Colossians
Sunday, June 6, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for another Lord’s day when I may gather with brothers and sisters through Your Son, Jesus, to worship and glorify You. I praise You that all over the world Christians will gather or have already gathered today according to Your will and command to sing praises, offer thanks, raise joys and concerns, read and share from Your word and rededicate ourselves to You. Fill me and every Christian with Your Holy Spirit this day that we may know Your truth and live it out in every moment of our lives. Use as mightily to glorify Yourself and to advance the cause of Your Kingdom. All these things we 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
What role has God given You in His body?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
According to today’s Scripture, what role did God give to Paul? (1:1)
According to today’s Scripture, what characteristics did the Christians in Colosse demonstrate to those around them? (1:2a)
What does Paul ask God the Father to give the Colossian Christians? (1:2b)
Understanding God’s Word
What do today’s focus verses (in bold type) tell us about God’s plan for individual Christians?
What do they tell us about God’s overall plan for all Christians?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
What one thing does today’s focus Scripture call you to do right now?
Thoughts...God's Holy People...
Paul called the Colossian Christians “God’s Holy People.” We don’t often call folks “holy.” That is an adjective we reserve for God or Jesus. Yet, Paul calls the believers in Colosse “holy.” Why? He tells us that they were faithful brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. They trusted Jesus, and lived according to His will. The word holy as Paul is using it here indicates that the Colossian Christians have been set apart by God for a special purpose, and that they are living their lives in accordance with God’s will. In that sense all of us ought to be described as holy. God has set us apart for His purpose—to receive His grace, peace and salvation through Jesus, and to live in accordance with His will. As we go about this day, remember that WE are God’s holy people. WE have been set apart for His grace, peace and salvation. WE are called to live out His perfect will. Sometimes just remembering who we are—and whose we are—helps us to live more holy lives. God is with us every step of the way through the Holy Spirit to glorify Himself in us, so let’s truly live as God’s holy people today!