Chester ARP Devotional Podcast

Don't be held captive by impressive philosophy, deceitful signs, or human traditions. Rather, walk in the triumph of Christ by remaining steadfast in the simple biblical gospel.  

We are to walk in Christ by faith and with thanksgiving for the great salvation he has worked in our lives. 

Paul was willing to endure all things so that the Colossians would know the mystery of Christ in them. Are we willing to do the same? 

Jesus is the supreme Lord of all creation. We will inherit eternity with him if we maintain the faith we heard in the gospel. Don't walk away. 

We can follow Paul's example when we don't know how to pray for one another. He prayed a deeply spiritual and yet practical prayer for the Church in Colossae. 

Paul was thankful for the Colossians' faith in Christ and love for one another. We should also be thankful for the same things in the lives of other believers. 

We are thankful for those who partner with us in the gospel ministry. It is a great blessing to partner in the Lord for the advancement of his kingdom. 

We do all things through Christ, who strengthens us in his grace. 

We are to rejoice in the Lord always, and let our reasonable faith be known to all as we resist anxious worry by petitioning God with thanksgiving. Focus on the things of God and find his peace in this life.

We need to find faithful Christians to imitate as we follow Christ. We can't do it alone, and we shouldn't try. Follow those who are following Christ and growing in him. 

We are to find our identity in Christ alone. He is the one who reconciled us to God. He is the one who puts our lives back together. 

We are to put no confidence in any human works of righteousness. We put all our confidence in the finished work of Christ. 

Paul reveals his human side to the Philippians and us in the middle of his letter. His affection for Timothy and Epaphroditus personally connects to us. 

Paul challenged us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, meaning we should stop being unserious and silly in our Christian lives. We are to serve the Lord with pleasure, without grumbling or complaining. 

We are to elevate others when following Christ's example humbly. He became a servant to the point of death. We are to follow him on this path of self-denial through his power and grace. 

Paul was convinced that to live is Christ and to die is gain. That's 100% true. If we live, we do so in Christ for his glory and enjoy his benefits. If we die, we go to be with him. Both are gains for us. 

Everything that happened to Paul happened to advance God's glory in Christ. We should understand that this is true in our lives as well. 

The Lord will complete the work he began in each of us on the day of Christ. It will be a wonderful day! 

Paul wanted to give the Ephesians a report about his work to encourage them. He loved them, and they loved him. The report did them all well. 

Stand firm in the strength of the Lord's might while putting on the armor of God to extinguish the flaming darts of the Devil. We must rely upon the Lord's strength. 

We are to obey our leaders and those in authority over us genuinely as we are doing it unto the Lord. Paul wrote of children obeying parents, parents not provoking children, servants obeying masters, and masters being good to servants. 

Paul instructs the husbands and wives on how to live with one another as Christians in this passage. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves his Church, and wives are to submit to their husbands as we submit to Christ. 

We are to imitate God as a child imitates his father. To do that, we are to put away the things of the world and pursue the things of Christ's kingdom. 

We are to walk in love for the glory of God in Christ, following him in faith. 

We are called to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ by walking in humility, gentleness, with patience, forgiveness, and unity. We are to build one another up in love to maturity in Christ.