Daily Bread 6-7-16

Colossians 1:26-29

26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from all the ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worth in me mightily.

ref. - Ro 16:25 - Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

We read today of how Paul addressed the people of Colossus. He let them know, and the word of God lets us know today, that men have been given understanding of the mystery of God that hasn't been known in times past. This mystery is revealed to them through the Holy Ghost which is the Spirit of Christ which, in turn, is the Spirit of God. These men are men of perseverance. Not letting up and rarely satisfied. You see, they have been given a big job. Their job is not only to keep reaching for perfection themselves, but to push or encourage others to do the same. When we reach a point that we think we need to stop and breathe they are going to tell us to cross another mountain. When we think that we are "ok" with God they are going to point out another area in our lives where we need work. These men do not do this to punish us or because they do not care. It is quite the contrary. They love us and they have been given the understanding of what God wants from us so that we can travel on into eternal life in glory. And while they sometimes struggle themselves and battle their own weaknesses, they are ever trying to improve themselves and help others to do the same. Even when these men of God are struggling with something God still uses them mightily to carry out his calling. These men are rarely called saints as they do not wish to take titles but they are the ministers of God. They are not carrying out their own works but letting God work in them and through them. And the mystery, the ignorance and misunderstanding of the will of God and the word of God will be explained to us through them if we listen and trust in God. They have put themselves and their needs behind the needs of us so that we can grow and prosper. As Paul said, we have become fools for your sakes so that you may prosper, we have gone without so that you may have. The last thing a true man of God wants though is for us to put them on a pedestal or to focus on them. No, they will always point to God and tell us to keep reaching, keep striving, for our glory is not in man but in God. Jesus Christ gave his life for us. Not Paul, not Peter, not anyone else. these men were given special gifts but they had to fulfill their callings to make heaven their home. So do we, and these men have been put before us to point us in the right direction. If they are off track or doing something wrong God will send someone to point it out to them and it will be made manifest in front of all openly through the word of God and Holy Ghost preaching and teaching. Some are in need of revival as bad or worse than the people they are teaching but they who will listen and the heed to what is being taught are the ones who are one step closer to that ever pressing mark of perfection. Trust and obey the word of God and listen and agree with it and there will be improvement every day. Just like today if we will hear His voice and not harden our hearts...............Have a great day!!!!