Father Knows Best

Colossians1:15-23

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%201%3A15-23&version=NIV;NLT

 

In the 50’s there was a popular TV series called, “Father Knows Best”. It was about an idealized family where the Father, as the title indicates, would always have good advice for his three children. In fact, he was the one that the family would look to for leadership, stability and wisdom.

 

That was how I looked at my own Father. I put him on a pedestal as if he were perfect. In fact, in my eyes, he could do no wrong. When he spoke, I listened. It doesn’t mean I always obeyed, but I certainly considered his word the truth.

 

The Colossian believers were struggling with who Jesus was. False teachers were leading them astray. They were making Jesus into something less than who he really was. So Paul wrote this about him.

 

¹⁵ Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation ¹⁶ for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.        NLT

When I read this passage in Colossians with my Dad in mind, it could be describing him from my childhood perspective. However, as the years passed I came to realize that my Dad wasn’t perfect; he was only human, with human weaknesses.

 

In reality, we all desire someone or something to fill this role of perfection in our life. Someone to believe in who is larger than life; someone to believe in who is god-like in our eyes; someone to believe in that loves us unconditionally.

 

¹⁹ For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ… ²² now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.  NLT

 

Thankfully, even though Jesus was fully human, he was perfect. Because of this, we know that he loves us unconditionally; is always with us; will never forsake us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is bigger than life and more than worthy of our love, our trust and our worship.

 

Indeed, it is our Heavenly Father that knows best. Let us come into his presence holy and blameless.

 

 

 

Laying Down the Law

Romans 14:13-19

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014%3A13-19&version=NIV;NLT

  

Parents set boundaries for their children all the time in all different areas of life. In response to the question of “What are some TV boundaries that you set for your children?” my daughter had three rules:

 

       No TV after dinner.

 

       Only 1-2 hours of TV at any one time.

 

       No TV while eating dinner.

 

Then, just in case, she installed an app on her daughter’s phone that locks her out from 8 pm to 7 am.


Parents set boundaries for their children. Sometimes they make rules. But when they get really firm, they lay down the Law.

 

Paul is writing to the Roman believers about a hot button issue of the time. Jewish Christians believed the Law prohibited them from eating meat that had been offered to idols. Whereas, Gentiles had no problem eating the same meat. This became such an issue that the Jerusalem council had to deal with it.

 

Paul wrote to the Roman church, “stop condemning or judging each other”.

 

¹⁷ For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. ¹⁹ So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. ²⁰ Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat.          NLT

 

In our culture today, we don’t really relate to conflict about eating meat offered to idols. But we can relate to judging one another. We judge others based on how they look; where they live; how they affect our life; how they act in church; what they smell like; if their beliefs match ours. The list is endless.

 

We all have our own set of rules based on our values and priorities. Then we apply those rules to others. What rules do you apply to your family; to your co-workers; to people at church; to the stranger in the car who cuts you off? Do you build others up or tear them down?

 

Once you’ve answered those questions, remind yourself of what is truly important; that only God’s word and people are eternal. Then live a life that will “aim for harmony in the church and build each other up”.