1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2. To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
3. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
4. because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints--
5. the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel
6. that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.
7. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
8. and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
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Reflection |
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Called by the Will of God (1:1–2)
As Christians, we are sometimes confused about our callings. But the opening lines of Paul’s letter to the Colossians make it clear that his apostleship comes “by the will of God.” It is crucial to remember that our highest calling is to God. God calls us first to Himself and then to His “holy people” (v. 2), a community of faithful believers set apart to worship Him and to do His will on earth as it is in heaven. Paul often opens his letters to churches with the phrase “Grace and peace to you from God our Father.” This is a reminder of the glorious Gospel—that we who were once enemies of God and dead in our sins are now at peace with God and have been made alive by His grace.
The Fruit of the Gospel (1:3–8)
Paul is thankful that the Colossians have grown in the Gospel after hearing its true message (v. 5). He is also grateful that the Gospel is “bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among” them since the day they “heard it and truly understood God’s grace” (v. 6). He reminds them of how they learned this from Epaphras, “a faithful minister of Christ” who brought him good reports of their faith (vv. 7–8). It is difficult to always thank God when we pray for others (v. 3), but prayer is a means for us to give thanks for those who are under our leadership.
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Application |
- Remember that God calls you first to Himself. That is His will. Ask Him to reveal His specific will for your life as you continue to grow in your love for Him and others.
- Think of those under your leadership or in your sphere of influence. Take a moment to thank God for them and ask that they would grow in their understanding of the Gospel and bear much fruit.
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A Letter to
God |
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Father, thank you for all the people You have placed in my sphere of influence. I thank you for their lives and pray that they will continue to grow in grace. May those who do not yet know You come to treasure Christ and bear much fruit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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