Daily D – Colossians 2:20-23

by David Bowman | Dec 12, 2023 | Daily D | 0 comments

Colossians 2:20-23 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. (NLT)

—

Do you require more self-discipline or less arrogance? I ask because it seems like the Uber-productive and powerful personas on social media look down on everyone else. They are the bootstrappers. They rise earlier than you, work harder than you, make more money than you, rule more turf than you, and employee more people than you. They are all about MORE.

To become like them requires elite-level self-discipline. You will rise well before dawn. You will eat a curious diet. You will exercise like a bodybuilder. You will dominate work. You will push your way through anything and master everything.

Or, you could have more friends.

Sparta won more battles. Athens had more fun.

Self-discipline in service to Jesus amplifies our effectiveness.

Self-discipline in service to self amplifies our conceit.

Conceit is not a virtue. Hubris doesn’t die on crosses. Swagger will not follow.

Humility focuses our attention on what is best for others. It leads to a less bossy life. It spends more time serving which leaves less time for pontification. Pride declares; humility sets an example.

When we use our self-discipline in service to others as Jesus did, people will be happy to see us wherever we go, everyone except those do-it-themselfers who don’t need anybody for anything but admiration.

If this world is all about me, it is a small world after all. It is a cruel place for everyone else.

When we use our self-discipline to live like Jesus, we will bring healing and hope, light and life to benefit anyone and everyone except for those who refuse to receive it.

—

I will use my self-discipline to serve others rather than live a self-centered life.

—

Our Father, bless me with an ever-greater measure of self-discipline so that I may use the strength you give me to live a life that empowers others. Amen.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

CONNECT WITH ME!

Interested in learning more about Church Unique or Life Younique? Send a note through the Get In Touch box or Message me through the Facebook link above.

GET IN TOUCH!

READ MY BLOG!

Daily D – Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Deuteronomy 30:19, 20 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Daily D – Deuteronomy 29:29

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”

Daily D – Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 “The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.”

Daily D – Deuteronomy 23:4-5

Deuteronomy 23:4, 5 “For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.”

Daily D – Deuteronomy 17:16-20

Deuteronomy 17:16-20 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and **he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left.** Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.