Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Colossians 1:1–14
Set – 1 Kings 16; Colossians 1
Go! – 1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 15–16; Colossians 1
Colossians 1:1-14
1 Paul, an emissary of Jesus the Anointed serving at God’s pleasure, along with our brother Timothy 2 to you, dear holy and faithful brothers and sisters in the family of the Anointed who live in Colossae. May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One envelop you.
3 As always, we’ve been praying for you, thanking God, the Father of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, 4 ever since we heard of your faith in Jesus the Anointed and your love for His holy ones— 5 a faith and love that emerge from the hope you have heard about in the word of truth—the gospel—the very hope that awaits you in heaven. 6-7 The same gospel that was brought to you is growing and bearing fruit all over the world, just as it has been growing among you since the day you heard and took in the truth of God’s grace from our beloved fellow servant Epaphras. (He is a faithful minister of the Anointed on our behalf.) 8 He was the one who told us how you demonstrate your love in the power of the Spirit. 9 Since the day we got this good news about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We ask:
Father, may they clearly know Your will and achieve the height and depth of spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 May their lives be a credit to You, Lord; and what’s more, may they continue to delight You by doing every good work and growing in the true knowledge that comes from being close to You. 11 Strengthen them with Your infinite power, according to Your glorious might, so that they will have everything they need to hold on and endure hardship patiently and joyfully. 12 Thank You, Father, as You have made us eligible to receive our portion of the inheritance given to all those set apart by the light. 13 You have rescued us from dark powers and brought us safely into the kingdom of Your Son, whom You love 14 and in whom we are redeemed and forgiven of our sins [through His blood].
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
I like the things Paul asks for in his prayer for the congregation at Colossae. Did you catch it? His prayer reminds Me of Solomon’s prayer. He didn’t ask for their health or riches or fame. He asked that their lives be a credit to Me. He asked that they delight Me by doing good work and growing in knowledge that comes from being close to Me.
Are those the kinds of prayers you pray? Do you ask that you and your fellow believers be a credit to Me? Can I count on being delighted by the good work that you do in My name? Those are the goals you should strive to obtain. Those are the worthy aspirations that will last through eternity.
The debits and credits you amass in your bank accounts aren’t real. You think they are. They let you get temporary toys that satisfy you for a short time. But think about it. You must replace your cars every few years. You house needs constant repair. The must have electronic gadget in your pocket or in your home soon wears out and sits idly in a corner or goes to the trash.
Only the good works you do for others on My behalf have eternal value. Only the relationships you build and the knowledge you gain from being close to Me will pass from this life to the next. Nothing else is real. It’s all just temporary. Just a breath, a wink of the eye, and it’s gone.
Paul’s prayer for his brothers and sisters in Colossae still ring true today. Seek My will for you life. I won’t hide it from you, but I also expect you to put out some effort to find it. Achievement in life takes effort. It takes work. It takes some sweat and tears and sometimes blood. It’s always worth it, though. I don’t want any lazy followers. I expect all of My children to do their part in building My kingdom.
As you do your part, as you seek My will for your life, as you do good works for Me, I will strengthen you with My infinite power. And as Paul says in his prayer, My infinite power comes from My glorious might and I will give you everything you need to hold on no matter what you face in this life.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.