Exchanging Gods

Rom 1:18-25

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

• How is the truth suppressed by unrighteousness?
  
• Which comes first: not believing the truth or unrighteous actions?
  
• What parts of creation show God to you most clearly?
  
• In what ways are verses 21-22 true in today's culture?
  
• What is God exchanged for today?
  
• How do people worship and serve the creature instead of the Creator?
  
• Why would God give people over to their lusts?
  
• Why is it sometimes easy to exchange God's truth for Satan's lie?
  
• What personal challenge does this passage confront you with?

Devoted to prayer

Col 4:2-4

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

• How devoted are you to prayer? How do you determine how devoted you are?
  
• Why is it necessary to keep alert in prayer?
  
• What are you to be on the look out for in prayer?
  
• How often do you pray for missionaries and evangelists? What do you pray for them?
  
• How often do you pray that a door will be opened for you to spread God's word?

Word and Song

Col 3:16

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

• If the dwelling of the word of Christ in you could be measured as money, what would your account look like? Would you be poor, comfortable, wealthy, or what?
  
• What is one reason to have the word of Christ in you?
  
• How often do you sing lessons to someone from Christ's word?
  
• Why do you sing at church gatherings?
  
• When was the last time you sang with thankfulness?

Harold's Musings:
I must admit this is a frustrating verse for me. First I don't particularly like to sing. I sing along with songs that I like in my car or when I'm listening to my iPod but it is in response to the music, not because I inherently like to sing. I do sing at church gatherings, even though I don't particularly like to. Why? Because I am supposed to sing teaching and encouragement. Because I am supposed to express my thankfulness to God. I don't have a problem teaching, encouraging, or being thankful. I just don't want to sing it, but I do because that is what God wants. Because I don't want to be singing, it annoys me to look around at a church gathering and see people refusing to sing. Now you see I have even worse attitudes than just not singing. My point is this: God wants us to do what he wants us to do even when we don't like it. God does not want me to be annoyed by how others do or do not act; that is His concern. Boy, do I have a lot to work on today!

God's will

Col 1:9-12

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks [1] to the Father, who has qualified you [2] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Footnotes
[1] 1:12 Or patience, with joy giving thanks
[2] 1:12 Some manuscripts us

• What do you most frequently ask for when you pray for others?
  
• What are some of the results of being filled with the knowledge of God's will?
  
• When do you usually want to know what God's will is for you?
  
• What are you usually wanting to know when you seek God's will for you? Is it spiritual or physical wisdom you seek?
  
• What will your life look like if you have spiritual understanding of God's will?
  
• Why would increasing in the knowledge of God be a result of being filled with the knowledge of God's will?
  
• What is the stated reason for being strenghtened with God's power?
  
• How does "endurance and patience with joy" fit into knowing God's will?

Ruled by Peace

Colossians 3:15

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

• What does peace mean to you?
• What is the peace of Christ?
• Compare the peace of Christ with your idea of peace?
• What does it mean for something to rule you?
• How does this rule impact the church?

Harold's Musings:
This verse popped out yesterday. I started thinking about what it would be like to be totally at peace. No stress at work. No stress at home or church. No stress from struggling against self. At first it seemed so appealing. Then I realized that it would be boring. As humans we seem to look for stress and struggles. People all over the world are sports fans and they thrive on the competition, which is not peaceful. The peace of Christ is something special. Recently I had an experience where I had to prepare a plan for work. It took me some time to form it in my mind but I was not at peace with it. I showed it to my fellow workers who thought it was good. I was still uneasy. I finally showed it to my president, who not only agreed with it but actively discussed it and added his thoughts to the overall plan. I left that meeting at peace. Are your daily plans in line with what Christ would want? Are your relationships with others ruled by the peace and mercy you receive from God through Christ? Do you know that you can have the full backing of Heaven itself if you and Christ agree on your plans to do His will? Peace Out!

Rejoice Always

1 Thes. 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

• How is it possible to rejoice always?
• How would this continual rejoicing be apparent?
• Why would you want to rejoice always, even when things are going bad and no relief is in sight?
• Why is bring thankful in all circumstances related to joy?
  
• How does it help or hinder your rejoicing knowing that it is God's will for you in Christ Jesus?
• What do you do to remind yourself to rejoice?

Harold's Musings:
Always and all are such inclusive words. They leave so little wiggle room. My human nature wants to find a loophole, some way that always and all circumstances does not apply. I've heard people state this is just hyperbole to make a point. Somehow I don't think God would have made this passage so clear if He had not meant it. We know from 1 Thes. 2:13-16 that the people receiving this letter had been suffering. God says to rejoice and be thankful even if you are suffering. That is just so hard to remember. Lord, please help us remember.