Colossians 1:1-2

Colossians 1:1-2

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through a will of God, and Timothy the brother.  To the holy and faithful ones in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you all and peace from God our Father.  

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I begin many of Paul’s letters with this same thought.  Paul is an apostle.  The Greek word apostle means one who is sent on the mission of another.  Paul is on a mission from God.  Paul is not doing his own will.  He is not following his own judgment.  Paul is follow Christ and relying upon Christ’s judgment.

Are you an apostle?  Whose will are you going to follow?  What is your mission?  From where does that mission come?

Second Thought:

Paul addresses this letter to the holy and faithful ones.  I love this pairing of words.  Paul is recognizing both dynamics of belief.  There is holiness: that is, knowing God and being different from the world.  Then there is faithfulness: obedience to God.  We believe in God and we are obedient to Him.  We are holy and separate from this world because of our faith.

What does holiness look like in your life?  What does faithfulness and obedience look like in your life?

Third Thought:

Let’s take a look at how Paul concludes this opening.  Grace and peace.  These are not things that are common to human civilization.  But notice from where Paul says that these things will come.  Paul says that they come from God.  We can know grace and peace because God desires relationship with us and He expects us to reflect it to others.  But there is a deeper message.  Remember that because of our sin we are enemies of God.  Through Jesus, we have been brought out of the status of enemy and into the status of redeemed.  We don’t just get peace from God, we get peace with God!

Where in your life do you have grace and peace?  Where in your life do you extend grace and peace?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:3-5