Lord willing, we will gather together Sunday morning as a faith family and worship Him. We will lift our voices in song. We will submit our hearts to His Word preached. We will give Him our focus and praise.
It’s good practice and preparation for when we stand around His throne and worship Him together one day.
It’s a beautiful shadow of the substance that is coming when we see our King face-to-face and pour out our hearts in grateful praise for who He is and all He has done.
Sunday is good news for the believer because it points us back to that first resurrection Sunday when Jesus walked out of His borrowed tomb, risen just as He had promised.
Sunday is good news because it points forward to the day (not necessarily a Sunday on the calendar) when He will return and gather His bride – His Church – to Him.
Sunday gatherings are good news in the present because they represent His grace and mercy toward people who still have the opportunity to turn from their sin to Christ, confessing Him as their Lord and King. But there is coming a day when the opportunity to call on Him will be over. This is why the Scriptures urge us to be mindful of the time and call with urgency for people to repent and turn to Him. Look at how the prophet Isaiah put it:
“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)
Similarly, Paul said,
“Working together with Him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)
God will not wait around in His “divine forbearance”, passing over “former sins” (Romans 3:25) forever. He is coming. That’s what He said at the end of Revelation, isn’t it? “And behold, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:7). But look at the way He said it the final time in Revelation 22:12-13:
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
He’s coming and doing what? Could “bringing…recompense” mean what it says? Simply put: yes.
So, the urgency of seeking the Lord while He may be found is underscored – underlined – highlighted and bolded for emphasis. Those who call upon the name of the Lord, those who confess faith in Him and submit to Him as Lord and Savior do not receive the just recompense for their sin because Jesus took that wrath and punishment on their behalf. But for those who have not, the full weight of the wrath of God awaits. It’s a startling prospect. I would definitely categorize that as not-good news.
It does not have to be though. There is grace enough for all who come to Him.
Jesus doesn’t end His revelation with the bad news. He also offers an invitation. “Come” say the Spirit and the Bride. “Come” says those who have heard the Word of God and responded to Jesus in faith. Those who are thirsty can come and receive from Jesus the “water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).
So, I echo that invitation to you, beloved: “Come”. Or as Philipp told Nathaniel, “Come and see” (John 1:46). Come, and meet with Jesus. Come, and lay your burdens down. Come, and call upon Him while He is near. Simply, come.
This is not about coming to church but coming to Jesus. This is not about religion but extending an invitation for relationship. This is about the God of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords, extending an invitation for those who are weary and heavy laden to come to Him (Matthew 11:28).
As I said earlier, Sunday is coming and there is an opportunity to gather and worship Jesus. Won’t you come and join us? Won’t you lift your voice with ours? There’s no time like the present.
Just know that YOU are invited. YOU are wanted. YOU are welcomed.
11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
8And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
9And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
8And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
11Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
Psalm 36:7
Psalm 36 presents a striking contrast between the wickedness of sinful man and the steadfast love of God. David opens the psalm with a sobering description of human sinfulness (which describes every one of us at some point). The wicked are deceived by their own arrogance (v. 2). Their words bring trouble and deceit (v.3). And they “do not reject evil” (v. 4).
What is at the root of all of this sin? David clarified that back in v. 1: “There is no fear of God before [the wicked’s] eyes”. Sin speaks to the hearts of the wicked because they do not fear the Lord and leads them further and further into wickedness and darkness.
But, in contrast to the darkness, the love of God shines brilliantly! David exalts God’s steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice (vv. 5-6). These attributes of God are described in magnificently limitless terms in v. 5: “ Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.” God’s righteousness is described as firm as mountain, and His judgments as deep as the oceans (v. 6).
This steadfast love is at the root of His covenant with His people, leading Him to offer abundant blessings to those who trust in Him. Those who trust in Him “feast on the abundance of [His] house” and drink deeply from “the river of [His] delights” (v. 8). This is a picture of deep satisfaction found only in relationship and refuge in the Lord. He Himself is the “fountain of life” (v. 9), the source of all true joy, meaning, and fulfillment.
David closes Psalm 36 with a prayer for God’s continued love and protection for His people (vv. 10-12). He asks that pride and wickedness – that he understood was a danger to his own sinsick heart – would not overtake him and that God’s enemies would ultimately fall.
This leaves all reading Psalm 36 with a clear choice: will we walk in the way of the wicked, or will we seek shelter under the wings of a loving God?
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 36
Jesus is not only the fulfillment of Psalm 36 but the perfect embodiment and demonstration of God’s steadfast love. The apostle John showed this clearly in 1 John 4:9-10 – that in Jesus the love of God is illustrated, illuminated, and literally embodied:
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation of our sins.”
Not only does Jesus encapsulate the love of God, but He is the fullest expression of the way God’s love was shown throughout Psalm 36. He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), the Bread of Life (John 6:35), the Fountain of Living Water (John 7:37-38), and the Light of the World (John 8:12). It is in Jesus alone that we experience the inexhaustible and ever-present satisfaction that David spoke of in his deepest longings.
Refection
What David prayed for, we can know fully in Jesus. The world offers temporary pleasures, but Jesus not only embodies David’s longings but offers His fulfillment of them to all who trust in Him. That’s good news!
As you meditate on the beauty of God’s love in Christ, consider the following questions:
Do you recognize the voice of sin whispering in your own heart? How can you guard against it?
What does it mean to take refuge in God’s steadfast love? Where are you seeking satisfaction apart from Him?
The world offers fleeting joys, but true and lasting joy is found in His presence – presence that we can experience through His Spirit within us.
Run to Him.
Take refuge under His wings.
Rest in the promise of His never-stopping, never-failing, never-giving-up steadfast love.
Here’s a song inspired by Psalm 36:
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as King forever.
Psalm 29:10
Psalm 29 is a majestic hymn that calls us to worship God for His unrivaled power and glory. Using the imagery of a powerful thunderstorm, David declares the might of the Lord’s voice, His sovereign rule over creation, and His eternal kingship.
David opens with a call to worship for the “heavenly beings” to “ascribe to the LORD glory and strength” (v. 1). Whether this is a reference to angels or to false gods, David is compelling them to acknowledge the Lord’s supremacy and preeminence. The repeated call to “ascribe to the Lord” emphasizes God’s inherent glory, strength, and holiness. As worshipers, we are invited to recognize His matchless greatness and bow in reverence before Him (vv. 1-2).
The middle portion of the psalm (vv. 3-9) describes the “voice of the Lord” as it moves across creation, bring both destruction and awe. From the “mighty waters” of the sea (v. 3) to the forests of Lebanon and the wilderness of Kadesh (vv. 5-8), God’s voice shakes the earth and demonstrates His unrivaled power. Even the majestic cedars of Lebanon, symbols of strength and stability, are shattered at His command (v. 5). This vivid imagery reminds us that no force – indeed nothing in creation – is beyond God’s reach or control.
Psalm 29 culminates with a declaration of God’s eternal rule: “The LORD sits enthroned as King forever” (v. 10). The reverence to the “flood” in v. 10 recalls the great flood in Noah’s time, a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty over creation as well as His might in judgment. Yet, alongside this display of power is the promise of peace for God’s people (v. 11).
Psalm 29 is the revelation of the dual reality of God’s greatness and goodness – His fearsome power contrasted with His blessing and protective care for His people.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 29
Psalm 29 points to Jesus as the ultimate Word of God (John 1:1-3), describing the voice of the Lord as powerful and majestic. As God incarnate, Jesus spoke with authority over creation, calming storms with a word (Mark 4:39) and demonstrating His sovereignty as King of kings (Revelation 19:11-16).
The imagery of a storm also reminds us of the judgment and salvation accomplished through Jesus. At the cross, the earth trembled (Matthew 27:51) as Jesus bore God’s wrath against sin. Through His resurrection, He conquered death and now reigns eternally as King. Psalm 29 concludes with a prayer for strength and peace, which are both fully realized in Jesus, who offers peace with God through His sacrifice (Romans 5:1).
Reflection
Psalm 29 invites us to worship the Lord for His power, holiness, and eternal reign. Consider these following questions to help you reflect.
When you see displays of God’s power in nature, are you reminded of God’s power and majesty? How can those moments move you to praise?
In what areas of your life do you need to remember God’s sovereignty and trust in His control?
Take time today to marvel at God’s power and glory, expressed both in creation and in the person of Jesus. Let your heart respond with the same cry as the worshipers in the temple: Glory! (v. 9)
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him.
Psalm 28:7
Psalm 28 begins with a cry for help and ends as a song of praise. David again finds himself in a desperate situation, pleading with God to hear, deliver, and protect him from the wicked people. His journey from lament to joy is an example for believers to be able to bring their burdens to God with confidence in His faithful provision.
David starts out by crying out to God: “To You, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me” (v. 1). His plea is urgent – he lifts his hands toward God’s sanctuary, pleading for mercy and divine intervention (v. 2). He fears being counted among the wicked, whose outwards show of peace is meant to mask the evil in their hearts (v. 3). These workers of iniquity disregard God’s works and will ultimately stand under His judgment (vv. 4-5).
In v. 6, David shifts from lament to praise, declaring, “Blessed be the LORD! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy”. David proclaims that the Lord is his strength and shield, the source of his help and joy. Trusting in God brings him peace, and his gratitude moves him to song (v. 7).
As king, David concludes Psalm 28 with a prayer for his people: “Oh, save your people and bless Your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever” (v. 9). This prayer reflects his role as a representative of the nation of Israel as well as his dependence on God as his faithful Shepherd who guides and protects His people.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 28
Psalm 28 points to Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of David’s prayer. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who carries His people in His arms (John 10:11-18). He is our strength and shield, providing eternal salvation and protection for those who trust in Him.
The cry for justice in vv. 3-5 finds its resolution in Jesus, who perfectly executes righteousness and will one day judge the wicked (2 Timothy 4:1). The final prayer in v. 9 echoes Jesus’s role as the Shepherd-King who leads His people. Through Him, God’s people are not only saved but also blessed and carried into eternal joy and rest in Him (Revelation 7:17).
Reflection
Psalm 28 teaches us to bring our desperation, pleas, and fears to God, trusting that He hears us and will respond. Reflect on the following questions.
What burdens or fears are you carrying today? How can you bring them to God in prayer?
How has God demonstrated His faithfulness in your life in times of difficulty?
In what ways should you respond to God in gratitude and worship?
Take some time today to cry out to God with your needs and concerns, trusting in His strength and protection. Let David’s prayer here remind you that God is faithful to hear, help, and carry us through every trial. As you reflect on His goodness, allow your heart to overflow with thanksgiving and song!
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
Psalm 24:7-8
Psalm 24 is a majestic declaration of God’s greatness, His rightful place as ruler over all creation, and the glory of His presence. Traditionally, this psalm is connected to the Ark of the Covenant arriving in Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6. The Ark of the Covenant symbolized God’s presence among His people (especially the Mercy Seat on its top), but this psalm transcends the Ark and Israel because we know the answer to Psalm 24’s question of “Who is this King of Glory?” – His name is Jesus!
David begins Psalm 24 by asserting that the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord because He founded and established it (vv. 1-2). He is the Creator and therefore the rightful owner of everything that is, including every person. This foundational truth reminds us that our lives are not our own; we belong to God who made us for His purposes.
In vv. 3-6, David asks an important question: “Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in His holy presence?” (v. 3). Then, David promptly answers by saying that only those with “clean hands” and a “pure heart” may enter into God’s holy presence (v. 4). These qualifications reveal two things: 1)God is immensely holy, pure, and perfect, and 2)humanity is immensely, well, not. It is impossible for sinful humanity to stand before God on our own merit. Clean hands refers to righteous actions and deeds, and a pure heart references cleanliness in our motives and minds. Religion cannot produce this; only a life fully devoted to God in truth and righteousness.
Psalm 24 then crescendos in vv. 7-10 with a triumphant call to open the gates for the King of Glory. The repetition of the question referenced above – “Who is this King of Glory?” – underscores His unmatched majesty. He is “the LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle” (v. 8). This imagery celebrates God as the victorious Warrior-King who reigns supreme over all creation. Ultimately, this points to Jesus, the King of Glory.
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 24
As stated multiple times above, this psalm very clearly points to Jesus. He is the Creator through whom all things were made (John 1:1-3). He is the sinless Son of God who alone has clean hands and a pure heart. He not only can ascend the hill of the Lord but descended down to where we are, making Himself like us so that He can carry us up the hill – which is essential for us to understand because He is the only Way we will make it (John 1:14, 14:6)!
Potentially the most important connection in Psalm 24 is its ties to the Ark of the Covenant entering the city. The Ark was never meant to be more than a representation of God’s presence going before them and being among them. Jesus is the better Ark. After His victory over sin, Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary – ascended the holy hill – as the victorious King (Hebrews 9:24). More than that, Jesus Himself IS the mercy seat!
The mercy seat was where the priest sprinkled the blood on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. The word the author of Hebrews used in Hebrews 9:5 for mercy seat is the exact same word Paul used in Romans 3:25 for propitiation – atoning sacrifice. Jesus is the better Ark because He is not a shadow or symbol but the substance; His sacrifice was once for all (Hebrews 7:27, 10:10). He is the King of Glory! He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins! He is God! And He is good!
The gates of heaven open wide for Him, and He now reigns as the exalted Lord. Revelation 19:11-16 vividly portrays Jesus as the rider on the white horse, leading the armies of heaven in final victory. When He returns, the King of Glory will bring the fullness of His kingdom to earth, and every knee will bow before Him!
Reflection
Psalm 24 challenges us to examine our hearts and lives. Are our hands clean and our hearts pure before God? On our own, we fall short of His holy standard. But the gospel assures us that through Jesus, we can be washed clean and made new.
As you reflect on this psalm, consider these question. Are you living as though your life belongs to God? Are you seeking His presence daily with a heart devoted to Him?
Take time to marvel at Jesus’s majesty, the King of Glory who reigns in power and grace. Lift up your heart in worship, for He is worthy. Let the gates of your life be opened wide to welcome Him in.
The King of Glory has come, and He is coming again. Are you ready to meet Him?
Here’s a good song to help you meditate on Jesus, the “King of Glory”:
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2
Psalm 18 is a song of triumph and thanksgiving from David to the Lord, celebrating God’s deliverance from King Saul. It is important to note that Psalm 18 is nearly identical to David’s song of praise in 2 Samuel 22 – the differences likely being Psalm 18 is adapted from David’s specific situation to be sung by the people (the Psalms is the songbook/hymnal of the Bible, remember). As such, this is not only a personal expression of David’s gratitude and praise but also a testimony to God’s faithfulness to His anointed king and His people. This psalm resonates with themes of refuge, rescue, and victory, ultimately pointing, as we’ll see later, to Jesus.
David opens with a declaration of love for the Lord, describing Him as his strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, and refuge (vv. 1-3). These metaphors emphasize God’s power, protection, and faithfulness. David’s words remind us that God is not some distant, uninvolved deity but a personal Savior who genuinely cares for His people.
The central part of the psalm recounts God’s dramatic intervention on David’s behalf (vv. 4-19). When David faced overwhelming danger, he cried out to the Lord, and God responded with awesome power. The imagery of the earth trembling, smoke rising, and hailstones falling paints a vivid picture of God as a divine Warrior, fighting for His anointed one. This points back all the way to the Lord’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt in the Exodus and points forward to His ultimate victory through Jesus.
David attributes his deliverance to his righteousness and integrity (vv. 20-24), not meaning that David was sinless but that he walked faithfully with God and sought to obey His commands. In the last part of the psalm, David praises God for equipping him for battle and giving him the victory (vv. 31-45) showing that he understood his victory was ultimately in the Lord’s goodness rather than his own. In fact, he acknowledges that every success of his was achieved as a result of God’s strength, guidance, and provision.
Psalm 18 concludes with a declaration of God’s faithfulness, not just toward David but also toward His people (vv. 46-50). David praises the Lord as his rock and Savior, again acknowledging that his victories are part of God’s covenant commitment to him and his descendants. Ultimately, this covenant finds fulfillment in Jesus, the eternal King and descendant of David, who brings salvation to all nations (Romans 15:9).
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 18
Psalm 18 foreshadows Jesus, the greater David. We can truly sing v. 46 in the context of Jesus: “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation”! The dramatic imagery of God’s intervention in David’s situation in this psalm reflects the power of the resurrection, where Jesus – the LORD – lives, defeating the ultimate enemies of sin and death (1 Corinthians 14:25-27).
Paul quotes v. 49 in Romans 15:9, showing that the salvation described in Psalm 18 is extended to the Gentiles through Jesus, who is the fulfillment of God’s promise to David – Jesus, who is the King who reigns forever and brings salvation to the ends of the earth.
Reflection
Psalm 18 invites us to rejoice in God’s faithfulness, to trust in His strength, and to find our ultimate hope in our eternal King, Jesus.
As you reflect on Psalm 18, ask yourself how you can apply the imagery of God as rock, fortress, and shield to your current circumstances. Have there been times when He has delivered you? If so, how did that strengthen your faith?
Pray or sing Psalm 18 and rejoice in the God of your salvation!
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
2Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the Word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison — 4that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.[1]
📖 Revelation 3:7–13We’re back!After a few months off, The King is Coming returns in 2026 with one of the most encouraging letters in Revelation — Jesus’s message to the faithful church in Philadelphia. In a world filled with opposition and weakness, Jesus opens a door no one can shut.In this episode, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison explore:✔️ Jesus’s identity as the Holy One, the True One — God Himself✔️ What the “key of David” means and how Jesus alone opens and shuts✔️ The debated phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” — and how to read it biblically✔️ Why “little power” doesn’t disqualify faithfulness✔️ How being kept through the trial glorifies Christ’s strength in us✔️ What it means to be a pillar in God’s presence foreverThis church had no rebuke — only encouragement. And Jesus’s call still stands today: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, ESV)🔗 Missed earlier episodes in the series? You can click here to catch up and listen from the beginning.✍️ If you’d like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
I don’t know about y’all, but last fall and early winter were so busy. We’ve been traipsing back and forth across the South following my daughter and the high school band, writing this past year’s Advent guide (hopefully you got to follow along with the “Good News of Great Joy” readings in Luke), preaching a revival, serving the Lord at Christ Community and wherever else opportunity has arisen, started writing the #dailyPSALMSchallenge posts, and managed to work teaching school, too. Busy, busy, busy. It had been my intention to be finished with our Colossians study by now, but I am finding the older I get that things get done when they are done. Additionally, things worth doing well are worth working on until they are ready (even if I was ready to get it done before it was complete).
This closing exhortation (Bible word that is a mixture of warning, encouragement, and coming alongside someone to help them) of Paul’s here in Colossians 4:2-6 has been working on me throughout my busyness. The way I study these days – whether to write or preach or teach or whatever – is to work through the cross-references for a passage in my notebook, and I carry that notebook with me most places. I study and ponder on the passage and the verses throughout Scripture that give its context. I dwell with the passage. I meditate on it. Really, it is not as academic or spiritual as that sounds but more like the action of a crockpot where I simmer in the passage and its connecting verses until it’s done and ready to serve. I said Colossians 4:2-6 has been working on me; maybe the better way to say it is God has been working it into my life.
To understand this closing exhortation, you need to think of it in the context of the whole letter of Colossians. The first two chapters focus on doctrine, teachings about Jesus, His gospel, and the eternal life He gives, that the church at Colossae was missing. False teachers were coming in, taking advantage of the gaps in their knowledge and seeking to fill them with dangerous teachings and practices meant to lead them away from Christ. The last two chapters focus on putting that doctrine into practice. The church at Colossae needed to learn what it is to put our focus on Christ, namely taking off and putting to death the sin that belonged to their old life and putting on Christ, being adorned in and with Him, and living as His Spirit and Word direct. The biggest part of that application is where Paul helps the church at Colossae – and us – to be adorned in Christ in all areas of our lives, marriages, families, vocations, and so on. This exhortation fits at the tail end of how to be adorned in Christ in all areas of our lives.
As I said earlier, an exhortation is a kind of like coming alongside someone to help them. Picture being on a battlefield and your brother or sister soldier injures their leg and cannot walk on their own. You don’t just leave them there and save yourself. No, you reach down, grab their arm and put it across your shoulder, and you become a leg for them. They cannot walk, but y’all together can. This is recognition that in this spiritual battle, those who belong to the Kingdom of God lift one another up. In this case, Paul is writing to them from his place on the battle field in prison to lift them up and encourage them to keep the faith as they go through life and to lift up one another.
You might read this and be startled by the imagery of battle, but that is the reality of living in Christ for His Kingdom while we still live among the kingdoms of this world. Much of Paul’s letter to Ephesus mirrors aspects of the letter to Colossae. Where we have the exhortation in Colossians 4:2-6, this portion of Ephesians describes the need for putting on the “whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11) and recognizes that we are wrestling – literally fighting – against an enemy that is not of this world – not “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
We will walk through three ways in which we can lift one another up as we are on the Church’s mission, through prayer, preaching, and practice.
Prayer is Imperative to the Mission (vv. 2-4)
Prayer is literally the most we can do. A lot of times folks are willing to neglect prayer so that they can do something or make something – like praying or serving or whatever, but when you really get down and think about it, what more can you do than take your petitions to the almighty God of the universe?
That’s not a rhetorical question: what more can you do than take things in prayer to God Most High? The obvious and only answer is a resounding “no”.
Look at the way the author of Hebrews describes prayer in Hebrews 4:16:
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need….
Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Prayer is an opportunity to approach the throne of God with the same level of confidence of a toddler approaching a parent’s bed in the middle of the night, scared from some lurking shadow or bad dream. That baby knows they will not experience reproach even though they rouse the sleeping parent in the middle of the night. They know they will find mercy and grace, love and peace. We get to approach God’s throne knowing He will not reprove or rebuke but dispense the mercy and grace in our “time of need”.
Furthermore, Jesus not only meets our needs but saves “to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him”. Read that again – “to the uttermost”, meaning completely and at all times. Also, if we aren’t careful, we can miss that last part of Hebrews 7:25; Jesus “always lives” – ALWAYS LIVES – “to make intercession” for His people, “those who draw near to God through Him”. That phrase “make intercession” means that Jesus is appealing to the Father on our behalf, to give us mercy and grace in our time of need.
That’s what Paul is telling the Colossian church – and us to do: “Continue steadfastly in prayer”. It is clear that Paul wants them, and us, to pray for each other and him, but he is specific in how he wants them to do it.
First, he tells them to be “watchful” in prayer “with thanksgiving”. The idea of being watchful there reflects Ephesians 6:18 and his command to the church at Ephesus to “keep alert [in prayer] with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints”; to be “watchful” or “keep alert” in “perseverance” in prayer means to be alert to the needs of people around you and to lift them up specifically to God rather than being vague and unfocused. Sometimes we are tempted to almost have a prayer genealogy of be with so and so and be with this one and be with that one, never pleading with God (supplication) for what they need or seeking God on their behalf (intercession) in their time of need or even peril. We should be aware of what’s going on in our brothers’ and sisters’ lives – or at least aware something is going on – and approaching the “throne of grace” for them. This should be done “with thanksgiving” because 1)we can already be thankful that we have a place to go where we can be confident to receive help and 2)that we know God wants to dispense mercy and grace in the time of need.
Second, Paul asks them to pray for him and gives a specific prayer request. Keep in mind that Paul penned this letter from prison. He could have easily asked them to pray that he be released or that God would supernaturally get him out of prison; many of the apostles and early church folks experienced all of that. But Paul didn’t. He was confident that he was right where God had him. His prayer request was for God to “open…a door for the Word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which [he was] in prison”; he wanted God to provide an opportunity for preaching the gospel where he was.
This is a big deal because it differs from how we pray sometimes. We often pray to be delivered from our trying times – and there is nothing inherently wrong with that. As I said, Paul could have prayed for that as well. He didn’t though, and that reveals something to us that reflects how Jesus told us to pray in His model prayer in Matthew 6:10 – “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” While we pray to be delivered, as Paul obviously desired in Philemon 22, let us pray, like Paul, to have an opportunity for the gospel in the midst of the situation we are in, right where God has us. And Paul is also specific to his desire for this gospel opportunity: that he “may make it clear”. He wanted them not only to pray that the gospel would be preached but that it be preached clearly and people understand it (Nehemiah 8:8). Just as we should be “watchful” in prayer, attentive and not vague, for our brothers and sisters in Christ, we should be specific in our prayer for people to hear the gospel – that God would save specific people through the preaching of His Word. If we pray for specific people to hear the gospel and get saved, it’s possible we will finally be alert to the fact that God may have placed them on our minds and us in their lives that we may be the one to share the gospel with them, which leads us to our next point.
Preaching is Imperative to the Mission (vv. 3-4)
Preaching is important. You might have heard this quote (falsely attributed to St. Francis of Assisi), “Preach the gospel wherever you go, and – if necessary – use words.” Well, if being clear with the gospel is how Paul says he “ought to speak”, words are definitely necessary. Paul’s language here reminds me of Nehemiah 8:8, the verse that drives how I seek to write about or preach/teach the Word:
They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
At this point in Nehemiah, the captives had returned home after Babylonian captivity and had to rebuild walls, houses, and essentially their lives as a people. They had just brought out the “book”, the Law of God, and read it in one sitting. They could have called it a day and thought that they had accomplished something, but they didn’t. Ezra had a group of guys ready to help the people understand “the reading”.
This is important in understanding the sort of preaching and teaching Paul was asking to get to do. This was not one-off revival preaching where you show up and visit a place, preaching a few times or even once and going on your way. This was not a Sunday morning proclamation that can be heard and promptly discarded to take up our real lives when we leave. No, this is discipleship. This is answering the call of the Great Commission to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). Paul is wanting God to open a door for the Word to be taught, people to be saved, and for opportunity to be given to teach them similarly to what Paul is doing in the letter to the Colossian church. Remember what Paul prayed for the Colossian church in Colossians 1:9-10?
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God….
He had prayed that for them, and now, as part of bearing fruit of the life of Christ, they are to live out their faith and pray for others in the same way, which takes us to the practical, real nature of our last point.
Practicing Our Faith in Real Life is Imperative to the Mission (vv. 5-6)
This last exhortation is meant to be practical and affect the way they live their lives in Colossae. We have talked many times about how easy it is to do these things within our local churches but that it is another thing entirely to carry them out in the real world. It is Paul’s intent here to help them see that they were never meant to keep it within their local church family but to carry it out, that making disciples was never meant to stay where we are or where we are comfortable but to be for “all nations” (Matthew 28:19) – all people everywhere, wherever we are going (Matthew 28:18). To do that, we need to be careful how we carry ourselves and use our time wisely.
I want you to notice how carefully I am being in my wording here. I said be careful how we carry ourselves and not act right. This is not about acting right or acting at all; it’s about living the life that Christ has given you. It’s about all of life being adorned in Christ. Just as we looked at in the last few studies in Colossians, we do not only need to be adorned in Christ in our marriages, in our families, and in our vocations; we need our lives to be adorned in Christ when we go out into the world. Just as we would not walk out into public naked but rather adorned in an appropriate level of clothing, we need not walk out unadorned of Christ.
As I said, this is not an act. We are to walk “in wisdom”, meaning we live the life God has called us to how He called us to live it. The proverbs are extremely helpful for this. In our time in the Daily Wisdom Challenge back in October, we talked about that a lot, and much of what we looked at in Proverbs was concerned with, just as Paul is here, our speech. Here are a few practical applications for how we can use our words and conversations to point people to Jesus:
“making the best use of the time” – Be mindful of the time you have. Sometimes we waste time talking about unimportant things because we are unwilling to make an awkward transition in a conversation or because we might be afraid to broach a subject folks might be uncomfortable talking about (namely the gospel and even mentioning Jesus). We do not, however, have unlimited time to wait for whatever we think the right moment is. I read an anonymous quote on social media a while back that has plagued my thoughts and impacted my life in big ways: “Time is the only currency we spend without ever knowing the balance.” If God has put you in a position to share Him with others and put folks on your heart to share His gospel with, the time is now. We are not guaranteed another opportunity and tomorrow is not promised. Let’s get busy living in and for Him.
“Let your speech always be gracious” – Our speech should be characterized with grace. Now, this is the part where folks begin excusing their ugly talk by explaining that folks deserve this or that. I will agree that there are times when harsher speech is necessary, but God considered this when He chose the words Paul would use here. He said “gracious” meaning that the content and intent and substance of our speech, in the context here to “outsiders” but also to our church family, should be grace – undeserved favor. This should not be something we are unfamiliar with because if we are in Christ we have received grace. We have also just talked about how when we go to Him in prayer He has grace in our time of need. Here he reminds us of the grace we have received and tells us to extend it to others in how we talk to them.
“Let your speech…be…seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Salt doesn’t mean the same thing for us today as it did to Paul’s original audience. Salt is a preservative. It could be used to keep meat from spoiling. The idea here is that our speech should be a benefit – a blessing – to others and be used of God for good, echoing Jesus’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount that we are to be the “salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). In the context of Jesus’s teaching, salt that has lost its “saltiness” is to be thrown out and trampled underfoot, meaning that speech that is not good and edifying is worthless and once again echoes Ephesians, specifically Ephesians 4:29 that tells us not to let “unwholesome talk” come from our mouths but only speech that is “helpful for building others up according to their needs”.
How we talk matters. Elementary kiddos are often taught the adage about sticks and stones being able to damage but “words can never hurt me”. By the time we are adults, we realize that is a lie. Words hurt. They wound us deeply. Furthermore, we often mean our words to be mean. But this is a deeper issue than conversation or its substance. It’s a bigger deal than merely being willing to talk about good, gospel things or to be nice when speaking. The content of our speech ultimately reveals whether or not we are in Christ or of the world. Jesus Himself said “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45) to reference that speech is fruit that reveals whether we are good trees (saved; in Christ) or bad trees (lost; of the world).
Wrapping Up
This little section seems like it is light and simply a final exhortation, but when you take it in context, Paul is getting real with them. The Christian life goes beyond religion and definitely beyond the fringes of our lives, relegated to weekends and some evenings of our weeks. When he taught them, and us, that we are to put on Christ and have our lives adorned with Him – our whole lives, he wanted us to see how Christ as Lord commands our life and desires to see us minister to the lost world around us as well as to each other.
Paul wrote this letter from prison and sought to exhort, to come alongside and help, the Colossian church. He wanted to reach out and disciple them, and us, so that we not be hoodwinked by false teaching that replaces relationship with Christ with religious distractions and busyness. At the same time, he sought to be ministered to by them, asking them to pray for him to be able to live the life Jesus had called him to in his own time of need. How about us?
If you are a member of a local church (if you are saved, you are meant to be), your relationship with Christ is to impact your real, everyday life and the lives of your brothers and sisters in your faith family are meant to intersect and interact with one another. We are not meant to do this alone. We are Sojourners, but rather than being a heavenly hobo traipsing through this world alone we are pilgrims journeying together and making disciples as we go.
Consider how you can pray specifically for your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for your pastors and church leaders. Pray for the lost you know. Pray for someone to have the opportunity to share the gospel with them and for the Spirit of God to work on their hearts and help them understand. Pray that if God has called you to share the gospel with them that he will open a door for the Word and give you words seasoned with salt rather than merely salty speech.
Consider how you can be a beacon of God’s Word where God has planted you.
Consider how the teachings of God’s Word are (or are not) showing up in your real, everyday lives and repent where necessary. Consider this exhortation from Paul and exhortation from me as well. I may be one of your pastors if you are a member of Christ Community, but whether I am or not, let me come alongside you and help lift you up. Be encouraged by the counsel in this Bible study and not beat down. If you recognize that there are things in God’s Word that need to be changed in your life, consider that an opportunity to grow closer to Him. Know this, dear Sojourner, that I am praying for you as specifically as I can and have hope that God is not done working on us.
When I say that, I’m not talking about some sort or religious obligation for attending church or anything like that. My mind is drawn to my need for Jesus and the fact that He would deign to accept one like me.
There were times in my life when thinking of Sunday was more religious than relationship, but the older I get and the more I think about all that Jesus has done (and is doing and will do), the more I think of Sunday like the imagery in Hebrews 4:14-16.
The writer of Hebrews begins this section talking about Jesus as the “great high priest”. That phrase can definitely be acquainted with religious ideas and temple life and sacrifices, but Jesus is something different.
High priests are typically “chosen from among men” and “appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God” (Hebrews 5:1). Jesus is different. He is God become man to be the sacrifice for men to be able to come to God.
High priests would typically need to “offer sacrifice” for their own sins “fust as [they do] for those of the people” (Hebrews 5:3). Jesus is different. He has no sins to sacrifice for because He “has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He is the Lamb of God bearing our sin.
High priests worked and worked and worked on behalf of the people before God, but all of their work was just a shadow of what was to come. Jesus is different. Jesus is all substance, and no shadow, being Himself “the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:9-10).
Because Jesus is different, we are not limited to showing up for some religious observances over and over again, dwelling only in the suburbs of God’s grace and partaking only of shadows. Because Jesus is our high priest, He has made a way for us not just to be in relation to God but for us to be able to approach Him — to go directly to “the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).
For those bringing their animals for the high priest to slaughter and make atonement for their sins, the idea of approaching God’s throne would be a frightening thing. Think of Isaiah’s “woe is me” talk when he had a vision of the holy, holy, holy God seated on His throne; he knew he was unclean and unworthy to look upon “the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1-5)! The King of kings seated on the throne is still holy, holy, holy and we are still sinners. the King of kings seated on the throne is the divine word who discerns “the thoughts and intentions” of our hearts, laying us bare — “naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).
Yes, Jesus is the King of kings.
Yes, Jesus is holy, holy, holy.
Yes, Jesus is Lord.
No, we are not any of those things and neither worthy nor holy. We are not God, and most of us could not stand even alongside Isaiah to state our “woe” in God’s presence. But Jesus is also our high priest! He has made atonement for our sins! He has made a way for us to come before Him (John 14:6, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:1-2)!
This is why the imagery of Hebrews 4:14-16 is so heavy on my mind. I have the opportunity and privilege to approach the throne of grace in my time of need. Because I have confessed Jesus as Lord and believed upon Him — but my trust in Him to save me, I have assurance to be able to approach Him without fear of death and punishment because He Himself has “bore [my] sins in His body on the tree, that [I] might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). I don’t have to say “woe is me” because He put Himself through woes on my behalf.
Because of this, I can approach His throne with the confidence of a child waking a parent in the middle of the night for a drink of water. I can turn to Him with the assurance that I not only may approach Him for help but be confident that I will “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
That’s good news!
But it’s not just good news for me. It is good news for all who trust in Him, all who are saved by grace through faith in Him.
So, Sunday’s coming, and we have the opportunity to gather together on the first day of the week — the Lord’s day — and remember His death, burial, and resurrection. We have the opportunity to gather with brothers and sisters who have been saved by grace through faith and approach the throne of our Lord together, confident that His grace and mercy are enough, sufficient, and eternally flowing toward those He loves.
If this doesn’t describe you, know that there is good news and grace enough for you, too. Your sin can be forgiven. You can be saved. There is grace enough and room enough and good news enough for you and all who call on His name.
You won’t find anything relgiously impressive. You won’t find impressive priests or practices. You won’t find perfect people. You will find a bunch of sinners — and hypocrites — whose only hope is Jesus. He is who will will read about. He is who we will sing about. He is who we will preach about. And that’s because He’s our only hope. He’s our King. He’s our God. He made a way for us and there is no place we’d rather be than gathered around His throne in a small picture of how we will get to be when this world passes away and He gathers His people to Himself.
14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
4We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like His. 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin.
I know, I know. Christmas was last week, really last year at this point. But it is still on my mind.
As I type this, Christmas break is coming to an end for me and my family. Candice is taking down the tree and putting away Christmas decorations. But there was one song that we just couldn’t get around to or get to work during our time of Christmas songs at Christ Community: “Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)”.
I know that we have sung other versions of “Joy to the World” which were lifted up with much enthusiasm and joy, but this other version that we will be singing this week gets to the heart of why Isaac Watts wrote it in the first place (which is even more fitting considering our #dailyPSALMSchallenge).
Watts originally published “Joy to the World” in a collection of poems and hymns called The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament and Applied to the Christian State and Worship. This was a publication taking the song/prayer book of the Psalms and translating it forward in light of Jesus’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. This tells us that “Joy to the World” points back to Jesus’s first coming (Christmas) in order to point us toward His imminent return!
That, in essence, is the substance of our weekly worship gatherings. We worship on the first day of the week in remembrance of Jesus raising from the dead on the first day of the week AND in recognizing and reminding that He is coming again!
We lift our voices in song not in memorial but in honor and directly to our resurrected King!
We read and preach and listen to God’s Word not as a holy book of a bygone era but as a representation of our living and active Savior who died, rose, and is coming again — who is actively at work in the world today!
So, while Christmas is over until, Lord willing, December 2025, we can and should still sing “Joy to the World”.
Joy! The Lord is coming. Let earth — and our own hearts — prepare to receive the King.
Joy! Lift your voice in song and repeat the joy in all areas of your life.
Joy! Sin and sorrow has an expiration date. Thorns and trials do, too. As far as the curse of sin reigns, Jesus has become curse for us to end it!
Joy! No matter the state of world affairs and terror of wicked rulers, Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords — fully in control and coming to crush the Serpent’s head under His heel!
Joy!
This Sunday, we will be singing “Joy to the World” in light of Jesus’s imminent return. We will be singing to and about what He has done for us on the cross and the beautiful hope that comes from His empty, borrowed tomb. We will be singing about the hope that comes from the surpassing worth of knowing Him and being His. John will open up God’s Word and share the gospel — the good news — of Jesus to us. May God prepare our hearts to listen and sing and look forward to Jesus’s return!
Won’t you join us?
Here are our Scriptures & songs:
Scripture | Psalm 150 —
1Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens! 2Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! 4Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe! 5Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals! 6Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
7I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
Psalm 2:6-7
Psalm 2 reminds me of the line in the hymn “Joy to the World”: “Let Earth receive her king”. This psalm proclaims the reign of God’s anointed King, Jesus, who is set over all creation. Though the nations rebel, Psalm 2 reveals that true peace and joy come only by receiving and submitting to this King. His authority is certain, and His rule is good.
The Rebellion of the Nations
Psalm 2 begins with the nations raging and plotting in vain against God and His Anointed (vv. 1-3). In their pride, they reject God’s authority by choosing to skewing it as oppressive and restrictive, yet their rebellion reflects the condition of sinful humanity — desiring to rule ourselves rather than submitting to our Creator and King.
God’s Response
God does not respond in fear or by some kneejerk reaction but with laughter (v. 4). He clearly declares His plan: “I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill” (v. 6). This King, the Son of God, has been appointed to rule all nations. How? Well, as God created everything and appoints the rise and fall of nations, it is His divine prerogative! The New Testament affirms that this King is Jesus, the Messiah — the Christ — who was divinely declared to be this Son at His baptism and resurrection (Matthew 3:17, Acts 13:33).
God’s plan is unshakable. The King of kings is enthroned. His reign is certain.
The Universal Reign of the King
God promises His Anointed authority over all nations, to the ends of the earth (v. 8). He will bring justice and restore order, breaking down opposition like shattering pottery (v. 9). His rule is both powerful and righteous, ensuring that evil will not (and cannot) prevail.
A Call to Submission and Joy
The call for earth is clear: receive your rightful King and rejoice in His rule. This is seen in the way Psalm 2 closes with a warning and an invitation: “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son” (vv. 11-12). To “kiss the Son” is to honor Him, recognizing His authority and submitting to His reign. Though His wrath and power are real, His invitation is filled with grace and “blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (v. 12). True joy is not found in rebellion but in embracing Jesus as King — as Lord (Romans 10:9).
Seeing Jesus in Psalm 2
Psalm 2 make this pretty clear and explicit. Jesus is the King.
Reflection
Psalm 2 calls us to reflect on whether we will receive or resist Jesus. The nations rage, but we are invited to rejoice under His rule. To receive Him is to put our faith, hope, and trust in Him, finding refuge and joy.
Let earth — and each of us — receive the King.
The #dailyPSALMSchallenge gives us the opportunity to start 2025 in God’s Word by digging into a psalm a day. Each day will identify a key passage for us to meditate on as well as seeking to help us see Jesus in the psalm and reflect on what we have read.
Just Keith Harris 