Marsha's Musings: God is the First Cause

I had a restful Mother's Day yesterday.  Went to church with my family.  Had dinner all cooked in the crock pot and in the toaster overn, so it was just a matter of setting it on the table.  Rested for a while...tried to nap but couldn't for some odd reason.  Later my husbnd took me out for a frap at Starbucks.  I called my mom some time after that and had a good visit.  My daughter gave me leather journal that has a bible verse embossed on the front of it. She knows I like journals. 

Wow, this morning I thought I would sit outside while it was still cool, but it's not really very cool at out there.  Already 72 degrees on the patio.  I got chased in by the heat on my back and the sprinkler spraying my key board.  I think it's going to be a hot day.

Last night I tried a new breakfast recipe in the crock pot.  It has apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, oat meal, milk (I used almond milk) and water. It cooked all night.  Smelled so good when I got up. Was so nice to have a hot breakfast already waiting for me when I came into the kitchen.  I think it needs  a little more sugar or sweetner of some kind but other than that it is yummy.

My Quiet Time

I put two different versions of the verse below that I focused on today.  This verse carries on the thought from the verse before it, describing the legalist, the one who thinks he can make himself worthy before God by his religious activities and obedience to a list of do's and don't's supplied by his church leaders.  The prior verses also talk about how this legalist tries to lead others astray with his thinking. So verse 19 says he is not holding fast to the Head (Jesus Christ).

Paul uses the illustration of a body to illustrate the Church.  What is interesting to me though, is in the body of Christ (the church~believers everywhere) the nourishment comes from the Head (Jesus Christ) and works its way downward through the body.  The body of Christ is supported by the Head and knit together~not just held together like with glue, but knit together. It is interwoven and is a much stronger bond than just held together.  This body grows but the growth is from God.  God adds members to the body of Christ, that is, the church.  People don't add themselves to the body of Christ.  Yes, they may add themselves to the visible local church and yet not really be part of the body of Christ.  Only God adds members to the universal church, the body of believers that includes believers all around the world. God does the work.

This is wonderful to know.  If being added to the body of Christ depended on me, it would never happen because in previous verses in Colossians we are described as being dead in our trespasses and sins.  If we are dead to the things of God, how can we do anything toward our salvation without God being the first cause?

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. -Colossians 2:19

He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God. -Colossians 2:19