Colossians 2:1-8
Apostle Paul's primary goal in his ministry was not only establishing new churches but also to equip them to become spiritually mature Christians.
Paul knew that if they don’t grow in Christ they will become easy targets for Satan.
Such shallow Christians can be blown away with every wind of doctrines that deceive and confuse them in their spiritual walk.
As it was in the 1st century, we can observe in our day that the world influences such shallow Christian minds with persuasive and emotionally appealing arguments.
Apostle Paul did not establish the church at Colossae or visited them personally.
Yet he voices a great burden for these young Christians to grow in Christ.
Paul knew their struggles with the unseen world around them – he is telling them that he is praying for them
Paul was urging them to be united in heart and in Christian love.
He says true knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the key to the deeper understanding of their faith.
Loving relationships with each other is based on faith and complete understanding of the full riches in knowing Christ.
True knowledge of Christ knows the mystery of God revealed in Christ.
He is warning them of the subtle ways Satan deceives by logical arguments – such arguments seem reasonable and acceptable to shallow Christians.
That is the real danger of deception which every Christian faces.
Shallow Christian may become easy targets for the devil.
Paul says Satan and his devils with eloquent communication skills convince and deceive such shallow Christians to compromise with their faith.
Our Christian maturity is reflected upon the lives we lead.
Apostle Paul says our faith walk must be consistent with our conversion experience.
In verse 7 we see a picture of depth and stability.
Picture of a tree with deep roots represents a Christian with deep knowledge of Christ.
Picture of a building represents a Christian becoming the kind of person useful to Christ.
Today in US we are more politically correct in everything we say, we do or we promote.
Our exclusive faith in Christ is threatened from every corner of our day to day life.
Apostle Paul helps us to grasp the seriousness of our serious walk with our Lord
We have to understand that the source of Satan’s game plane is always based on human traditions and deceptive arguments.
We are seeing such forces in action all-around us in many forms and shapes.
Personally I feel that the Christians are living in the most dangerous world of deception and confusion.
Unless we are rooted and established in our faith, we will be swayed by them.
False teachings and satanic forces are threatening our daily walk with the Lord.
Today we are threatened by emerging anti-biblical values everywhere, at our work places, schools, political system and social life.
Apostle struggles to make us to understand that deep relationship with the Lord Jesus is fundamental and essential to survive as believer in the Lord Jesus.
We have no stability unless we are deeply rooted in HIS word and knowledge.
We may ask ourselves the following questions.
What is my faith in the Lord? Is it deep or superficial?
Am I digging deeper in HIS Word and growing in the knowledge of riches in Christ?
May we seek the help, counsel, strength and Power of the Holy Spirit to become mature Christians to be used by our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Exodus 2:1-10
Today is Mother’s Day in USA
We honor our mothers with love, flowers and take them out for lunch.
We know that mothers play a great role in a child’s life.
They love their children, nurture them and instill all values of life in their formative years.
Bible has examples of mothers for their courage, sacrifice and devotion.
On this Mother’s Day we will look at the mother of Moses recorded in Exodus.
Under the regime of Pharaoh, all the children of Jacob were called Hebrews - they were treated as slaves.
When Moses was born he was born into a slave family.
The new decree by the wicked pharaoh says that all male children must be killed.
So by all human standards, Moses never had a chance to live.
Mother accepts the blessings
Jochebed was from the priestly community – Levites were designated tribe for priestly duties in the Temple of the Lord.
She readily accepted the blessings of the Lord in spite of her circumstances.
She knew in her heart that this little boy was extraordinary and gift of God.
She managed him for 3 months because of Pharaoh’s edict to kill all new born male child.
Mother plans with confidence
Pharaoh’s edict was to throw the newborn male child into Nile River.
Jochebed was an intelligent mother – willing to take risks
So she built a small seal proof basket for the child and placed it in the reeds along the banks of Nile River.
She knew that Pharaoh’s daughter would come for bathing in that proximity.
She knew that only Pharaoh’s daughter can save her newborn son.
Her calculations were amazing.
She sent her daughter to monitor the basket and watch over him.
Mother provides with courage & wisdom
As she expected the daughter of Pharaoh showed up with her attendants – noticed the basket – opened the basket and took pity on the baby boy.
She knew that it was a Hebrew baby – knew that his mother could not hide him from Pharaoh.
Miriam watching close by came to her and suggests a Hebrew woman to nurse him.
Not only Jochebed got her baby back but also got paid for doing so.
Verse 10 when the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
Jochebed never named her son but gave that option to Pharaoh’s daughter. 
So she named him Moses.
In Acts 7th chapter we learn that Pharaoh’s daughter treated Moses as her own son and was educated everything that a royal son would go through.
Moses became the man of power in words and deeds.
Jochebed had three outstanding qualities present day mother can learn from.
First, she had respect for sanctity of life
She conceived in the most deadly circumstances and never gave up hope.
Second, Jochebed was courageous mother
I am sure she and her husband prayed to God for direction.
She must have received the guidance from the Lord to plan courageously orchestrating every move.
Third, Jochebed instilled in them the faith of the fathers.
We studied that Moses got his education from Egyptian teachers- got wealth and power.
Yet he refused to be an Egyptian prince because of what he learned from his biological mother.
Scripture tells us that Moses was not willing to put aside the spiritual base built by his real mother.
The greatest responsibility of a godly mother is to instil in them the faith and life values.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13
The former New York Yankees catcher, Yogi Berra once said: “It ain’t over ‘till it’s over.”
This guy is not a theologian but he said something profoundly true about Christian life.
Apostle Paul was writing this to the Corinthian Church – re-visiting the history of Israel – it has a parallel to his present day church as well as ours today.
The great redemptive act of the Sovereign Lord in the Old Testament was the crossing of the Red Sea.
Paul drew a parallel between crossing of Red Sea and Christian baptism.
People of Israel were under the old covenant – the New Covenant was established through Lord Jesus Christ.
We know that the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years – received many spiritual blessings – ‘ALL’ were under the cloud and passed through Red Sea.
During the Passover night they were all redeemed by the blood of the lamb – All came out of the Egyptian bondage – Many were unwilling to accept such freedom and succumbed to temptations on the road and perished in the desert.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 
Paul was admonishing the Christians at Corinth for craving after evil things and warning them to learn lessons from the past. 
Temptation is not sin – To remain and yielding to it becomes sin.
Apostle Paul was summarizing 4 incidents from the 40 years of wilderness wanderings that resulted into ultimate death of most of the Israelis in the desert.
First, he focuses on idolatry which leads to drunken orgies and revelry in the camp – many losing their lives as a result of their rebellion.
Today’s Christian idolatry is not giving the rightful place to God in our lives – replacing God with something in life becomes an idol – It could be anything in our life.
Secondly, Apostle Paul draws their attention to sexual immorality resulting into the death of 23000 people as recorded in Numbers 21.
He found sexual immorality in the church at Corinth and warning them of terrible consequences.
Thirdly, Paul reflects upon the arrogance of Israelites who rebelled and tested the Lord and were killed by snake bites.
Apostle Paul was issuing severe warning against such behavior in the Church.
With our arrogance and attitude we too test our Lord and grieve the Holy Spirit.
Fourthly, God’s people grumbled in their desert wanderings and were killed by destroying angel.
A Christian who is never content in his/her life end up dissatisfied with what they have.
When we are ungrateful for the blessings received we are questioning God’s goodness and HIS mercy – may lose HIS blessings and also HIS protection.
In the past we have witnessed individuals like Jimmy Swagger or Ted Haggard in the ministry falling into disgrace and shame for yielding to momentary temptations.
In Verse 12 Paul warns the Christian to be very careful and beware of the evil one.
Apostle Paul talks about three encouraging statements with regard to temptations in our life.
1. Temptation is common to everyone without exception.
No one’s sin is unique and so he/she can be excused – no one can claim that he/she could not escape the temptation.
2. God knows the circumstances of our temptation. 
Some people can bear the pressure of trial and temptation better than others.
God knows the breaking point of everyone – HE will allow any temptation not go beyond that breaking point.
Paul promises that God is faithful and He will not allow us to be tested or tempted beyond what we are able to handle. 
3. God provides a certain way of escape route in every temptation. 
God always provides a particular way of escape that is available in each temptation. 
There is no one way of escape out of the temptation. 
We have to look for the escape route as God always puts it there for us to see.
But our responsibility is to look for that escape route and follow it.
Temptations do come and disturb us many times – But God always provides the escape route and we have to look for it.
Our initial response to any temptation is to realize that we are being tempted – resist the temptation and then look for the escape route.