November 14, 2019
Colossians 1:28-29
He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.  To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

New International Version (NIV)
                In a movie from years ago, Billy Crystal played a character who was going through a mid-life crisis.  He was searching for his purpose in life.  A weathered old cowboy told him he needed to find the “one thing that mattered most in life.”  Crystal asks him, “What is that one thing?”  The old sage answered, “That is what you have to find out.”

                Have you found out what it is for you?  Paul wrote to the Colossians and described Jesus in magnificent terms (1:15-20).  Then he described in beautiful terms that Christ in the church is the hope of glory.  Proclaiming Christ for the purpose of presenting believers mature in Christ became Paul’s one goal in life.  For this work, he was all in.

                We are all unique.  Each of us is designed wonderfully to glorify God with the gifts he gives us.  At this point in my life, Paul’s “one thing,” seems to me to be appropriate for all of us.  In another letter to the Corinthians, Paul explained that we all participate because every time we eat the Lord’s supper we proclaim his death until he comes.  We want to grow up into “little Christs” so that we can help other people become like Jesus, too.  This is a great investment of the time we have left on this earth.
                C. T. Studd, the British missionary and evangelist, wrote, “Only one life.  ‘Twill soon be past.  Only what is done for Christ will last.”
Pray with me:      
Father, thank you for what you have done for us and in us.  Reveal to us the “one thing” worthy of the investment of the rest of our lives.  In full view of your manifold mercies, help us to surrender our whole lives to you.  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.  
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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