Jo’s Place

I want you to know how much… I have agonized for you  …and for the church  …and for many other believers,  who have never met me personally.  I want them to be encouraged  ...and knit together by strong ties of love.  I want them to have complete confidence  ...that they understand God’s mysterious plan,  ...which is Christ Himself.  In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  I am telling you this so no one will deceive you  ...with well-crafted arguments.  For, though I am far away from you, my heart is with you.  And I rejoice that you are living as you should  …and that your faith in Christ is strong.  And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord,  ...you must continue to follow Him.  Let your roots grow down into Him,  ...and let your lives be built on Him.  Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught,  ...and you will overflow with than...

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, …set your sights on the realities of heaven, …where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ, in God.  And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world,  …you will share in all His glory.  So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.  Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.  Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.  Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.  You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.  But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.  Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wic...