Scripture:
2 Thessalonians 3:1; Colossians 3:16
Wed, 19 October 2022

Inward Growth of God’s Word

Observation:

What characterises a Christian community according to Colossians 3:16?

Deeper Reflection
IN 2 THESSALONIANS 3, PAUL EMPHASISES THE CENTRALITY of the Word of God in eschatological discipleship (v.1, 2 Thess 3:4, 6, 10, 12, 16). The Word of God must have its outward growth – to “spread rapidly” throughout the world (v.1), and its inward growth in the life of the church. Church growth constitutes both: “Each is incomplete and unbalanced without the other. Both also demand time – world evangelisation on the one hand and church formation on the other.”31The inward growth of the Word is to happen in individual believers and as a community. It begins with “the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Col 3:16a). The “word of Christ” is “the Gospel about and centred on Christ”32 which is not just the New Testament, but also the Old Testament, which to Jesus is “everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” (Lk 24:44). The Word is to “dwell” in us – to “take up permanent residence” in our lives as the centre and “constant reference”33. The Word of Christ is to “dwell” in us “richly”. It means the Word in us is not “superficial or passing…but a deep and penetrating contemplation” by which the Word’s “transforming power” works within us.34 (cf. Jas 1:25).Out of the Word of Christ – “in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 1:3) – dwelling in us richly will be a worshipping community “teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Col 3:16b). Mark the words “one another”. Do we see this Word-richness in our small group meetings?
31 John R. W. Stott, 184 32 David W. Pao, Colossians & Philemon, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Zondervan, 2012), 247 33 Douglas J. Moo, The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries (Apollos, 2008),286 34 Douglas J. Moo, 286
Application:

How can I make the Word of Christ dwell in me richly?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Nations: That God will draw them to Jesus, the Bread of Life
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 7:13-18, 25-27; 11:29-36
Sat, 2 December 2023

The Triumph

Observation:

What characterises the triumph of God’s people in tribulations under tyrants?

Deeper Reflection
God’s people living under tyrants and suffering tribulations under them can triumph – whether we are delivered from or destroyed in tribulation. The triumph rests on a threefold confidence.We know the conclusion of evil. It is repeated in manifold ways in Daniel that evil that comes through inhuman kings – no matter how great and how long – will definitely come to an end: “he will be broken” (Dan 8:25), “he will be found no more” (Dan 11:19), “yet he will come to his end” (Dan 11:45) and “all these events will be completed” (Dan 12:7).We know God’s calling for us: To be a suffering people – to be captured, plundered, burned or killed (Dan 11:33). But in our suffering, we can be strong as “people who know their God” (Dan 11:32), knowing that God is purging and purifying us to become a sanctified (Dan 11:35; 12:10) and shining people who “shine brightly” with heavenly brightness in the hostile world (Dan 12:3). And we will be a steadfast people who “keep waiting and attain to the 1,335 days” (Dan 12:12) – until we become a sovereign people who “receive and possess the kingdom forever” from “the Ancient of Days” (vv.13-14, 18, 27).We know who is in control. The tribulations under the tyrants in Daniel 7 to 12 are all subject to and subsumed under “that which is decreed will be done” (Dan 11:36; 9:26, 27) “at the appointed time” (Dan 11:27, 29, 35).We conclude Daniel with this theological-discipleship summary statement: We can triumph in tribulations under tyrants when we trust with tenacity in the One who is on the throne.
Application:

How can I triumph in tribulations?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To grow in the faith and perseverance of overcomers in Christ
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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