Thank God for this time of seeing people who are healing from the Coronavirus, even while others are becoming ill. We continue to learn and mature.
Christ must completely fill our lives! It is our choice whether to be controlled by our bodily desires or the Holy Spirit’s leading. Christ lives in all of us when we receive, believe, and know He chose each of us. Now, “whatever we say or do should be done in the name of Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of Him.” (Colossians 3:17 CEV) Christ now gives meaning to your life. (Colossians 3:4) We should each “Do our work willingly, as though…serving the Lord Himself.” (Colossians 3:23 CEV) Paul was in prison as he wrote this letter. By our experience of isolation, we need to give up certain desires and our worship should be directed to Christ!
Paul, and each of us, were chosen by God to be faithful followers. He even says in Colossians 1:2 ”I pray that God our Father will be kind to you and will bless you with peace.” He adds, in verse 9, “We have not stopped praying for you…In fact, I always pray that God will show you everything He wants you to do and that you may have all the wisdom and understanding that His Spirit gives. Then you will live a life that honors the Lord and you will always please Him by doing good…”
Come to know God even better. His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything and you will be happy.” Christ suffered for each of us and Paul did too. “God’s plan was to make me [and you] a servant of His church and to send each to preach His complete message…” (Colossians 1:25) God’s desire that each of us “announce the message about Christ…and use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so that all of Christ’s followers will grow and become mature.” (v 28) Together, we are being matured.
Like Paul, we have been going through life’s problems and difficulties. My mother and father struggled through Infantile Paralysis (Polio) with my baby brother. Frankie was sent to Oklahoma City and isolated for 3 months in the crippled children’s hospital. No visits. No known details or cures. But God honored my mama’s prayers and strong belief that Frankie would not die, or be paralyzed from the neck down, or in an iron lung for life.
Christ brings new life. He did it then, and still does today. “Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator and you will understand Him better…all that matters… He lives in all of us.” (Colossians 3:10, CEV)
Yes, love is the key. “…with thankful hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of Him.” (Colossians 3:16-17 CEV)