. I have slipped into the mud more times than I like to think of, but I have gotten back on the path through the help of God and my brothers and sisters in Christ. Satan continues to lie to me that the mud is cool on hot summer days and that I would be better there. I've seen a pig pen. I've fallen in a pig pen. I know that the way of righteousness is best.

Foolish Righteousness

1 Corinth. 1:27-31

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

• What reasons do you have to boast in the Lord?
• In what ways does the wisdom of God seem foolish to your human nature? Be truthful.
  
• How is Jesus your wisdom from God?
• What does Jesus' being your righteousness from God accomplish in your life?
• Why is there such a temptation to seek our own righteousness instead of the righteousness through Jesus?
• What is the difference between trying to live a life pleasing to God and seeking your own righteousness?

Harold's Musings:
Some days I just look at all the stuff that I think I need to do and want to sit down and quit. This is especially true when I look at what I could do for God. Add to that getting rid of the sins that continue to tempt and snag me and I can feel pretty miserable. I suspect that a good portion of my feelings come from my metric of righteousness. I'm not talking about an "I'm OK checklist". I talking about a feeling that no matter what I do, it is not good enough. Well, that is right. My feelings come from my being foolish because I am using my human wisdom, not God's wisdom. I need to learn to be satisfied at where I am in my walk, but not content with staying here.