Colossians
Monday, June 28, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you have included me in your plan of salvation! I thank you that you desire Gentiles to be saved. Help me to rejoice in the fact that I am in right relationship with you. May my life be a light to those around me of your love and your salvation. I ask that you would use me today to share the new life of Jesus Christ to someone. I ask for your grace, in Jesus' name. . . Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Colossians 1:25-26
God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his message in all its fullness to you Gentiles. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to his own holy people.
Reflecting on God’s Word
What is Paul's God-given responsibility?
How should Paul proclaim this message? To whom should Paul direct the message?
Who are the "Gentiles?"
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
Why was the message "kept secret for centuries and generations past?"
Who are the "holy people" to whom Paul is speaking? To whom does this include and exclude?
Why was now the appropriate time for Paul to proclaim the message?
Understanding God’s Word
Why did God keep a secret for centuries?
What does Christ's sacrifice upon the cross have to do with this "message?"
Should this message remain a secret any longer? Why or why not?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
Are you part of the "holy people" to whom this secret has been revealed? Explain.
What do you think is the secret Paul was talking about? (see Colossians 1:27)
Why should the revelation of this secret give you joy?
Thoughts...
In Colossians 1:25 we see the "task" of the apostle Paul. His task to serve the church by proclaiming (God's) message in all its fullness to the Gentiles. A Gentile is simply someone who is not a Jew. When Paul said that his task was to proclaim the message to the Gentiles, he was saying that he was called to preach to the world outside of Judaism the message that Jesus Christ died and rose again for their salvation as well. For centuries the covenantal blessing, representing salvation, was specifically for the Jews. When God made a promise to Abraham to bless his "seed," his children inherited the promises of God through the covenant. In Colossians 1:25-26 Paul was making a significant declaration to the world -- salvation is not just limited to the Jews, but is available to all!
It is important to note that Paul, himself, was Jewish in background, but God called him to be a "light to the Gentiles." The secret that was kept for centuries was that God makes salvation available to everyone. God called Paul to make know this secret so that people would come to know the love of Jesus Christ. For many of us today, the news that God's salvation through Jesus Christ is available to Gentiles as well, seems hardly like a secret. In some ways, it almost seems like old news. The reality is, however, that without this news, not one person outside of the Jewish race who accepts Christ, would ever have the opportunity to be saved. As you ponder the fact that you are saved today, give thanks to God that he included us in his new covenant!