Weekly Devotional - Week 1 (Colossians 1:1-14)

MONDAY: Colossians 1:1-2

These two verses mark the beginning of our study in Colossians. Yet if you are like me, you would tend to skip these two verses and move forward. But hold on--are there truths in these two verses that we are missing? As Christians, we believe that Scripture is God's inspired word, we believe that all of it is of value and is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16-17); even these two verses hold a lot of truth. So with that in mind, let's meditate on these verses in prayer, and think about why Paul may have worded them in the ways he did.

While this does serve as an introduction to the letter, Paul takes the time to establish his authority in the church. He is an apostle of Christ, who has been appointed to this position according to God's desires. This is important: Paul has likely never been to the church at Colossae, and as we will see in our study, they have been wrestling with false and dangerous teachers (cf. 2:4-8, 16-23). So Paul's authority and trustworthiness become vital for the Colossian people who are seeking to know God, and know how to connect with Him. And to them, the saints and faithful brothers, Paul comes proclaiming grace and peace from God the Father, which will both be recurring themes throughout the letter.

So while you may be tempted to move past these introductory verses, let's slow down and ask the Spirit to lead our studies. Spend time meditating on these words, and praying for the Spirit to interpret them to you.

Questions:

Additional Scripture:

Acts 9:15-16; 1 Cor. 15:8-10; 1 Tim. 1:12-17.

TUESDAY: Colossians 1:3-5

Here, Paul opens the letter by telling of his thankfulness to God when he prays for them. But what is Paul thankful for? His gratitude to God for them comes from hearing of their faith and their love. He has heard of their faith in Christ Jesus, and he has heard of their love for the saints and his response is gratitude to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He says that their faith and their love are because of the hope that they have laid up in heaven. Paul shows the interconnectedness of hope, faith, and love (cf. 1 Cor. 13:13). And they stem from hearing the gospel! So, the Colossian people have heard of the gospel message, and have heard of the hope laid up for them in heaven, and the assurance of their hope (faith; cf. Heb. 11:1) has worked beautifully through love to those around them (Gal. 5:6; James 2:14-17), spurring Paul on to give glory to God in all thankfulness (Matt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:12)!

So today, as we ponder how the gospel produces hope, and how hope, faith, and love abide, let's consider whether we are moved to thankfulness to God for His grace and His saving work in our lives. If God's glory and the holiness of His Name are not a concern for you, cry out in prayer and ask God to reveal Himself more deeply to you and give you a new heart that is able to love Him and seek His face (Deut. 30:6; Ez. 36:26-28; John 14:21; Rom. 2:28-29; 1 John 4:7-21).

Questions:

Additional Scripture:

Heb. 10:23-24; 1 Cor. 15:19; Rom 8:24-25; 1 Pet. 1:3-5; Eph. 2:8-10

WEDNESDAY: Colossians 1:6-8

The "it" in verse 6 that has come to the Colossian people and is bearing fruit and increasing in the whole world is revealed to us in verse 5: it is the word of truth, the gospel. This word of truth -- which tells of the hope that we have and produces faith and love ultimately leading to God's glory -- is bearing fruit and increasing, which contrasts the empty deceitful words that the Colossians have been hearing from false teachers (Col. 2:8). God promised that His Word would not return to Him empty (Is. 55:11), and the fruit of the gospel is evidenced even among the Colossian people. But how did the Colossian people hear the gospel (Rom. 10:14-17)? In this case, it appears that one of the members named Epaphras has both relayed the gospel in Colossae and has told Paul of their love in the Spirit. This is amazing! The impact that this individual made is a clear testimony to the Spirit's work, even as we read about it some 2,000 years later. But it was not merely their hearing that led to the gospel bearing fruit; they also understood God's grace in truth. If grace is God's means of saving us through our faith (Eph. 2:8), how does a true understanding of God's grace increase the gospel?

Paul says that the gospel has been bearing fruit and increasing since the day that they heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. So today, if there is any doubt in your mind that you can make an impact, let's take encouragement from Epaphras and seek to share the gospel, to be faithful in ministering to others, and to celebrate the fruit of the gospel.

Questions:

Additional Scripture:

Is. 55:11; Rom. 10:14-17; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:6-9

THURSDAY: Colossians 1:9-12 (Part One)

Verses 9-12 will be focused on over the next two days.

These verses tie directly back into verse 4. Since the day that they have heard of the Colossians' faith and love because of the hope they heard from the gospel, they have not ceased to pray for the Colossians. Paul gives thanks to God for them (1:3), but here we learn that his prayer also includes requests. Paul desires that the Colossians are filled with the knowledge of God's will (or desires) in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. What does Paul mean by spiritual wisdom and understanding? In 1 Corinthians 2:11, Paul says that we cannot understand God's thoughts without the Holy Spirit. So when Paul is talking about knowledge of God's will by spiritual wisdom and understanding, he is not merely referring to a head knowledge, but a deep, abiding heart knowledge in relationship with the Holy Spirit, whereby we trust God for wisdom. This is not to have all the right words, or merely be able to do well on a test: Paul is praying for this spiritual knowledge that the Colossian people may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, a manner that is fully pleasing to God. There is a way in which we walk that brings pleasure to God, which is informed by a deep abiding spiritual knowledge from the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Tomorrow we will unpack what that manner of walk actually looks like.

Questions:

Additional Scripture:

Ps. 119:34; Prov. 1:2-7; John 14:26; Rom. 8:5-8; 1 Cor. 2:6-16; Phil. 2:13

FRIDAY: Colossians 1:9-12 (Part Two)

There are three things that Paul mentions in walking in a manner worthy of the Lord. The three things that he lists are bearing fruit, being strengthened, and giving thanks. Bearing fruit occurs when we abide in Christ (John 15:4-5). And as we abide, and bear fruit in our spiritual lives, we should be increasing in knowledge of Him. Oh what a joy it is to know Him (John 17:3; Phil. 3:7-9)! As we pursue Him and remain in Him and stay close to Him, we should be increasing in our understanding of His desires, of His heart, of the things He loves and hates; we should continually be drawing near to Him in every good work. Secondly, Paul says that we are to be strengthened with power. He then clarifies what kind of power, and what the power is for. We are to be strengthened, not by will power, or by our own mustering, but by God's glorious might. If we consider God's might and meditate on just how glorious it is, we will truly realize what Paul means when he says "if God is for us, then who can be against us" in Romans 8:31. But that strengthening has a purpose -- it is for all endurance and patience with joy. In your translation, the words "with joy" may be in verse 12, saying that we give thanks with joy. This is difficult to determine in Greek, but both are true, biblical ideas (Deut. 28:47-48; Ps. 100; Rom. 12:12; James 1:2-3; 1 Peter 4:13). We are able to endure all things as we become more reliant on Him according to His glorious might that strengthens us. The third and final piece that Paul mentions is giving thanks to the Father. Our entire lives express gratitude for His deliverance and His intervening that qualifies us to share in the inheritance of the saints. As Christians, we have the ability to stand firm in the face of suffering, and endure hardships with joy, as those who are strengthened by His glorious might and who cry out in gratitude for the incomparable riches of God's glorious grace to us (Eph. 2:7), in which He has qualified us to share with all the saints. So, giving thanks, let's seek to walk in a manner that is pleasing unto God.

Questions:

Additional Scripture:

Eph. 1:3-14, 4:1-6; Phil. 2:12-13, 4:12-13; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; Heb. 9:15

SATURDAY: Colossians 1:13-14

These two verses serve as the "why" for this section of text. Why is Paul desiring people to live in a matter pleasing to the Lord? What has God done that should transform our lives? And he speaks incredible truths of the gospel in these verses. Firstly, there is an acknowledgment that before being transferred to the kingdom of Jesus, we were in the domain of darkness. This is a spiritual darkness to describe those who are not in Christ. The world wants to take this part of the message away, yet it is essential to the Gospel. For us to be saved, we first need to be a people in need of saving. And that is exactly what God has done for us, delivering us from the domain of darkness. What an incredible act of love! But that love did not end there - God delivered, but He also gave us new hope and new life in the kingdom of His beloved Son, Jesus. Christ Jesus is the one who overcame death, whom God raised up, that we may enter into new life with Him. No wonder Paul says that in Him we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins! In Christ, God has made a way that all who are in the domain of darkness may be transferred to the kingdom, and be reconciled unto God. So how does this inform the rest of the passage? Not only does this idea remove any boasting, since all this is from God, we also cry out in thanks to God for this incredible gift. When we are informed with this deep spiritual knowledge of God, we are able to walk in ways that please Him who has done these things for us. Further, when we live lives that are pleasing to God, we point others around us to Him. The greatest way that we can evangelize and spread the message of God's deliverance is to walk in a manner that God desires. 

Questions:

Additional Scripture:

Gen. 1:3-4; Matt. 4:17; Rom. 3:23-25; 2 Cor. 4:3-6; Eph. 2:1-6; Heb. 12:28-29; 1 John 1:5-10