Colossians
Monday, June 7, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Today I pray for all my brothers and sisters of New Life Christian Ministries. I thank You for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this local body of believers who trust in Jesus and who love one another in His name. I pray that You will fill me and all of us together with the Holy Spirit that we may more fully and faithfully trust in Jesus and love one another to Your glory and honor. I pray that our lives may be a testimony to the transforming love and power of Jesus today, and that we may meet one another’s needs, and the needs of our community through our fellowship in Jesus. All this I pray in Jesus’ name and for the sake of His coming Kingdom! 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 difference would there be in your life right now, if you trusted completely in Jesus?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
According to Paul, how often did he pray for the Colossian believers? (1:3)
What was the reason for Paul’s thanksgiving to God with regard to the Colossian believers? (1:4)
What evidence is there in today’s reading that Paul did not know the Colossian Christians personally? (1:3-4)
Understanding God’s Word
What do we learn about praying for other Christians, both those near and far, through today’s Scripture reading?
What do we learn about Paul’s commitment to prayer through today’s Scripture reading?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
What one thing does today’s Scripture call you to do?
Thoughts...We Always Pray for You...
In a number of Paul’s letters, he tells the recipients that he “always” prays for them. On the surface that seems like an impossibility. How does one “always” pray for any person or group of people, let alone all Christians everywhere? First, we must remember that Paul’s life was devoted to sharing Jesus Christ with the world, so that the “lost” would be “found,” and then equipping them to share the faith with others who were “lost,” so more would be found. Paul knew that prayer is the chief means God uses to carry out His purposes in our world, so Paul prayed and prayed and prayed. Indeed, In His first letter to the Christians at Thessalonica, he urged the Christians there to pray without ceasing. Throughout the day, and particularly during his frequent times of imprisonment, Paul must have prayed “through” all the cities where he had established churches, praising and thanking God for the believers there, and pleading with God to increase their trust and faith in Jesus. As we go about our days, may we be like Paul—always praying for one another to God’s glory and praise!