Colossians
Thursday, June 10, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your written word, which reminds me that You desire to be in relationship with people individually and in local congregations of believers gathered to worship and minister in Your name! I thank You today for the Apostle Paul’s letters to the churches, which show me that in every era of history You have moved among people, and that when we have been faithful, the world has recognized Your presence among us. I thank You for the Colossian church, and for Epaphras, one believer, who shared his faith in Jesus with others so they could come to know Him, too! I pray that You will fill me with the Holy Spirit today, so that I may faithfully represent You in my thoughts, words and actions. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Colossians 1:1-6
1This letter is from Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
2It is written to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.
May God our Father give you grace and peace.
3We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4for we have heard that you trust in Christ Jesus and that you love all of God’s people. 5You do this because you are looking forward to the joys of heaven—as you have been ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. 6This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard and understood the truth about God’s great kindness to sinners.
Reflecting on God’s Word
If you were going to write a letter to a group of Christians that you had never met, to whom would you write? Why?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
According to the salutation of this letter who are the authors? (1:1)
According to the introduction of this letter, what is it’s purpose? (1:2-6)
What do you learn about the recipients of this letter from the introduction? (1:2-6)
Understanding God’s Word
Why do you suppose that some of the Apostle Paul’s letters to churches became part of the New Testament?
What challenges does the letter form of writing present for the reader?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
To whom do you need to write a letter of encouragement or thanksgiving today?
Thoughts...This Same Good News...
One of the most important realities about the Good News of Jesus Christ is that it never changes! The Good News is life-changing for those who hear it and believe it, but the Good News never changes. Paul told the Colossian Christians that the same Good News they had received was going out all over the world and it had the same result everywhere—it was changing peoples lives. In a life where everything is always changing—after all the only things that don’t change are DEAD—the Good News is a constant. It never changes. In our day, many seek to “soften” the Good News, or make it more “inclusive.” The reality is that the Good News cannot be softened, because Jesus intends for it to break the power of sin and death in our lives. It is also quite inclusive already—Jesus said that anyone who comes to Him will never be cast away! What we must remember and realize is that WE are to change, by receiving and believing the Good News of Jesus, but it will never change, since it is the Good News of Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever!