April 1 Colossians 2:15
In this way, God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ.
POWER
We have power because Jesus gives it to us. We can overcome whatever difficulty we are facing. It may take time and it may not unfold in the way that we determine but we will be victorious. Jesus is at work every moment providing for our needs. Pray, pray and pray that you might be fully aware of His power in you.
April 2 Colossians 2:16-17
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new-moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself.
OBEDIENCE
Obedience begins in our heart and works out in our daily life. When our life is focused on Jesus we will do the right thing. Focusing our life on rules will create a sense of self-satisfaction, and will lull us into thinking about how good we are. Focusing our life on Jesus will help us identify our mistakes, take corrective action and have confidence in the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
April 3 Colossians 2:18
Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on self-denial. And don’t let anyone say you must worship angels, even though they say they have had visions about this. These people claim to be so humble, but their sinful minds have made them proud.
PRIDE
People are always willing to speak for God but few are willing to sacrifice for their faith. Many will stand to receive accolades but few will suffer condemnation for their faith in Jesus Christ. When someone claims to be speaking for the Lord be very careful. Their life and actions will soon reveal for whom they are really speaking. Jesus wants our obedience and service to one another and seldom needs us to speak for him. Historically His great servants have been suffering saints that do not walk the halls of the powerful and mighty but instead serve at the gates of hell proclaiming that Jesus is Lord.
April 4 Colossians 2:19
But they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For we are joined together in his body by his strong sinews and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.
FOCUS
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus is our daily need. We can do nothing without Him and often go awry when we seek to do it our self. Our desire is to be His will and our activity is to be obedience. Time with Jesus equips us with the spiritual nourishment we need for daily living.
April 5 Colossians 2:20-22
You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle, don’t eat, don’t touch.” Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them.
ETERNITY
We who are members of the family of God, born again in Christ, have eternity etched into our heart. Christ is our master and His will is our guide. If we are to survive and grow we will spend time with Jesus each day. This is our choice. Will we throw off the chains of worldly enslavement or will we continue to be overrun by the cares and worries of this world? Only in Jesus can we find the strength to live a Christ like life.
April 6 Colossians 2:23
These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires.
RULES
We much prefer rules over relationship. Jesus calls us to a living, holy, relationship. We live every moment of our life with Him. We seek to obey Him and submit our innermost desires and hopes to Him. We seek His forgiveness of our sin and confess our weakness in struggling with sin to Him. Jesus is Lord and we live because of Him. He gives us life and light and we seek to let Him make us in His image.
April 7 Colossians 3: 1
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power.
AUTHORITY
We are under the authority of the living Lord Jesus. He is our righteousness and He is our life. We live moment by moment with the understanding that His desire is that we have a good and perfect life. All good things come from Him. When we experience the results of evil He is there to lead us through them. Seldom will we avoid live but in Jesus we can live life.
April 8 Colossians 3:2
Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.
HEAVEN
Heaven is a great place where God resides. We will one day see Him face to face. We will live together with Him throughout eternity. We belong to Him, we serve Him and we will live eternally under His authority. Golden streets, walls of precious jewels all will fade in comparison to the matchless joy of seeing Jesus. Worthy is the Lamb and worthy of all our praise and honor. Jesus is indeed Lord.
April 9 Colossians 3:3
For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
LIFE
The world operates under the idea that it is alive. Anyone with Jesus is dead in their trespasses and sin and only sees and knows those things that are passing away. They are enslaved to the spirit of the world and are not able to see the things of God. Lost people always act like lost people. Those of us alive in Christ are charged with the responsibility of sharing with others the life that we have. Jesus uses our heartache and tragedy to proclaim real life in Christ. Jesus uses broken people to spread the Gospel.
April 10 Colossians 3:4
And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
GLORY
I must confess that this is a hard thing to understand. What I do know is that Jesus loves me. He loves me so much that He died for me. The power of God that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power available for us who are alive in Christ. Jesus is our life. Jesus is the Lord of all that we see, feel and know. All glory to God the Father and to the Lord Jesus Christ.
April 11 Colossians 3:5-6
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things.
SACRIFICE
Jesus is Lord of our life. We are in control of the choices we make. Our choice must be to claim the power for living that Jesus offers us. It is a moment by moment, every day, and every action choice. Will I control my life or will I let Jesus control it? When we are in control failure is always present. When Jesus is in control we move from victory to victory. Surrender your life to Jesus and choose to do the next right thing.
April 12 Colossians 3:7-8
You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.
CONTROL
Jesus calls us to let Him have control of our life. If we go our own way we will continue to be dominated by whatever weakness we struggle with. If we let Jesus have control we will change. It is really hard to let Jesus have control of our life. It is a lifelong journey. We need encouragers, Bible study, prayer and a willingness to change to become what we can be in Christ. It will never happen without our surrender to Jesus.
April 13 Colossians 3:9
Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds.
HONESTY
We behave the way that our leader behaves. If we are in control of our life we will behave with shortsightedness, pride, anger and wickedness. If Jesus is in control of our life we will be new creatures in Christ. Look at yourself. Are you acting the way that Jesus would act? If you are keep growing and stay in the Word. If you are still acting like you have always acted, and overwhelmed by the pressures of the world then change. Let Jesus have control right this moment. Lord Jesus help us to give you control of our lives.
April 14 Colossians 3:10-11
In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters and he lives in all of us.
UNITY
The world is always seeking unity. We create organizations to do it and yet we are unable to create it. Jesus gives us a new heart. Our new heart is creating in us new activity, new thinking and a life like Jesus. When Jesus is in control there will be unity. When Jesus is in control our new nature will deal with others as Jesus deals with us.
April 15 Colossians 3:12
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
CHOICE
We are responsible. We are responsible to pray. We are responsible to apply spiritual knowledge to the way we live, act and worship. Every day we get up we are faced with one choice-“how will I live today?” I can choose to live as a child of God or I can choose to live a defeated, disappointing life. Choose to live.
April 16 Colossians 3:13
You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
FORGIVE
We live each day reveling in the wonderful fact that we are saved. Thank you Lord for our salvation. We also live with the fact that we are sinful creatures even after we are saved. Have mercy Lord on us. With the realization that all of our life is lived between victory and mercy we must always be aware of the responsibility we have to be forgiving of others. But for the grace of God there go I.
April 17 Colossians 3:14
And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.
LOVE
Love forgives all, helps all and is victorious over all things. When we love is when we are most like Jesus. When we love it costs us. When we love it benefits us. When our life is based upon a commitment to love one another it will change the way we think and feel and act. Jesus loves me and you.
April 18 Colossians 3:15
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
PEACE
Peace is a gift from God. We should be asking for peace each day as we face the rigors of daily life. Peace equips us to grow. Peace gives us clear thinking. Peace encourages others. Peace is a gift that the whole world is looking for. Peace be unto you.
April 19 Colossians 3:6
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
WORD
The Word of God is the food that we seek for spiritual growth. His Word is alive and active in our heats, and soul and mind. His Word is at work in us to outfit us to face the trial that is coming. We never know how or when that trial will come but Jesus does. His Word is the fortification for us each day that we live enabling us to serve, grow and stand in the face of all odds.
April 20 Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do or say let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.
AGENT
We are agents of the Lord High God. Jesus will use us to represent Him if we will let Him. Our goal is to be so much like Christ that when someone sees us they see Jesus. As agents we can claim the power of the one that we are representing to face the challenges of life. Do not fear for the Lord is active and alive in us.
April 21 Colossians 3:18-22
You wives must submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. And you husbands must love your wives and never treat them harshly. You children must always obey your parents, for this is what pleases the Lord. Fathers, don’t aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying. You slaves must obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your reverent fear of the Lord.
REVERENCE
Jesus is our focus. When our desire is to please Him everything else will fall in place.
April 22 Colossians 3:23
Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
FOCUS
Are you focused on what you can do or what others do? When we look to Jesus as our Lord and master, we no longer worry about what the world says. Who are we listening too? The world wooing us into the game of measuring ourselves by others or are we listening to Jesus as He guides us day by day.
April 23 Colossians 3:24
Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ.
GOAL
Our goal is to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus. Our reward for that is eternal life beginning right now. In Christ we have value and worth. Not because of what we can do but because of the One who owns us. Jesus is Lord.
April 24 Colossians 3:25
But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil.
SIN
Sin is pervasive and sly. Sin is seeking to destroy you. Do not take your relationship with the Lord lightly. Let Christ have control of your life and He will point out those things that you need to quit or change. Jesus will give you strength to face the day and peace and joy to revel in it.
April 25 Isaiah 49:15-16
“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on my hand. Ever before me is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.
REMEMBERED
The clamor by people when they are caught in the destruction of their own sin always singles out God as the responsible party. Immediately the declaration is that only if you had remembered. God never forgets. When we come to Him and ask to be a part of His family He “etches” our name in the palm of His hand. You are remembered. You will not be forgotten. Claim His power and presence in your life today.
April 26 Colossians 4:3-4
Don’t forget to pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to preach about his secret plan that Christ is also for you Gentiles. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
PROCLAMATION
We must tell about Jesus as we go about our daily lives. But it is also important to remember our friends and others that are busy spreading the Gospel message each day. Prayer seems so easy but when we recognize how little we pray we understand the commitment that it takes to be consistent in prayer. Pray for me as I pray for you.
April 27 Colossians 4:5-6
Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.
LIFE
A self focused life will destroy you and everyone around you. Lift up your eyes to Jesus and ask Him to cleanse you and to use you. Listen to those around you and be an encourager of everyone you meet.
April 28 Colossians 4:7-10
Tychicus, a much loved brother, will tell you how I am getting along. He is a faithful helper who serves the Lord with me. I have sent him on this special trip to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and much loved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will give you all the latest news. Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. And as you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way.
FRIENDS
Rejoice in the Lord for the friends He has sent you. Be a good friend, long suffering and kind. Encourage your friends. Be hesitant to give them advice instead choosing to listen and encourage. Your love for them will be a significant element in a good friend making right choices and doing what God has called them to do. Amazingly living this way is like making regular deposits in a bank account and one day you will be able to have good friends that will help you in your hour of need.
April 29 Colossians 4:11-13
Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish Christians among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been! Epaphras, from your city, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident of the whole will of God. I can assure you that he has agonized for you and also for the Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
PRAY
Pray for your friends. Pray for them regularly and consistently. Pray for their well being, for their family, for their work and for their good health. Pray that they will be faithful to the Lord and ask the Lord what you can do for them.
April 30 Colossians 4:14-18
Dear Doctor Luke sends his greetings, and so does Demas. Please give my greetings to our Christian brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and those who meet in her house. After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them. And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the work the Lord gave you.” Here is my greeting in my own handwriting PAUL. Remember my chains. May the grace of God be with you.
GRACE
Grace is great than our sin. Grace is greater than our failure. Grace is abundant. Whatever you have done that causes you to be hesitant before the Lord ask His forgiveness and His grace will inundate your soul.
