Good morning! Today we will begin our reading in the book of Colossians. May our review of these four (4) chapters over several weeks encourage, strengthen and mature our faith. Enjoy chapter one, verses one through five.

Bible verse: Colossians 1:1-5 NLT

“ ¹ This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.

² We are writing 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.

³ We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, ⁵ which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.”

A Little History

Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Colosse around A.D. 60-62 while he was imprisoned in Rome (Acts 28:30). During that time Paul wrote Ephesians and Philemon. Colosse was located in Asia Minor’s Lycus Valley.

It doesn’t appear that Paul visited Colosse, but that he only heard about the believers there and he wrote to them to encourage them, strengthen their faith, and help them to mature in Christ.

Reflection

Yesterday we finished our reading with Apostle Paul stating to the Philippian church, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Today Paul is greeting the Colossian believers and asking for God our Father to give them grace and peace.

In these verses Paul noted at least three things that stood out to me:

• the believers faith in Christ Jesus

• their love for all of God’s people

• their confident hope of what God had reserved for them in heaven.

These believers did not take lightly the truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ. They embraced it, lived it out and believed confidently in the hope of Christ’s return in the future. As the believers at Colosse embraced Christ’s love for them, they showed love for all of God’s people.

Sisters and brothers, may God’s grace and peace be with you today. As you hold onto the confident hope that you have in Christ Jesus, may His love overflow in you and pour out on all of God’s people. May others hear and see your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all God’s people.

Quick questions to ponder:

• Are you embracing the Good News of Jesus Christ? If not, pray and ask God to help you in the areas that are preventing you from embracing it.

• In this world, a world that needs more authentic Christians living for Christ, how will you demonstrate love to all God’s people (e.g., prayer, eliminate gossip, help those in need)?

• As you grow in Christ, what do you want people to hear about you?

Prayer

Father God, thank you for today. Thank you for your amazing grace and love toward us. Thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to save us. Thank you for loving us when it was difficult for us to love ourselves and/or neighbors. Lord, continue to minister to us through your word and strengthen our faith in you. Lord, we want to align our hearts and wills to Yours. Lord, we want our confident hope in you to be seen in our actions, speech, and in our love for others. Lord, continue to stretch us beyond what we can see. Lord, help us to be more attuned to you and what you have called us to. Let our lives be a reflection of you. Lord, be with those who are struggling with health conditions, Lord heal them from their illness and strengthen their immune system. Lord, be with those who are disabled and need assistance, comfort them and care for their needs. Lord, we pray for those who are care givers and ask that you strengthen them and give them rest. Lord restore and renew their spirits. Lord, help us to see them, pray for them, advocate for them, and love them. In Jesus name, amen.

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