English (United States) 
Thoughts from DA Schnabel and DA Kolb | Introduction Letter from the 2023 Winter Vision Newsletter
Once again, we approach the closing of yet another year. This should be time of our continuous and constant thankfulness. Apostle Paul writes to the congregation in Colossus (2:6-7) - As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
He clearly states that one must "have received" Christ Jesus as Lord. What does this mean in a practical sense? In the first verses of this chapter, he encourages all to be "knit together in love" and to be assured of understanding and knowing the mysteries of God, in whom are hidden all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge. Perhaps we can interpret these verses in this way: United in the love of Christ, we together make efforts to discover more deeply the "mystery" of Christ, thus, to "have Christ" is to have a lifestyle in which we walk in Him, we are rooted and built up in Him, and are established in faith. In this lifestyle, one then abounds in thanksgiving.
Let's sincerely look at ourselves more closely as we approach the New Year. If we honestly want to self-examine, the Lord, through the gift of the Holy Spirit within us, will make it possible for us to see more clearly if we truly "have Him" or not.