Challenge Central: a CBC devotional
By: Pastor Jeremy Heikkinen
This past Sunday, we looked at Colossians 2:1-5,
“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit,
rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ” (ESV).
Distance can be challenging; it was for Paul! Yet, this was not the heaviest concern on his heart. He knew that even if the people in Colossae did not have him, they had Jesus! In the same breath, as he describes his great struggle of distance, he expresses a deeper desire than being united with them, “that their hearts might be encouraged, knit together in love.”
Do you remember the illustration of the sweater during our children’s devotional? Do you remember the observation of the boat that I missed? I am so glad for the body of Christ! Especially the little ones! Sometimes I miss things I would not see if I were not being knit together in love with others.
Whom can you help see the “boat” of God’s masterpiece this week? Whose heart can you encourage this week with the knowledge and understanding of Jesus? Whom should you ask for encouragement to aid you in seeing what God has done or is doing in your life?
Here are some great ways to start the conversation:
1. “Hey, how can I encourage you from God’s Word today”?
2. “Is there anything that I can be in prayer for you about”?
3. “Recently God has been teaching me… what has He been teaching you from His Word or through the circumstances of your life”?
4. “If I am being honest, I am really struggling right now…”
5. “How is your heart responding to the circumstances of your life these days”?
I encourage you to go and see that person, video call your family member, or call your friend. The challenge this week is to do it face-to-face where possible. God wants to use you to help others see “all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”.
Go to it, Central! Let’s work on our knitting!
