Hello Sweet Friends,
Today’s Reading … Acts 20:4 -Acts 28, Colossians 1-4, Philemon 1
The Colossian letter is well known for its teaching about the treasure of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Paul establishes the Church’s position “in Christ”:
-United in Christ (Colassians 2:2)
-Complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)
-Dead in Christ (Colossians 2:20)
-Buried with Christ (Romans 6:4)
-Risen with Christ (Colossians 3:1)
The shortest of all Paul’s letters was addressed to Philemon. Christian love and forgiveness are given prominence in the book of Philemon. This is a book in applied Christianity, a text book of social service. (“What the Bible is All About).
The Church: A New Mission. This is our current theme as well as our continual calling from Christ to be His hands and feet on this earth. Colossians and Philemon are a perfect duet made up of the consistent melody of Christ filling His Church with His Spirit overlaid with harmony of the Church faithfully living out His calling.
“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9).
The melody – Christ gives His Church knowledge, spiritual wisdom and understanding.
“and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority” (Colossians 2:10).
The melody – Christ makes the Church complete.
“bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Colossians 3:13).
The melody – Christ forgives His Church.
“who was formerly useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me” (Philemon 1:11).
The harmony – Spiritual wisdom gives us the desire to work heartily, as unto the Lord.
“but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will” (Philemon 1:14).
The harmony – When Christ completes us, we respond with a heart longing to please Him.
“For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever” (Philemon 1:15).
The harmony – As those forgiven by Christ, we seek to forgive and redeem broken relationships in our lives.
What a beautiful song, Christ’s church, empowered by His Spirit, living out the fruit of His love. What a beautiful mission, a purpose for each of us, to listen to the melody of God’s grace and respond with the harmony of a heart beating for our Savior.
Love you all,
Kinsee
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return empty, but accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
