Week 5 Devos

A New Look at Jesus
Day 1

We need to put first things first! We live in a day of crazy busyness. For many people, a hurried and full schedule is a badge of their own self-worth. Even Followers of Christ can find themselves doing all sorts of things for God as their schedules get more and more congested. Sadly, in our pursuit of “doing” for God, we can forget the very one we are serving. In our busy and driven lives, Jesus can get pushed off to the side while other things take center stage. This is the very reality that the Apostle John Addressed in the Book of Revelation:

2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lamp stand from its place among the churches. - Revelation 2:2-5

Notice that these followers of Christ were doing many things right. They were working hard, standing strong during a time of persecution, holding to the Truth and confronting what was false. These were people who were heavily invested in the things of God. Yet something was very wrong. In the middle of all they were doing for God, they had lost their first love.



Tell abut a time in your life when you had a deep sense of God’s closeness and felt Christ was first in your heart and life?







What helped create this sense of closeness and connectedness to Jesus?





What is your relationship with him like now?

Day 2
Knowing and Being Known

Read Colossians 1:15-20

The Apostle Paul paints a vivid and detailed picture of Jesus in this passage. What do you learn about Jesus from reading today?





In these six short verses, we see Jesus as the Eternal God. According to this passage
What has Jesus done? What is he doing now? What will he do in the Future?






Jesus is the one who holds everything together (v17). How have you seen him function as the cosmic adhesive that holds your life together?





Jesus is the head of the Church. What do you thing Jesus would say to one of these people or groups:
• To the wealthy church member who threatens to stop giving if he doesn’t get his way
• To a congregation that honors their pastor more than Christ
• To a pastor who demands unquestioning allegiance

Why is it essential for Jesus to always be on the throne of the church?




The divinity and death of Jesus are inseparable (1:19-20) How have you experience peace in your life through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross?

Day 3

Read Colossians 1:21-23

By using the words, once, pointing to the past, and but now pointing to the present, Paul offers “before” and “After” snapshots of our lives. What does Paul say about our lives before we become followers of Christ?



What does Paul say about our lives after we become Christ followers?




Paul presents those outside of faith as “alienated from God,” “enemies” of God and filled with “evil behavior” (v21). Why is Paul so strong in his language when he speaks of those who don’t have faith in Jesus Christ?







Why do these before and after snapshots challenge you to be more intentional about making Christ know to those who are still seeking?






Who is one seeker you are praying will enter a relationship with Jesus, and how can your youth group help you out?

Day 4
Read Colossians 1:15-23

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever! He is the cosmic glue that holds the universe together. He was eternally before us, preparing the way. He is with us every moment and he is already in Heaven preparing the way. He is with us every moment. And He is already in heaven preparing a place for us, an eternal home beyond our wildest imagination. Take time to pray and to praise God for the work he has done in the past, is doing in the present, and will do in the future.

Paul is empathic that followers of Christ are headed for a joy filled eternity with God. At the same time, he honestly portrays those who are not followers of Christ as alienated from God and headed for a Christless eternity. These people are lost.

Take time to write down a list of people you love and care about that do not have a relationship with Jesus:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Day 5

Read Colossians 1:24-27

Service in the name of Jesus Christ is not always easy or fun. Sometimes there is a price to pay. The hope we have in Christ is a message that needs to be brought to all people. This is rarely done without an investment of time, energy, or even personal suffering.

What will it take to further the cause of Christ?






What will you need to give up to meet this Christ-honoring goal?







What do you need to pray for to meet this goal?