Thursday Devo
Scripture:
Colossians 2:12-13
12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.
12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.
Commentary:
2:12–13 buried with him in baptism … also raised with him … made alive together with him. In a second metaphor drawn from Christ’s work on the cross, Paul says that the Christian rite of baptism represents an identification with Christ in his death (cf. Rom. 6:4–6) along with an identification with Christ in his resurrection (cf. Eph. 2:6). Dying and rising with Christ signifies death to the power of sin and Satan plus empowerment to live the new life that Jesus calls believers to live in imitation of him (see Rom. 6:3–11).
Questions:
- While baptism in water doesn't save you, we believe scripture teaches that it is an outward symbol of an inner commitment you've made to follow Jesus. As modeled by the first church in Acts and the very first Jesus-followers, when someone makes the decision to surrender their life to the Lord they are to go public with that decision by being baptized. The act of baptism, going under the water and coming back out, symbolizes our sharing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and the washing away of our old, sinful selves. Sunday we saw 10 people of all ages go public with their faith through baptism. If you have been baptized, what do you remember from that day? Take some time and think about that experience. Remember how on fire you were. Thank God for that day and all He has done in your life.
- If you haven't been baptized, what is holding you back? Could God be leading you to take that next step in your relationship with Him? Or, do you know someone who has been hesitant to take that step in their relationships with Christ? What can you say to them to nudge them in that next step of obedience?
Pray:
- That we would always remember all you've saved us from.
- That we would be obedient in every way in our relationship with Jesus.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
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