Todays readings.. Ezra 9, Hosea 10, Colossians 1
What a powerful and positive letter Paul wrote to the Colossians – let us take it as a letter to us in these last days. May we “ be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 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.” [1 v.9.10]
Reading God’s word every day is the essential foundation for us to do this. Paul told them that God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness …” [v.13] Let us recognise more and more how we live in “the domain of darkness” and it is only by reading – and then absorbing into our hearts and minds – the inspiring words God’s message to us contains that we can be delivered from “the domain of darkness …”that surrounds us on nearly every hand. Let us not neglect to do this every day – and do it with all our hearts.
Let us remember what we read 3 days ago in acts, the words that Paul said Jesus spoke to him on the road to Damascus: that he was sending Paul to the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light “ [Acts 26 v.18]
As we read God’s word more and more, the eyes of our hearts (see ) are seeing more clearly, we are “increasing in the knowledge of God.” How tragic is the kind of “knowledge” that surrounds us! It is full of unbelievers – those who imagine that all the marvels and beauty that surround us – all developed by pure chance! They ‘worship’ a god of their own imagination and this reminds us of Paul’s words in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians. “…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. “[4 v.4] Let us make sure our minds are not “blinded.”
