WHAT IS IN A NAME?

THE HOLY BIBLE

The Bible is a Book that doesn't only lead us to salvation, but holds knowledge and wisdom that builds and transforms people and communities.

No society can be civilized without applying God's instructions and letting the light of the Gospel guide in it's economic, social, political and all spiritual decisions.

It informs how we relate to God and one another.

It's the Spirit of God that refines and reforms cultures. The Spirit purifies it of pagan and wicked acts and beliefs.

But where a culture abandons God and embraces pagan beliefs, its a matter of time before what was once a civilized way of doing things is buried in filthiness and impurity, lacking genuine affection, peace, self-respect, love and morality.

#High Priest of Love

The Bible says that Christ, is the High Priest of Love. When we know the Living God, what flows out of our hearts, influencing our decisions and actions is love.

Love for people is not possible without the power of the Holy Spirit that enables--Colossians 1:8.

That is why those without the Holy Spirit persecute and harm others who have accepted Christ, fearing that the light of God if allowed, would expose the wickedness which they are desperately seeking to conceal.

Paul in Colossians 2, said regarding the believers, "I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself. In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."--v2-3.

#Root and Foundation

He added that when our root goes deep down into Christ, "Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."--v7

"Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ."--v8.

All the knowledge and wisdom of this world cannot deal with sin. Behaviours cannot be corrected or altered with rules, regulations and laws. Assembling all religions as one, and controlling lives, what people do or say, can never lead to a better outcome or good human behaviour. Hiding from the truth cannot solve the problem of sin either.

Only by letting Christ live in our hearts, can the spirit of wickedness be destroyed. People may obey rules and regulations with pious self-denial, and the worship of angels, but it offers no help in conquering sin--sexual immorality, witchcraft and sorcery, lust, greed and evil desires.

But one who comes to Christ and puts away all filthiness and lust becomes like Christ Who is the New Life.

#What is in a Name?

Children's names are often decided by parents or grandparents. They are meant to carry a message of hope and aspirations, future direction.

Most will say when the child acts contrary to the name or family expectations, they were acting out of character. In other words, the behaviour is not representative of the name or family.

As children of God, we cannot represent God where our character or behaviour is devilish and destructive. When God chooses people, He does so to make us vessels of honour to Him. Where God is full of kindness and compassion, but we choose to be wicked, endlessly plotting destruction, dripping with lust, people quickly remind themselves of the truth.

#Resist Lying Spirits

Chapter 3 says, "Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds...In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile... Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us."--v9-11.

#Christ lives in All?

Why does Paul say Christ lives in all?--Colossians 1:15-20.

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth." v15-16.

When we have the heart of Christ, we can love and live in peace with one another, just as God in Christ has loved us and made peace with all He created having reconciled all by the blood of Jesus.--v20.

Most curse the name of Jesus, not knowing that the breath that keeps them alive is Christ. They have His breath, but not His heart.

As we pray for peace and repentance in our world, we must act in love and flee God's coming anger against wickedness.

Pray for unbelievers to know the love of God for them.

Let's live in His love that has reconciled all humanity through Christ Jesus.

If we have Christ, we will love one another and build each other up to flourish wherever they are located in the world. And the world will be at peace.

For it is then that God's blessings will flow to the world.

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