NOV 30

Colossians 3:11
Memorise Acts 4:13
“…Christ is all, and in all…”

Colossians 3:11 reads “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” Still pointing out the error of the false teachers, this time in their advocating observance of ceremonies, Paul pointed out that Christian sanctification and perfection do not depend on Jewish ceremonies, regardless of whether one is a Jew or is circumcised. These ceremonies do not apply whether one is uncultured, whether one is from as far away lands as the Scythians were, or whether one was a servant or a free man. Christ alone kept the law perfectly for all man (“is all”) and once any man is saved Christ dwells in him (“in all”) and we are thus all equal, sinners saved by grace. Just in case some misunderstand from the previous verse that Christianity favours those who are knowledgeable, Paul deliberately uses the examples of Barbarians and Scythians to point out that saving knowledge is given by the grace of God to whomever He elects. The Jews in Acts 4:13 perceived Peter and John to be unlearned and ignorant, but God used both to be His witnesses in Judaea and to become writers of Holy Scripture. God is no respecter of persons, and chooses His elect irrespective of their background.

There is a tendency for teens who study in elite schools to look down on those from neighbourhood schools and in general to those who are not as intelligent as they are. I remember when I was in the army, there was a fellow soldier who had only ‘O’ level qualifications, but he was a spiritual giant in Christ compared to me, knowing so much more about Christ experientially that I was ashamed. Don’t laugh at teens in church just because they cannot spell words like ‘circumcision’, and never be ashamed to call him brother. May you realise that we are all equal before God, and so do not envy those who are more intelligent and think they will be more knowledgeable than you are. Remember spiritual growth is in experiential knowledge, not head knowledge, and indeed there are some who grow only in the head and not in the spirit.

Thought: Instead of comparing with others, may I encourage them to grow as well.
Prayer: May I remember we are all sinners saved by grace.