#10 Colossians 3:11 Here There is No Gentile or Jew
On March 14, 2021 by Amy BurginJoy:
Episode#10 Colossians 3:11
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin
Amy: In this podcast, we make space for Christgazing, the act of gazing on Jesus. Each week we focus on one passage from the Bible as Joy reads it several times and creates stillness after each reading to consider who God is and what he wants for us. Since episode 5, we have been camping in Colossians Chapter 3. Recall in verses 1 – 10 from the previous episodes, God is teaching us who we are when we put our trust in Christ. We are raised with him. We are hidden with Christ in God. When Christ appears, we also will appear with him in glory. There is so much togetherness in that.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
Before Joy reads the next verse, take 30 seconds to pour out your heart to God, whether it be loneliness, happiness, frustration, peace, sadness, or joy – Whatever is on your mind, name it and bring it to the Lord in these next 30 seconds.
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy:
I’m going to ready today’s passage two times. As I read, consider the question, “What does this passage say about God?” What does he want? Who is he thinking about? What is he doing?
Take a few moments to answer the question, “What does this passage tell you about God?”
[Pause and know]What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy:
As I read the scripture again, consider the question, “What does this passage tell you about people?” What do people think? What do people do? What do people want?
Take a few moments to answer the question, “What does this passage tell you about people?”
[Pause and know]Lord, What Would You Have Me Know or Do Today?
Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God the question, “Lord, what would you have me do today in response to this passage?” Remember, he is a good teacher. God wants you to know him better. He never condemns or belittles but rather, he is the lifter of our heads.
Take a few moments to listen for his voice as you ask him, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today?”
[Pause and listen]Blessing
Joy:
Christgazer, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May he cause his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he turn his face toward you and give you peace and may you also turn your face toward his and know that he is your everything.
One Response
Amy:
This verse became extra special to me this week because I talked about it for one hour and 45 minutes with my son Philemon, who lives in Rwanda. I was amazed by how much we were able to discover in one small sentence. We met over zoom and I recorded the entire session but I can only share a few sound bites here. I asked him what this verse means to him and he gave a starting point,
Philemon:
It means, Jesus, where I can start, Jesus is in all people. There is no American. There is no African. There is no European. There is no Asian. All, we are the same when we are in Christ Jesus. There is no short people. There is no tall people. There is no small people. There is no big people. There is no rich people. There is no poor people. They are the same in Jesus Christ.
Amy:
Since I cannot share the entire conversation, I share ten points from it here:
1. There is no people group God loves more than another.
2. As we had fun rephrasing the verse listing all the divisions we see today saying things like “In Christ, there is no American or Rwandan, no white or black, no short or tall, no rich or poor, no Catholic or protestant.
3. In Christ, all are spiritually rich regardless of earthly wealth and how very sad it is to be spiritually poor!
4. We must accept each other because we are all made in the image of God.
5. We must accept ourselves because we are each made in the image of God. Today, a common problem we see is that people want to change their own colors. They want to change who God made them to be because they are not proud of who they are. We must be proud of who we are because Our Creator is very proud of what he has made.
6. We talked about how changing our colors masks the unique facet of God we were made to reflect.
7. We talked about a voice we all hear inside our heads, “God doesn’t love you because you live in extreme poverty, because you are an orphan, because you have this struggle or that struggle.” This voice goes on to say things like, “Do this, do that, chase this, chase that, change this and change that – then you will have everything you want.” We talked about how this voice makes many promises, never teaches and never shuts up.
8. We talked about how the voice of God is a strong and tender teaching voice that sounds more like this, “Son, you are amazing and made in my image. I am proud of you and have a good plan and purpose for you. Follow me, I will care for you and I will show you the way, step by step.”
9. We talked about the old division of Hutus, Tutsis and Twa in Rwanda that led to the 1994 genocide. We talked about how now in Rwanda, Rwandans no longer say, “I am hutu or I am tutsi.” No, they only say, “I am Rwandan” because they understand firsthand the danger of division.
10. We talked divisions between churches based on tradition. How some believe in women wearing dresses and skirts only and other believe in women wearing whatever they wish…but really all we are called to believe in is Christ, because Christ is ALL.
We talked about more than these 10 points, but and I leave you with the last sound bites of our conversation because it gives glory to the beautiful and indivisible One.
Philemon:
Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus.
Amy:
Oh that name Jesus. His name is beautiful, bringing healing and reconciliation to all who want it.
Closing
Amy: Joy and I will be back again next week continuing in Colossians Chapter 3. As usual, we leave you with our familiar closing paraphrasing James Bryan Smith, When you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails and so do you.
Christ is all and are in all peoples
God created us in the image of God.
Thank you so much
God bless you all
Thank you so much for being on the podcast Philemon! I loved spending time with you and God!