Mystery of Christ in Colossians: Filling Week

baby, joy

grief

Have you ever been so filled with joy that you could hardly contain yourself?  Maybe it was an invitation, the birth of a baby, an unexpected gift, a promotion, a random act of kindness...whatever it was, it showed all over your face.  It was heard in your voice and put a lilt in your step! Have you ever been sofilled with grief, sadness, despair that you thought you couldn't go on?  Maybe it was because of rejection by a significant person, a death of a loved one, a life-threatening diagnosis for yourself or, what is often worse, for your child or spouse.  It was  hard, if not impossible, to "put on the happy face" and go on.

That's what our emotions are like...up one minute and down the next...and oftentimes with good reason.  But if they control us so that we base what is TRUE on how we feel, we can become very unstable, to say the least.

In the book of Colossians, God through the apostle Paul, tells us that we are filled.   And this filling of His has nothing to do with our emotions...although if we really "get it" and live there, it can affect our emotions on the deepest level possible.  But the wonderful thing is that if life is happening and we feel numb to it all, it really doesn't matter as far as this glorious FACT is concerned.  This filling is TRUTH!

What is this filling, you ask?

bible study

It's all wrapped up in the Mystery* of Christ!  WHO He is and WHAT He is to us! As you read through Colossians this week, you'll see this word mystery in Colossians 1:25-27; 2:2-3; 4:3.

colored-pencils

Grab some colored pencils or crayons, your Bible, or a print-out of Colossians (see link below).  Mark the key word mystery with a distinctive color.  Make note of who/what this mystery is.

Then mark the words fill, filling, full, fulness (in chapters 1&2).  Be sure to pay close attention to Col 2:9-10.  In the NASB, the word complete in verse 10 should be translated full (it's the same Greek root as fulness in verse 9).

Then if you really want to explore some more, look for and mark all, every, everything, and synonyms (also in chapters 1&2).

See you next time.  We'll pull thoughts together then, when we look at the Mystery Revealed.

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*The church father, Ireneaus, pointed out that the chief difference between orthodoxy and heresy is that orthodoxy is rooted in paradox and mystery, while heresy is usually rooted in clarity and precision.” David Roper, Teach Us to Number Our Days, p 278

Click here for Colossians text

Click here for Bible study help:  Precept.StudyOverview

 [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iadB3wL5JmQ[/youtube]

GLORY to YOU Steve Green

What do I possessThat You did not give to meWhat mysteries are clear to meThat You did not explainWhen did I share TruthI had not received from YouWhat good works have I performedThat you did not ordain

Chorus: Any strength I have, any good I doComes from the life I found in YouSo in all I amAnd in all I doI give the Glory to You

How do I expressMy love and my gratitudeFor all I am and ever will beAll depends on youWhere in the world would I beHad you not reached out to meAll the good I have in lifeCan all be traced to you

Chorus

From the strength to obeyYour word when I hear itTo reaching out in loveIt's all a gift of the Holy Spirit,Coming from above

Chorus

I give the glory to You