Monday, April 18, 2016

Today’s Reading  |  Colossians 2:6–8               
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. (NRSV)

Reflection
About once every two months, I find myself getting out of the habit of having reflective time for me, Ashley. After a busy day, sometimes it is nice to fall asleep watching a mindless episode of something on Netflix. The weekend comes and somehow my excuse for not going to church is sufficient. Something is missing, and I start to feel crummy.

I was having a conversation with someone recently about how her smartphone has taken away her time to be reflective during down time. For me, I check my phone first thing when I wake up, when I go to bed, when I am waiting for the bus or sitting on the bus. Any down time I have, the smartphone seems to fill. After doing this too much I begin to feel like a kid that has had too much candy--”junk” has entered my system and that quiet time with God, that conversation I have with God, becomes nonexistent.

In this passage, Paul is writing to the church in the small town of Colossae because he heard people were being taught the wrong message of Christ. Paul says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition.” I view “hollow and deceptive philosophy” as an example of my having too much “candy.”

It is easy to get off track and not feel our Christ with us. The more we focus on our world, the more we will be deceived. To not feel this way, we must “be built up in Christ,” rooted in him each day. I envision myself as a tree that plants its feet in the ground ready to start the morning. My source of energy and life comes from a solid place and that “junk” goes out the window.

Prayer
Lord, this day you have given me is not meant to be faced without you. Help me to wake each day with a “good morning” and a prayer of thanksgiving, so that my day unfolds from your spring of boundless love and peace. In your name. Amen.

Written by Ashley Elskus, Director, Center for Life and Learning

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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