OUR DAILY BREAD : ON THE WINNING SIDE

[cimi]

October 10
Wednesday


ON THE
WINNING SIDE

READ:
Colossians 2:6-15
_______________________________________________

Having disarmed
principalities and
powers, He made a
public spectacle of
them, triumphing
over them.
__Colossians 2:15
________________________________________________

Few today believe the pagan idea that the world is under the control of warring gods like Artemis, Pan, and Apollo. Yet even sophisticated skeptics readily acknowledge the reality of "forces" over which we have no control. For example, they attribute our inability to prevent violence in various places around the world to what they vaguely call "international forces." And they speak of "economic forces" beyond our control. For example, millions of people are starving despite the fact that there is more than enough food in the world to provide for every person on the earth.

The Bible clearly acknowledges the presence of invisible but very real spiritual beings, or powers. In Ephesians 6:11-12, Paul declared that our primary warfare is against an army of rebellious angels headed by Satan. The bad news is that they are more intelligent and powerful than we are. The good news is that Jesus defeated them by His death on the cross: "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them" (Col.2:15).

There are many things beyond our control, but we need not fear. We who have placed our trust in Jesus are on the winning side.
__Herb Vander Lugt
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lamb of God! You now are seated~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~High upon Your Father's throne,~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~All Your gracious work completed,~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~All Your mighty victory known. __Anon.~~~~~~~~~
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Satan may win some battles,
but he cannot win the war.

************Today's Bible Reading __ Colossians 2:6-15************

6 As you therefore have
received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk in Him.

7 rooted and built up in Him
and established in the faith,
as you have been taught,
abounding in it with
thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest anyone cheat
you through philosophy and
empty deceit, according to
the tradition of men,
according to the basic
principles of the world, and
not according to Christ.

9 For in Him dwells all the
fullness of the Godhead
bodily; 10 and you are
complete in Him, who is
the head of all principality
and power.

11 In Him you were also
circumcised with the
circumcision made without
hands, by putting off the
body of the sins of the
flesh, by the circumcision
of Christ, 12 buried with
Him in baptism, in which
you also were raised with
Him through faith in the
working of God, who raised
Him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in
your trespasses and the
uncircumcision of your
flesh, He has made alive
together with Him, having
forgiven you all trespasses,

14 having wiped out the
handwriting of requirements
that was against us, which
was contrary to us. And He
has taken it out of the way,
having nailed it to the cross.

15 Having disarmed
principalities and powers,
He mad a public spectacle
of them, triumping over
them in it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Th work of Christ is the basis of Paul's challenge to the Colossians.
He admonishes them__and us__to live in faithfulness to our Savior
(vv.6-8 ) because of our position as believers "in Him" (vv.9-12). This
was made possible by His work on the cross, which dealt with our
sin (vv.13-15). __WEC