Thursday

1-August

Isaiah 12; Ps 93; Colossians 2

Isaiah 12: What ‘day’ is Isaiah referring to?

Colossians 2: Why does Paul struggle so much for the Colossians? What does he warn them against?

Journal Prompt:  What religious human traditions do you follow?  Do you feel that these can lead you from the truth?

Answers:

Isaiah 12: The day that Isaiah is referring to is the day the exiles return to Jerusalem – in the previous chapter he compares it with the return of the Israelites from captivity in Egypt.

Colossians 2:  Paul struggles so greatly (in prayer) because he hasn’t yet met the Colossians, and though he knows they have received the gospel, he fears that they might be swayed by others.

He warns them against people who are trying to convince them that they need something more to truly be believers. He urges them to resist human tradition.  One arguments seems to be the need for circumcision, and he emphasizes that when they accepted Christ as their Savior, their hearts were circumcised – it was a spiritual, not a physical need.  (v. 11)