– Today’s Community Scripture – 10/1/2025
My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don’t need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything. Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It’s not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you’re already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. If it’s an initiation ritual you’re after, you’ve already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets. So don’t put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ. Don’t tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They’re a lot of hot air, that’s all they are. They’re completely out of touch with the source of life, Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes us. So, then, if with Christ you’ve put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near this!” Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.
Colossians 2:6–23 (MSG)
– Reflection:
When we choose to follow Jesus, it’s not just about learning facts or going through the religious motions; it’s about living a real, everyday life with Him. Think about it this way: Jesus walked with us all those years ago, and still does right now in our own personal hearts. This passage reminds us that we already have everything we need in Christ. We’re rooted in Him, built up in Him, and filled with His power. So instead of just talking about faith, we’re called to live it out, showing love, kindness, and thankfulness in all we do. We don’t need fancy words, deep rituals, or strict rules to be close to God. Jesus already made the way for us through His death and resurrection. That means we don’t have to let others pressure us into doing things that seem “spiritual” but don’t actually help us grow. Christ is the real deal, the source of life, and when we stay connected to Him, we grow strong and healthy in our faith. Let’s keep it simple: follow Jesus, live like Him, and let your life shine with gratitude.
– Where do we go from here?
Now that we’ve received Jesus and know that he is rooted in our hearts, it’s time to live like it every day, in every moment. We don’t need to chase after complicated rules or try to impress others with how “religious” we are. Instead, we focus on staying close to Christ, letting His love guide our choices, and showing gratitude in how we live. That means being real, being kind, and trusting that Jesus is enough. We grow by staying connected to Him, not by following empty traditions or trying to look spiritual. So let’s move forward with confidence, knowing we’re already accepted, already forgiven, and already full in Christ. Let’s live boldly, love deeply, and let our lives reflect the freedom and joy we have in Him.
– Our Prayer for Today
Jesus, thank You for stepping into the gap for Us. Thank You for saving Us, forgiving our sins, and giving Us a new life. We’re so grateful that we don’t have to earn Your love or follow a bunch of rules to be close to You. You already did everything for Us on the Cross. Help Us to live in Your truth every day, to stay connected to You, and to let our lives show how thankful We are. Keep Us from getting distracted by things that don’t matter, and remind us that We are enough. We love You, Jesus. Amen.
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