October 3, 2012

SCRIPTURE

COLOSSIANS 1:3-6

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.

OBSERVATION

Paul is writing to the church at Colosse from his prison cell in Rome. Colosse was founded when one of Paul’s converts at Ephesus, Epaphras, traveled to Colosse and preached the gospel. After this, the church at Colosse was under attack for heresy, and Epaphras visited to check on them, then went to visit Paul to report on the church, which inspired this letter. What strikes me in this greeting is Paul’s great example of building up the confidence of his flock. He immediately praises the people for what they are doing correctly instead of condemning them for what they are not. And what does he praise? Their love for all God’s people. The second thing that strikes me is from where that love comes. Paul writes it so beautifully: it’s from ‘the faith and love that spring up from the hope’ we have in heaven.  Finally, he lays out a reference map, if you will, of how the gospel spreads and bears fruit, which is through our understanding of God’s grace. What this says is: until we actually comprehend the enormity of the gift God is giving us we just aren’t excited enough to inspire curiosity and excitement, and eventually conversion and change, in others.

APPLICATION

I often struggle with the “doing” of evangelism.  I’m not particularly charismatic; I’m quiet, shy, and introverted, and all of those things impede my readiness to share my faith.  But when I really think about how amazing it is that God not only created everything and did all the amazing things He did to make the universe work, but He also knows me and loves me, and considers me His child, and forgives me again, and again, and again, and again when I fail, simply because of His grace and the intercession of Jesus, I am overwhelmed with emotion.  Even I become excited and want to be able to tell the people that I see that everything makes sense!  There is a purpose!  We are all useful, loveable children of God, and we can be redeemed!  Enthusiasm is infectious, but it’s up to me to keep that fire stoked and my brain at the ready so I can share whenever, wherever, with all the joy that the peace of my relationship with God gives me.

PRAYER

Father, grow in me the ability to stoke the fire of faithfulness and joy in Your gift of grace. Help me to see the everyday opportunities to share how amazing this gift is, how absolutely free and how wonderful the freedom feels once it’s been accepted.  God, awake in me that appreciation of every person as one of Your children, made in Your image, and help me to love them in the way that pleases You.  I want to always please You and do the work that You have asked; God, give me Your strength and spirit of action in order to work well in Your ways. In Your precious Son’s name…Amen.