Colossians 1:17

"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

Being in science I've learned a lot about how impossibly complex life and all the components of life really are. Every professor has their own way of explaining it: "Wow, nature is just an amazing designer", "It's hard to believe this all happened by chance...but there it is", "Really it looks complex, and it is, but it all figured itself out"
Before going on to what scripture says about this complexity I must be reminded of my and everyone else's complete incapability of understanding this ourselves (more on this later)
Jesus Christ, created and sustains everything. EVERYTHING. why everything, well because everything needs sustaining. All it takes is one biology class for the believer in Christ to look at it and see WOW this creation really needs God in control and it really does have God in control. I could give countless examples of things that I have learned in the past year but just look out side and know everything you see, eat, touch...all of it is being upheld by God. Here I'll give one example:
Did you know that the air you breath isn't just oxygen. It is only 21% oxygen. Here's the cool part, if it were more than the average lifespan would continually decrease because increased oxygen concentration is a bad thing. If it were less breathing would be more difficult and eventually there would not be enough to sustain you. God created you and everything else in such a way that it all works in complete perfect equilibrium (had to throw the scientific word in there) and He did it all just by speaking. God didn't sit down for a couple thousand years to plan out just how everything was going to work together. He spoke and it was made.
That's the Jesus Christ I worship
the one who knows every answer to my tests because He made everything
the one who knows exactly what I am thinking because He made my mind and knows it better than I do
the one who died for me and rose again because He knows my need for a savior from my sins
My incapability of understanding this is so necessary at this point. I think so often that I've come to this amazing conclusion on my own, that Jesus is awesome, and I think "why don't others see it". but i must remember that it is only because of the call from God and the opening of my eyes (nothing of my own power) that i was able to see
Jesus Christ is before all things
In Him ALL things hold together
All things
Thats awesome

Colossians

so its been awhile since i wrote on here
i'm starting to go through colossians now
but i'm going to do it a bit differently than ephesians and philippians
i'm not sure what that means yet but i will hopefully be posting more about all that I am learning and share what God has been teaching me through the book
so far the background to colossians has been quite surprising to me
i'm sure i have heard it before but seeing it again was really interesting and gave me new insights into what I am reading
Paul wrote this letter to the colossians without ever having been there before
Epaphras who is mentioned in ch.1 vs 7 responded to Paul's message, most likely in Ephesus, and returned to Colossae to preach to them and establish the church there
The colossians would have been a much smaller group than Philipi or Ephesus but they still struggled with some of the same things
The main point of Paul's letter was dealing with the false teachers who were claiming to have come in the name of Christ but were preaching fasle doctrine and confusing the colossians
In vs. 5 of the first chapter Paul says "...of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel"
Paul is calling them to remember exactly who Jesus is and for them to remember what they had originally been taught about the gospel.
Basically it's like this "Guys you've heard it before, you know the truth, Epaphras taught you everything about Jesus and His supremacy, so stop listening to these false teachers and remember what you have been taught.
That is the basis for the rest of the Letter. Paul proclaims Christ, who He is, what He has done and is doing, and finally how the Colossians should act in response to this
I found that as I read the verse with the background in mind I could understand better the intention of the letter and apply it much better to my life. If I do not have a firm established belief in Christ set up than it will be easy to fall into what some of the false teachers are saying. I am so thankful that I have been taught in Christ from a young age and that I have many people in my life who continually teach me and remind me of what an awesome hope I have in Jesus

Verse of the Day Philippians 4: 17

"And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus"

So verse 6 - do not be anxious, and verse 8 - whatever is true... are both known well by everyone
and while verse seven isn't really unknown it's mainly over shawdowed by these to verses
I find that interesting because of how awesome verse 7 really is.
In verse 5 Paul rights "Let your reasonableness be know to everyone"... bascially let everyone know by your actions that you are wise and understanding... but in verse 7 God is giving peace so great that even this understanding won't account for it. Even with all the knowledge of the future and the perfect plans for what is to come there won't be a peace like that which God will provide.
But this amazing peace is not just going to happen, verse 6 tells us to not be anxious, but be thankful and present our requests to God and (or THEN) the peace of God will guard our hears!
So two things -
1) you can't find a better peace than there is found in Christ
2) be thankful - rejoicing in all circumstances in order that peace may come
It is really easy to say, and so hard to do as there are always so many problems to fix and things to think about, but while the solution isn't easy, it is simple...just be thankful. Be thankful for all that God has done and is doing... in that you will see how He will act as He always has and that will bring the peace that surpasses understanding
So what are you thankful for?

Verse of the Day Philippians 3: 12

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own"

Paul is talking about obtaining the resurrection from the dead
Clearly he is not dead when writing this so it would be impossible for him to have obtained resurrection. He is most likely referring to the continually progress in a Christ followers life. As he emphasizes in Philippians, there is a need to constantly be becoming more like Christ and not sit around with insurance for being saved.
So Paul, in line with all that he has written so far to the Philippians presents himself as an example as he truly desires and will press on to make this sanctification his own. And he does it for the very reason it is available to him. Those who are in Christ have been made to belong to Christ and because of that such a desire to make a life of Christ our own should be at the top of the priority list. There really is no other priorities than making Christ your own.
This is because as you follow Christ and continually press on to make Him your own, you WILL be doing the things that Christ has called you to; namely, looking after others in love as you look after the needs of yourself (2:4)
I like that idea, the idea of pressing on. I need to do it a lot in school, but of a much more necessity is to press on in my life with Christ

Verse of the Day Philippians 2: 22

"But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel"

I've always pictured Paul as the guy that everyone wants to see
All the churches know about him, and have heard his words and are always encouraged by what he has to say
It's clear from scripture that Paul longs to visit these churches and the churches long for him to come to them
But imagine now Timothy
Although Timothy didn't write any letters or have quite the reputation of Paul, he was clearly loved by the church and Paul is sending him to the Philippians for their encouragement
I think of Timothy as the guy who encourages everyone all the time, not because of his relation to anyone else so that he can maintain the view they have of him, but because he is genuinely concerned for the people.
Timothy was not going to the Philippians to provide a substitute for Paul, he was going to encourage them himself.
His attitude was that of Christ Jesus - putting the interests of others before his own
I get so excited when I hear about so and so coming to guest speak at church, but even more so I am encouraged when a close friend or someone who I've known for a long time that is always uplifting and always brings good news is coming.
Both are equally good, but the majority of Christians aren't speakers or pastors, most of us are like Timothy, and although was have opportunities to speak to people, and teach, our main focus is to be an encouragement to those around us, to be loving and to have a genuine heart of concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ, so when people hear that you are going to be around in the near future, do they think of your encouragement in Christ, or something that has nothing to do with God at all?

Verse of the Day Philippians 2: 12-13

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for i his good pleasure."

This is where I always get confused
I mean Paul is speaking to believers in the faith, so when he says work out your salvation he is not talking about the regeneration, meaning he is not saying you could work to gain salvation
He is addressing those who have always obeyed, to keep obeying, not content with the glories of their past obedience but to continue to learn and act as Christ followers - this is why Paul follows the verse with - do all things without grumbling or questioning - he is continuing to show the Philippians how to act
The amazing thing is that it isn't us in that effect either "for it is God who works in you"
God is the one bringing salvation and He is the one who is working out this salvation in us
Our 'job' or call is to obey Christ with fear in trembling, not worrying about the final outcome for we know that God is working out for His good pleasure
Where I get confused is when Paul says that he ma be proud that he did not run in vain,
so how could Paul's efforts and work for Christ in teaching the Philippians and other church be vain if God is the one who works out our salvation to His good pleasure
God's efforts are never thwarted and His glory is never diminished, so does that mean none of our efforts for His kingdom are in vain, and if that is true what is Paul saying?
Well I'm not entirely sure yet so I'm going to ask and look it up
But my thought on it is that although we are called to live an abundant life in Christ and God works in us, we turn from that and sin Paul wants to make sure that from his efforts that those he is leading would be living in Christ's abundance and proclaiming Him as well

Verse of the Day Philippians 2: 7-8

"But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

As followers of Christ we seek to follow Him, and with that a desire comes to seek other believers who are examples of Christ and who you can learn from. This passage show Christ as the perfect example. We would never be asked to do anything that Christ never did, but we also have the hardest getting to the places He did.
Not only did Christ humble Himself, from being in the form (equality) of God, but from that He continually humbled Himself to the point of death. How humbling is that for us to know, and alternatively why aren't we more humbled by it everyday of our lives?
The bible speaks often of humbling ourselves, and often I can find a few things that allow me to follow through with this, but I don't very often continue, I find higher purposes and forget about others and focus on myself. If I am to truly following Christ I need to be continually humbling myself, not with one or two acts every time I read a passage on humility, but everyday seeking ways to exalt Christ and put others before myself
Jesus Christ who is exalted above every other name, became a servant, and died obediently on the cross
Jesus was and is the example of love in complete humility
Follow His example and humble yourself by seeking humbling roles and focusing on the needs of others