Dark Horses: Overlooked Heroes - Day 35
Day 35 - Friday, August 9
Read Colossians 3:1-17
Highlight
Dallas Willard, theologian and scholar of spiritual formation, once said "The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners – of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence."
Colossians 3 is a lesson on how to walk faithfully with God. It calls for setting our hearts and minds on things above and putting to death our earthly nature. This may seem like a lofty goal, but Paul goes on to outline the virtues and practices that should characterize a believer's life, such as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. He is providing a blueprint for what it means to walk with God in the new life we have in Christ. We can only imagine that when Enoch was taken up into Heaven, it must have felt familiar. As someone who faithfully walked with God for 300 years Enoch must have honed an ability to focus on heavenly things and a life that reflect God's character. What a sweet homecoming it must have been to arrive in God’s presence in a way he had longed for and pursued for so long. May we all walk so closely with God that when we find ourselves in Heaven we feel more at home than we have ever been on earth.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying about God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth? Who could you share this story with and how God is speaking to you about it this week?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8).
Read Colossians 3:1-17
Highlight
Dallas Willard, theologian and scholar of spiritual formation, once said "The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners – of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence."
Colossians 3 is a lesson on how to walk faithfully with God. It calls for setting our hearts and minds on things above and putting to death our earthly nature. This may seem like a lofty goal, but Paul goes on to outline the virtues and practices that should characterize a believer's life, such as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. He is providing a blueprint for what it means to walk with God in the new life we have in Christ. We can only imagine that when Enoch was taken up into Heaven, it must have felt familiar. As someone who faithfully walked with God for 300 years Enoch must have honed an ability to focus on heavenly things and a life that reflect God's character. What a sweet homecoming it must have been to arrive in God’s presence in a way he had longed for and pursued for so long. May we all walk so closely with God that when we find ourselves in Heaven we feel more at home than we have ever been on earth.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying about God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth? Who could you share this story with and how God is speaking to you about it this week?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8).
Posted in Dark Horses: Overlooked Heroes