Servants...
Just finishing up reading Colossians...my Bible, asks two questions:
- Of the qualities used to describe these people, which one would you like others to say about you in five years?
- What from this book has helped you develop a more thankful heart?
All through this short book Paul admonishes these people to be thankful as well as us who have the privilege to be reading this hundreds of years later...the same word that was good for them has been good for those reading it down through the ages...God speaking truth has no limits...
Especially in Chapter 4 he lists specific people who have worked with him and are an encouragement...
- Dear brother, faithful minister, fellow servant
- Encourager
- Proved a comfort
- Wrestling in prayer
- Working hard
It is like he wrote the book and finishes it with people who have the qualities he wrote about...
What would be my description if someone were to write about me?
Would I be found faithful, thankful in the work that has been given me?
In chapter 4, verse 17, he tells a man to ““See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
Am I going about doing the ministry for which I have been called or that has been prepared for me...? Oh, I hope am...
Thank YOU for the encouragement of Your Word which touches our hearts and encourages us to move, seeking that which you have set before us...help me to be found d faithful, prayerful, thankful, comforting, working...
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people — the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel...
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Colossians 1:3-5,11-12
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Colossians 2:6-7,3:12-15,17,4:2
Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.
Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
Colossians 4:7-13,17
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