“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossains 2:13-14).

What Christ has done, in many ways, is beyond our ability to grasp.  He has taken our iniquities upon Himself and through Him we have the forgiveness of sin.  This is not permission to continue in lawlessness, but to recognize that the impossible trap of sin has been lifted so that we may begin the journey of becoming like the One who came to set us free.  Our sins are on the cross and you have been freed.

Lord, teach me that I may not think that I am free to do as I please, but freed from the recompense of sin.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life which You give in order that I may see that only in and through You is there hope.  Lead me to know that You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, now and always in the way of everlasting life.

Lord Jesus, in You is all hope and the true future of eternity.  You have come so that we may, by Your example, learn how to be children of God.  Guide me, O Lord, that I would  always see the example You have given me and live that example.  Help me to do this in, by, and through faith.  Lead me, Lord, and show me how to follow You.  Teach me how to love as You love so that others may know You through me.  Amen.

“And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:11).

Cutting away the decay, the cancer and replacing it with the heart of Christ is a description of the Christian life.  God takes away the corruption and makes of us His children.  There are many ways this is said, but only one way this is done and that is through Christ our Savior.  Come then into the salvation Christ has made possible through the cross and know that in Him is all goodness and mercy.

Lord, help me to understand these word pictures so that I may begin to see the reality of what You have done for me from the cross.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life in order that I would be led by You and know that in You alone is all hope.  Whatever needs to be cut away, cut it away.  Whatever needs to be replaced, replace it.  Take me from where I am and bring me to where You know I need to be.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me now and always to go through whatever You know I need to go through in order that I may become like You.  Lead me into the eternal life You illuminate through the light which is Your life so that I may walk in the path You set before me.  Guide me this day, Lord Jesus!  Amen.

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:9-10)

All power and authority belong to Jesus.  All means all.  We struggle in this world with the idea of ownership, but the Lord owns what He has made.  But He has set us free.  In that freedom, He seeks to make you complete that You would become a child of God as He, the only begotten, is a Son to the Father.  This is the “in His likeness” of creation.  Be complete by completely submitting to the Lord.

Lord, You know the ways in which I rebel and do not submit to Your authority.  You are the One in whom all things have their being.  In You alone is all hope.  Lead me, O Lord, in order that I may now and always humbly abide in You and You in me.  Guide me along right paths for Your name’s sake.  Keep me always in Your ways so that I may be guided by You along the path of righteousness.

Lead me, Lord Jesus, today and every day.  You know all that I need to do.  You know all that stands in the way.  You know those places in my heart where I need You to remove things and put things in their proper place.  Lead me, Lord, and teach me to follow.  Guide me always according to Your goodness to see, hear, and do what You direct.  Thank You for the call You have given me to follow You.  Amen.

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

See to it means that you are to see to it.  No, not everyone has your best interest at heart.  There are those who, for their own reason, will lead you astray.  See to it that you keep your eyes upon Jesus.  He alone is the author and finisher of your faith.  You have heard the Word and you know the truth – Jesus – now do not let anyone take this away from you as has happened to so many in our time.

Lord, there are no special and new gifts which are mine.  I cannot figure out the universe through cryptic understanding.  I am not special, nor different from all others.  I do not have a special anointing of any kind and it does not matter how I feel about anything.  You are God and You have saved me through the cross.  Unite me now and forever with You so that I would not be led astray.

Lord, teach me truth.  Build in me a means of detecting all of the garbage that is spewed in our age.  Do not let me ever be led astray.  Keep me close to You and in the Word You have given me so that I would humbly walk with You always.  Lord, You know what lies before me.  Keep my eyes upon You in order that I would not be led astray by the fancy words of this age during my time in this age.  Amen.

“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude” (Colossians 2:6-7).

You are now in relationship.  Relationship in love is never forced, but willingly entered into.  You have received Christ.  What does this mean?  It means that You know He is your Savior and loves you enough to die for you.  He gave up His all for you.  Will you give up your life for Him?  This is the basis of the Christian faith: that in love we would hold onto nothing but Christ.

Lord, guide me to understand the Gospel message You have delivered to the saints.  Help me live into the promise and the discipline of the faith.  Lead me now and always not to live just for myself but in love for others according to Your Word.  You have given me the words of everlasting life; help me to live them.  No matter what it takes, help me learn to live in the discipline You give through faith.

Lord Jesus, You know how difficult it is to navigate in this world.  Lead me, O Lord, in order that I would walk according to Your Word.  You know all that is needed and what lies before me.  Help me always look to You so that I would not be led astray.  Through all that comes, thank You, Lord,  for the gifts of faith and life which You have made possible through Your grace.  In You I have life now and forever.  Amen.

“I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.  For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ” (Colossians 2:4-5).

Are there those who will lead you astray?  Most certainly.  That is why we all must be on our guard and study to know what is right and fitting.  There is a lot of garbage in the world.  The simple truth is that we need to be saved by and through Christ.  Be sure no one leads you away from this truth.  Our life is in and through Christ alone.  Works will never accomplish salvation.

Lord, help me to see that only when I know that I am in You does anything I do amount to anything.  Even then, it is only a response that teaches me how to love as You love.  Guide me, O Lord, and help me walk in Your salvation, learning from You how to love.  Let me be disciplined as one who is a disciple.  Show me, Lord, the way You know I need to go and help me to always follow that path.

Lord Jesus, You are, and must be, the author and finisher of my faith.  Living in a world with myriad ideas, guide me in the Gospel way so that I would hold fast to the faith delivered once for all.  Help me to know that only in You is there hope and a future.  You will keep me in all my ways.  Lead on, dear Savior, so that I would follow where You lead and know those things You teach me.  Amen.

“That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3)

The wealth of this world is temporary; yet this world’s wealth is what the nations fight over.  The wealth of the Lord comes in the love one shares with others.  Come then into the true wealth.  Live into the life which is eternal.  In Him are the hidden treasures of wisdom and understanding.  Live then as you have been created to live and not as one who is seeking after that which will fail.

Lord, I am caught up in what this world promotes.  I am led by what this world thinks important.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may be led by You and not by the things of this world.  Help me now and always to see that in You alone is all hope and the only future anyone should want to have.  Guide me out of ignorance and into understanding.  Guide me into Your way, O Lord.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me now and always to see that in You alone is all hope.  Lead me into the life filled with the wisdom and understanding that You alone can give.  Lead me, Lord, so that I would humbly follow wherever You lead.  Thank You, dear Savior,  for saving me in order that I may have this gift.  Amen.

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face” (Colossians 2:1)

What sacrifices have been made that you would have the opportunity to live a life of faith?  The wicked one would have us ignore these things and take it all for granted.  Resist the wicked one and he will flee.  You have been given many great gifts, but they have come at a cost.  Rejoice and be glad, for the Lord has invested much in you.  Come unto Him and live into the promise He has given you.

Lord, teach me gratitude.  Teach me how to rejoice in all that has been done for our benefit.  Teach me to reach out to others and to be willing to sacrifice for them as You and others have sacrificed for me.  Teach me how to live as a citizen of heaven.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go and then keep me on the narrow path upon which You have placed me.  In You alone can I find hope.

Come Holy Spirit and search deep within me to guide me out of myself so that I may abide in Christ and He in me.  Let me not consider the cost of this venture of faith, but live according to Your never-changing Word.  Hold me up that I may humbly walk in the Father’s presence doing what is pleasing in His sight.  Let me now and always rejoice in the gift of salvation purchased at the greatest price through Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

“We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.  For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me” (Colossians 1:28-29).

What is the goal of your faith?  Is this not it?  To be presented to Christ complete?  Remember that the word for complete is the same word we sometimes translate as perfect.  The object of our faith is to be like Christ.  It is in His image that we were created.  What does this mean?  That we are to live in the power He gives to become children of God.  See that Christ is working in you.

Lord, when I hear this it sounds so simple.  Yet each day I struggle to be my own person.  Help me by killing the old Adam.  Or should I say, “Slay the old Adam.”  Even in this I am confused, but You are not the author of confusion.  Lord, I must follow You for You alone know the path I must travel to accomplish these things.  Lead me Lord and teach me how to follow You in all  Your ways.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way.  You have come not only to lead the way but are the demonstration of the godly life and the goal of that life.  Lord You know all that is needed.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may follow where You lead, doing all that You give me to do.  In You alone do I have hope and an eternal and glorious future in all that You have accomplished.  Amen.

“To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

What is your hope?  Is it in what you can do? Is it in what you will accomplish?  These things are fine as far as they go, but they are not life.  Life is in the One who gives life.  Things come and go, but the Lord is forever.  Live then in the presence of the Lord and abide in Him knowing that He abides in You.  The mystery is deep, but the life is readily available to be lived.

Lord, You have promised the abundant life.  Guide me in the change of heart that faith brings so that I would live the abundant life.  Help me now and always to see that in You is all hope and glory.  You are the past, present, and future.  You have come in order that we may join You in eternal life.  Lead me, for I do not know the way.  Sustain me when I doubt.  Guide me always to be with You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, no one can ascend except the One who has descended.  You have come to lead the way home.  In You is all hope.  Guide me this day Lord so that I may do those things You know I will do, doing them with You as the One leading me.  Through all things, help me see that faith alone in You alone is the hope You have caused to richly dwell in me.  Lead me always, my Lord and Savior.  Amen.