Colossians 1:6-8

Colossians 1:6-8

(… the truth of the Gospel) which is present in you all – just as it is also bearing fruit in all the world and increasing as it is also into you all – from whatever day you all heard and recognized the grace of God in truth just as you all learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who for your sake is a faithful servant of Christ who revealed to us your love in the Spirit.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul goes on to say that the truth of the Gospel is in the Colossians.  One of the questions that haunt people is: “from when?”  I can remember as a teenager wondering if I was really saved.  I can remember wondering when salvation really happened.  Paul tells us the answer here.  It is from the day that we heard and recognized the grace in God’s truth.  Salvation is a gift from God that is received.  It isn’t just heard; it is heard and understood!  Many people hear God’s Word and go off into the world and are never changed by the hearing of the Word.  But some hear God’s Word and are convicted by it.  We hear God’s Word and cling to His promises.  We realize it for what it is and embrace it.  This doesn’t mean that we live sinless lives from that point on.  But it does mean that in the midst of our sin we understand that we need His grace.  We hear and recognize God’s truth.  From that day on we can know that God will save us.

Why is it easy to wonder – or even doubt – about salvation?  Why is it good to be reminded that we need to trust and believe?

Second Thought:

Paul brings up Epaphras.  There are two neat descriptions of Epaphras in this passage.  The obvious description is “our beloved fellow slave.”  Epaphras was loved by Paul and Paul saw him as a coworker.  Paul saw that Epaphras was on the same mission as him.  Paul saw Epaphras as being on the same team.  This should cause us to wonder what exactly Epaphras is doing that evokes this feeling in Paul.  Paul tells us in Colossians 1:7.  The people in Colossae learned from Epaphras.  He was teaching them.  He was discipling them.  He was sharing God’s truth with them.  Jesus’ Great Commission emphasizes making disciples, and this is the very thing that Paul lifts up as evidence that Epaphras is a coworker in the Gospel.  Epaphras is a fellow slave of Paul in the mission of Christ under the authority of God.

Whose mission are you on: yours or Christ’s?  How do you know?  What evidence and fruit of your answer do you have in your life?  If you are on God’s mission, how do you avoid being tempted into your own desires?  If you are on a mission for yourself, how do you become focused on making disciples?

Third Thought:

Paul also tells us that Epaphras has shared with Paul the love that the Colossians have in God.  What has likely happened is that as Paul was in prison in Rome, Epaphras – travelled to Rome to seek some advice for leading his fledgling church in Colossae.  In this we see something about Epaphras: he cares for the people in his spiritual care.  Epaphras shares their spirit with the people who care about his spirit.  In other words, as Epaphras comes to Paul for some mentoring, he also invites Paul to care for the people that he is mentoring.  Spiritual people want to invite other spiritual people into what God is doing in their life – especially mentors and teachers.

With whom do you share your spirit?  To where do you go to reveal what God is doing in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:9-10