It's hard to tell the difference beetween the genuine article and a counterfeit, even when it comes to faith. Paul teaches the Colossians to find their stay in Christ alone, and to be firmly rooted in His work in their lives. We are also taught how to tell the difference between what is and is not important when it comes to our life in Christ.

In this chapter, we hear yet another bright and hopeful passage of prophecy that describes the gracious reign of Jesus in our lives. Living in a world of injustice and oppression, we hear how our Savior will exalt the downcast. Instead of being decieved by appearances, He will always judge in righteousness and truth.

The opening verses of Isaiah 9 are read each year by many Christians as a part of the Christmas Eve liturgy. We are reminded of the One who came from the Galilee, Jesus Christ our Lord. Our faith is strengthened when we hear these verses that so clearly describe our Lord, knowing they were written over 600 years before Jesus was born.

Colossians is written to a small, declining agricultural community that Paul never visited himself. He writes to encourage them in their faith, which was under atttack. Some were trying to get the Colossians to put their faith in something less than Christ. Paul's words encourage them, as they do us, by rooting us deeply in Christ, the Source of our love and life.

Judah and Jerusalem had no chance against the overwhelming power of her neighbors to the north who were conspiring against her. But God saved Jerusalem from destruction, as yet another example of His saving power. The idea of the prey escaping the jaws of certain death offers a vivid illustration of Israel's fate in this episode.

God offers wicked King Ahab the opportunity to ask for a sign of His divine power. In a false pretense of faith, Ahab rejects the Lord's offer. God, undeterred by the king's stubborned unbelief, gives the believing Jews the sign of Imanuel as assurance of His loving redemption.

Paul accomplished untold good for people who were blessed by His labors. We are encouraged to know that when we labor with the Lord and for the Lord, that He will prosper us. It may not look like it. It may not always feel like it. But we know that the Lord's purpose will endure at the end, so we do well to serve the Lord in boldness and love.

Isaiah recounts the day he was called into heaven's glory, and made a prophet of the Most High God. In one of the few places in holy scripture we get to see into heaven, we learn that God's prophets are His, not ours. Those whom God calls into holy ministry serve Him, not us. Their divine call carries great weight and tremendous responsibility for both the preachers and the hearers.