Good Monday morning...

… and I discovered an interesting phenomenon as I presented the teaching on Sunday morning from Colossians 1.  I realized that as I was echoing the Apostle Paul’s message, it was very clear that he was letting the young believers know that Jesus had made them whole, complete, with no need for extra ingredients for success.  As I taught, I was looking into the faces of those who attended Oak Springs.  I realized that we are, like the young believers in Colossae, very vulnerable to a different teaching, one that makes us question our value and opens us up to lies and schemes.

I’ve often said that the enemy of our soul is bent on dividing us, separating us from the support of our close allies, family members, and then pouncing on us like a famished lion capturing a meal.  We become a victim of the schemes of the evil one when we lose that fellowship with God’s family.  In the Colossian church, visiting teachers were introducing an “elitist knowledge” that would be theirs if they would pledge their allegiance to them instead of following the simple gospel presented to them by Epaphras.

In today’s world, I am as anxious and angry as Apostle Paul was then.  My angst is against the many phone and internet scammers who prey on the elderly and ruin their lives, either financially or with the deception that they are somehow incomplete or missing out unless they have a certain product or belong to a certain group.  It’s a terrible thing, because these scammers come across as kind, complimentary, and believable.  The victim cannot believe that the person they talked to wasn’t truly going to help them.  These scammers are the devil in sheep’s clothing… rather with a deceptive voice.  They will have hell to pay when they are brought to justice.

Rather than seething over the scammers, I will focus my energy on building up the elect.  Everyone who trusts in the finished work of Jesus of Nazareth is saved, we are the elect.  And in Christ, we are enough.  We are not perfect; we are, in terms of sanctification, a work in progress.  But in terms of our position with God, we are enough.  We are His beloved children.  And no one messes with our Father!

Apparently, until Christ returns to the earth from heaven, there will be scammers and other associates of the evil one, to muck up the waters and try to separate us out, lie to us and get us to buy what they are selling.  To those of us who have been misled, it’s a terrible feeling.  But the good news is that no one messes with our Father!  You and I belong to Him and, like any prodigal who sold out to his own self-interests, when returning home, found forgiveness and a welcome home.  Be careful out there and always return home.

For His glory,

Pastor Mike