The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day seven)

Our Christian faith is built on relationships.  First, it is built on a relationship with Jesus Christ, then it is encouraged through relationships with brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ like Epaphras:  just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. (Col. 1:7-8)

All of us have had people like Epaphras in our lives who either shared the Gospel with us or strengthened our faith.  Who are those people in your life?  When did they show up?  How did they edify you?

Remember those faithful saints who cared for you thanking God for them, and if possible, write them a thank you note telling them you thank God for them.  It may be just the encouragement they need.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day six)

Here’s the truth: the Gospel always travels, because Jesus said so.

Jesus wasn’t joking or using hyperbole. He meant it when he said, “All authority in heaven and earth have been given to me. So, go…” Jesus has the authority to both command and fulfill the great commission. Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae is evidence of that truth.

Colossae is 1000 miles from Jerusalem. By the time the Gospel had made its way there, almost all of Asia Minor had heard the good news about Jesus (Acts 19:10). What’s even more incredible is, it wasn’t Paul who delivered the news, but Epaphras. Epaphras heard the Gospel through Paul, believed, and then he took it home to Colossae, and a church sprung out of fertile ground.

That’s the great commission at work; that’s how the great commission works.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day five)  

Paul writes “Grace” and “Peace” in his greeting to the Colossians.  A mixture of both Greek and Hebrew words and thoughts. Worth noting- different Greek word for grace is used, that points to the work of God.  The Hebrew concept of peace was not the absence of trouble, but rather peace is a sense resulting from having been in the presence of God. Notice the order (important in Greek writing). Grace then Peace.  Paul is pointing out that as we understand and recognize the work of God through Christ in our lives, we then experience the peace His work and presence brings. The temptation is to try to find peace in other places- material, social, intellectual, and spiritual.  Paul is teaching that peace- real peace, is found only thru God’s grace in Christ- a wonderful greeting, important reminder, and a joyful celebration.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day four)

We begin a new study this week…Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae.  Paul was an excellent letter writer and true to his form, he begins his letter with an introduction.  Colossians was possibly Paul’s first prison letter.  It was especially important for Paul to introduce himself to these believers in Colossae.  Paul did not found this church and had likely never visited it.  Since he was writing to both encourage the believers and offer warnings against false theology, Paul felt the need to establish his call and authority, so the church would give heed to his words.  His reputation likely preceded him since Philemon and Onesimus were from Colossae.

Paul’s reputation spoke of the integrity of his message.  His lifestyle matched the words of his preaching.  If you were to share Christ with someone, would your life give testimony to the truth of your words?  The Gospel must be lived out as well as spoken.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day three)

“We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have.”

We moderns tend to translate events into quantifiable data; therefore we might imagine Paul had heard that many had “prayed to receive Christ”. But the witness of the New Testament is that when this new movement generated news, the biggest story wasn’t that people were “walking the aisles”—celebration-worthy though that would be—but rather that forgiveness began to happen, patterns of living began to change, enemies got reconciled, the poor began to be noticed, resources got shared, family wounds began to heal, and people sacrificed their lives for others out of love for Christ. Living in such a way is all but unheard of in this world. When it happens, it is momentous news. Paul’s words give us hope that we can generate such tidings again.

Re:Verse passage – Colossians 1:1-8 (day two)

“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;” vs. 3-4‬ 

When was the last time that you sent a letter of encouragement to someone? One that had no agenda other than to just offer thanks and praise for a job well done – or when was the last time you received one? How did it make you feel? We rarely see handwritten notes anymore, but texts and emails can also have a similar effect.

It is not lost on the Apostle Paul the impact of an encouraging word can have. Word of the faith of the believers at Colosse had reached him, and he was compelled to reach out and bless them. What a radical idea! Let’s bless those around us.

Perhaps I still have the summer series running through my ears and I hear the words of Jesus as he instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves. I think Paul understood this. Take a minute, grab a piece of paper, a text, an email and edify someone today.