Devotions
Struggles
Lord, give us your wisdom, strength and energy as we struggle with the reality of our circumstances. Help us to find new ways to bring your love and story to those whose lives we touch. Open the hearts and minds of your children so that they can hear your message of love. In your holy name we pray. Amen
For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face. 2I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ himself, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments. 5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ. 6As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:1-10
Please "Dwell in the Word" with me as we look at the Lutheran Association of Christian Educators expended theme Bible verse. I invite you to ponder what the verses say to you, then share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
Paul begins these verses by telling his readers " I am struggling for you". Can you relate to this? As a Christian and as a Christian educator, I often find myself struggling with issues for the folks I serve. Sometimes I just ask God why they don’t get it: why don’t those parents see how much more important Confirmation is than a track meet; why don’t they understand they are their child’s first mentor and act accordingly; why do they have their infant baptized and not take their covenant promises more seriously?
I read the latest books and attend workshops that promise to ignite the love of God in the hearts of those we serve if we follow their plan. I listen to what other Christian educators do and try to find the things that might work in my setting. I meet regularly for Bible study and prayer with the volunteers in my congregation who lovingly and faithfully serve out their commitment in our ministry together. We invite the Holy Spirit to be in our midst and guide us in the work that we do.
Sometimes all that I can do is pray for these children and their families. I remind myself that this is God’s work; this is God’s time.