Category: Devotions

The Apostle closes his letter to the Colossians and we are richer for reading it.

In this unstable world there is one constant. Jesus Christ. He is not first among equals He is supreme above and beyond all. He is not one of the ways to the Father He is the only way. That’s what Paul shows us and that is why these 51 blogs have all been titled with Christ ….

Do you remember the last personal letter you received? Like me, your inbox readily gets full of emails but there isn’t anything quite like the personal touch. Sometimes I get junk-mail but I am fooled because it starts with ‘Dear Paul’ for they have used a programme that makes it look like this is personal when it isn’t. Just because it starts with your name and even if it is signed in hand-writing it doesn’t make it personal. I remember attending a team meeting many years ago with some ministers. One minister turned up with a box of Christmas cards and during the meeting signed his name in each card and then stuffed them in an envelope and handed them out. We all felt very special!

Let’s see how Paul closes down his letter, ““I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.” (Colossians 4 v 18)

Paul takes over from the scribe, he takes the pen and in doing so he gives this letter authenticity. “This is really me, the Apostle, in prison, contained, but alive in Christ.” And in doing so he lets us all know that we have nothing to hide. With Christ there is nothing to be ashamed about. It is okay to have an imperfect life. The sin of being found out to be not what people thought you were is not greater than the sin of covering up so that they don’t. The song that has won an Academy and Grammy award for best song in 2014/15 reminds us that we should not hide who we are because eventually we will die inside. We have to be true to who we are. Queen Elsa retreats to the snowy mountains in Frozen:

Snow glows white on the mountain tonight/ Not a footprint to be seen/ A kingdom of isolation
And it looks like I’m the queen

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside/ Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I’ve tried
Don’t let them in, don’t let them see/ Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know/ Well, now they know

Let it go, let it go/ Can’t hold it back anymore/ Let it go, let it go/ Turn away and slam the door
I don’t care what they’re going to say/ Let the storm rage on/ The cold never bothered me anyway.

“This is me” Paul says and it encourages us in our lives and who we are and who we have become. How often are we tempted to think God is coming in revival to fix our problems or if we just get out of this situation then we will be free to do His work? The Apostle shows us a different spirituality which we all need to adhere to. Here and now. God is here. Don’t wait any longer. The Spirit is now amongst us. In this prison? I think we have missed so many moments of God because the packaging wasn’t sparkly enough.

Secondly, he goes further. “Remember my chains.” This request is no doubt for prayer. But it is also to help me be stronger in my own faith, that’s the beauty and power of journeying with the Persecuted Church. When we read of the present stories of what is happening to Christians in northern Nigeria we cannot fail to be bolder for Christ in our own free nation. (Please read this article: https://releaseinternational.org/nigeria-killings-genocide-warning-as-militants-employ-new-weapons-to-drive-out-christians/)

This request also helps us in our ‘chains’. Whatever those chains are I should never think my life is over or not valuable enough to be used by God. Your life will not be perfect. It just isn’t. Health, finance, family, heartache, we all find ourselves restricted, we all have chains.

Thirdly, after starting the letter praying for grace for them, he closes with the same request. “Grace be with you.” Isn’t that what this life is about, starting and ending with grace? Forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, life, grace. All we have been given is from God.

The Apostle isn’t speaking only about what has been given to us but what is to come. “May you have grace now and may you go on receiving and living in grace.” And who is grace? Surely it is Christ who will be with us by His Spirit. Thank you Paul.

So we complete the list of friends that Paul mentions at the end of this letter to the Colossians. Not exhaustive at all but an insight into Paul’s thoughts that life isn’t all about theology and the work of God but it is set in the context of relationships. We are not called to be hermits but we are called to be rooted into the Church.

“Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” (Colossians 4: 15-17)

Friend number 1 – Nympha who gave.

If you check all the translations then you will find some give the name Nymphas (male) and here I am using the NIV it is Nympha (female). It matters not, they gave their home.

We know that homes were used a lot for the ministry in Paul’s day and it still is today. Elim have a partner in northern India who are not only facing the restrictions of the pandemic but also severe persecution. At the start of the pandemic they changed their vision and closed all their church buildings and began to work under the mission statement of ‘every home a church’. That was in April of this year. We have just had the half-yearly report in from the 15 zones where their churches are (April to September) and the numbers are amazing:

Number of baptisms 1139.

Number of people ready for baptism 1618

Number of new villages reached 881

How amazing! Look what can be achieved outside of a church building when mission is the most important thing!

Paul singles out Nympha. We don’t know anything more about her. This is the only time she is mentioned in the Bible. If the one thing people say when they talk about you is that you gave, isn’t that a great achievement? Doesn’t that make you sound like someone living in the shadow of the cross?

No doubt it wasn’t easy. Giving isn’t. What you give gets worn, breaks down, gets returned damaged etc. When you give it is sacrificial. When you give you die a little. Something changes in you. Just ask a parent who has given their child to God. Just ask a lover who has let go of the most important person in their life. Giving impacts you but what emerges from your changed life is someone who looks more like Christ than ever before.

Friend number 2 – Archippus who got the job done.

We will see this man again as he appears in Philemon verse 2 and known as a fellow soldier.

Paul encourages this man to get the job done, to finish the task, to fulfil the ministry. We don’t know what that was, whether he was a church leader or a missionary. The Apostle tells him to do the job, bring it to an end and complete it. That’s what Christ-followers do. Our Saviour got the job done. He said the words, ‘It is finished’. He didn’t die with the ministry unfulfilled. He didn’t do half-job and leave us disappointed. He completed it. Whatever you can do for Him then do it with all your might till the end.

That’s the end of the list of friends. Nympha and Archippus, friends that look like Christ.

It’s not the end of the letter, we have one verse left ….

Here’s our next 3 friends the Apostle mentions and how very interesting they are! Here is what Paul says, “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. Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.” (Colossians 4 v 12-14)

Friend number 1 – Epaphras, focused on spiritual things.

Epaphras is a Colossian and whether or not he planted the Church there, he was certainly influential in its beginning (1:7).

He was person who put others first. How thankful we are for self-less friends?!

But it is prayer that he is remembered for. A wrestler, he works hard and Paul can recommend him because he has seen him in prayer. He is not just praying for the Colossians but 2 other places also. It is hard enough in the UK to get people to pray for their own Church never mind someone else’s! Epaphras is a kingdom man.

Friend number 2 – Luke, focused on physical things

Luke, the doctor, that’s how Paul introduces him. The contribution that Luke made to the spread of the gospel is not fully known but it is substantial. He was a travelling companion of Paul and wrote the book of Acts with amazing detail the Apostle’s missionary journeys.

But here he is, the doctor.

Paul, in prison, would have had medical needs for sure and he had his friend, his own personal doctor with him.

How we need friends who will come alongside and ask not about the work of God, whether we are reading the Bible and praying, but just ask whether we are sleeping okay? Are we eating the right foods? Are we taking exercise? The physical is really important. Sometimes your friend will have to ask awkward questions. But we are better people for allowing friends to speak into our lives in such a way.

Friend number 3 – Demas, focused on his dream

This is where we become sad.

Look at what happens to this man.

Philemon v24 (we will come to this soon, written at the same time) Demas is a fellow worker.

Here in Colossians 4 v 14 Paul just mentions his name, Demas.

Then in 2 Timothy 4:10 “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica”

In this letter, what is going on in Paul’s mind when he mentions Demas? Say something more Paul. Was Paul already doubting his friend?

We know that Paul said because he loved this present world he deserted him. It was probably in his heart to do so at the time of Paul sending the Colossian letter.

Some may think it was an abandoning of his salvation. But maybe it wasn’t.

It could be simply this, the choice between looking after an old Apostle trapped in prison, going nowhere, the thrill of missionary journeys having ended, well, it doesn’t sound like fun does it? Demas needed to live his life, he needed to see the world and get what it had to offer him, he had dreams you see.

The Apostle would soon feel deserted. But for now, he is questioning, will his friend stay or leave?

Not everyone stays with you.

Look back and be thankful for all your friends that have come into your life at various stages. Some had to leave and maybe you are glad about that; some walked away from you and some you had to walk away from; some died and you still grieve the loss in your life; and some have stayed with you for the whole of your life.

There is a wonderful sentence in the Message translation of Colossians 4 v 11, “These are the only ones left from the old crowd who have stuck with me in working for God’s kingdom. Don’t think they haven’t been a big help!”

Do you have friends that stick with you?

Let’s look at what the Apostle says, ““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 Jewsamong my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.” (Colossians 4 v 10-11)

Friend number 1 – Aristarchus stood with Paul and even took the blame.

One of my favourite U2 songs says, “You don’t have to put up a fight/ You don’t have to always be right/ Let me take some of the punches/ For you tonight”

Aristarchus was one of those friends. He was in the team of responsible disciples who accompanied Paul with the collection for the church in Jerusalem. He had known the experience of being seized in Ephesus when the whole city was in uproar against Paul.

He was willing to take the punches for his leader and friend. Would you? Would you defend them even when they are not there? Would you speak up for them? Would you align yourself with them so that if others could not get to your leader that they accuse you instead? That is the calling of a travelling companion in this life. Loyalty.

It appears that he stays by the side of Paul through the 2 years of his imprisonment and as our verses show then finally ends up being a prisoner himself when they arrive into Rome.

Have you got a friend who has never left you, but was there throughout your journey? Have you got a friend who knows what it is to be attacked like you, who can be trusted, who when you are at your weakest and least empowered stays by your side and who will even be judged with you?

“Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away.” Mark 14:50

As Jesus arrived at his destiny the 6 friends who were still there with him were his mother, John, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene (John 19:25) and probably the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee (Matthew 27:56).

Be thankful for the friend/s that remains by your side as you journey to your destiny. Some have been there all the time and some are drafted in and yes some drift away. This is the Easter journey for Christ and it will be your experience too.

Friend number 2 – Mark swallowed his pride and reconciled with Paul

It is in these verses alone that we read that Barnabas was the cousin of John Mark. Sometimes family loyalty can mean it looks the right decision but it may not be the best one.

Mark had deserted Paul’s mission in Pamphylia and it hurt but then Barnabas wanted to bring him back and it seemed too soon for Paul. That was the disagreement between the 2 big men and it led to a parting of the ways.

Even the closest of friends have different opinions at times.

Time heals apparently. Certainly by the time of writing this letter we see 3 things:

Paul was no longer offended.

No relationship is irrevocably beyond healing.

Paul writes in support of Mark.

I love that last detail the most. In fact, I have to say I didn’t know this until I read it this morning. The Colossians had received a letter about Mark and no doubt it was to pave the way, clear away the messy story, to show that things are forgiven, to promote Mark again. Do we need to do this? One more thing, they knew Barnabas, but we don’t know how. Barnabas must have met them, he must have visited them on a missionary journey. This is exciting because it shows that the Book of Acts isn’t the full encyclopaedia of what was going on with the spread of the gospel. There were many more stories that we don’t know! One day in heaven maybe we get the film of those events?! This leads nicely to the third friend.

Friend number 3 – Jesus Justus, a friend who is unknown.

There are many unknowns today, in prison, tortured, deprived of their human rights,. Many unknowns facing shame and lifelong battles with their families for becoming Christian.

This man had 2 names, a Jewish one (Jesus) and a Roman one (Justus). A Jew who came to Christ and was a huge comfort to Paul.  There are many converts today who become heroes to others. They are often unknown but who give themselves to fundraising, helping with food, clothes and all kinds of need. They passionately live to help others. They campaign, raise awareness of things we wouldn’t think about, they find solutions and become the solution to someone. They hold the hands of the dying, they risk their own lives for the rescue, they speak to those who are ignored and speak for the voiceless. They cross the road and nations, leaving comfort for chaos and realise they have been put here in this world to change it for someone. They stand against injustice and will not let evil win. Love is their motivation and fairness their scale. The poor, the widow, the sick and the marginalised become the central focus. It is their face we see not the face of the hero. They have become a gift from God, a friend, unknown but known. May we live our lives this way.

So we come to the end of this amazing book to the Church in Colossae. A place Paul has never been to but a people he is reaching out to. The theologian who has revealed wonderful truths about Christ ends the letter focused on personal relationships. He shows us that we need both. We need to pursue Christ and pursue our love and care for one another. They both go hand in hand.

So let us look at the friends of Christ who are Paul’s friends and do so in 3 sections.

Paul has friends who represent him:-

“Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servantin the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about ourcircumstances 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.” (Colossians 4: 7-9)

Friend number 1 – Tychicus.

He would be carrying both letters, Ephesians and Colossians, These prison letters were probably circular ones and Tychicus would arrive in Laodicea and deliver the Ephesian letter (written for all the churches in Asia Minor). Laodicea was a few miles from Colossae and Tychicus would be able to travel there easily. If you read v16 we get the understanding that Paul wants them to swap these 2 letters.

1. A dear brother
2. A faithful minister
3. A Fellow servant
4. In the Lord

Look at b and c first.

What did Tychicus actually do? We obviously do not have many details.

But he didn’t have the ministry of Paul. He wasn’t the Apostle. He was actually the postman. Now who was the greatest? The Apostle or the Postman? Both are needed. Without the postman what good would it be to write anything at all? But this postman was a faithful minister. He demonstrated the life and work of Christ in his own life and was very capable of speaking this to other people also. He was also a fellow servant. He helped Paul in prison with his needs. His tasks were probably not spectacular ones. But there is no sacred/secular work for it is all done ‘in the Lord’.

So look now at a. and d.

The Apostle calls him his dear brother. A loved equal. A shaper and influencer of his life. He is also a worker in the Lord. This faithful minister and fellow servant is doing his work in the context of Christian brotherhood and Christ’s presence. He would not have known that 2,000 years later we would all be speaking of him and wanting to be like him!

Friend number 2 – Onesimus

The runaway slave returning to the man he deserted. We of course read of him in Philemon where he apparently stole from his master and then fled Rome. Paul is probably being gracious to leave out the words ‘fellow servant/slave’ as used for Tychicus but everything else is the same, faithful and a dear brother.

This man who had been incredibly unfaithful is now faithful. There are no more details. Those are reserved for the personal letter to Philemon himself. But it is clear that Paul sees his friend as totally transformed and certainly able to represent him. He is a walking testimony to the message of Christ that Paul has been proclaiming.

Do you have friends like this who can represent you? Paul did.

You may view your life very simply. “I’m just a postman” “I just do this secular job” and you may carry a past which isn’t easy to shake off at times, “I’m just a thief and a runaway” but if these 2 men can become friends of Paul and more importantly friends of Christ, then so can you. You are never “just a …” You are a representative of the gospel of Christ. That’s your job and that’s who you are.

Maybe we should be less concerned about open heavens and more concerned about open doors. Open doors are for people on the move, crossing borders, moving out and into enemy territory.

Open doors come through prayer.

Paul writing from a Roman Jail doesn’t pray to be released from prison but instead asks his Colossian friends to, “Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:3-6)

Open doors can be found behind closed doors.

When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he makes it clear that the gospel had spread because others were praying for open doors: “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is for Christ. Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly” (Philippians 1.12-14). What appeared on the surface to be a “closed door” for Paul (his imprisonment) had actually turned into an “open door” for him to preach Christ among the authorities and guards who held him. It also gave confidence for his brothers to preach Christ fearlessly on the outside.

Throughout your life you will continue to have seasons of limitations but instead of seeing it as an enemy you could view it as an opportunity for the gospel and to declare a fresh revelation of God.

We need open doors. But often we miss them.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan shows us that our neighbour who we are called to love is anyone who is there. The Samaritan cared for the Jew simply because the Jewish man was there. He wasn’t going looking for a Jew to care for. It was an open door. So the question we are left with is this, ‘Who should we reach?’ And the answer is this: ‘Who is there?’

The Apostle says, “We need to speak clearly the mystery (truth once hidden)”. Paul is saying we need to speak their language and start from where they are at.

For example, remember Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well? He centred the conversation on the woman’s challenges and needs. He didn’t dominate the conversation with his ABC gospel message, He guided the conversation. 

We need to do this and match our words with wisdom, why offend by our actions if it will prevent those we are reaching from listening.

Do we know what will offend?

If you are involved in children evangelism within an Indian culture and wonder why when the children had been so excited to come to your kids club that the day after they actually don’t then it shows you haven’t used wisdom. Your invitation will offend the Indian culture where it is the father who needs to give the blessing for the activities of his children. The invitation should have been given to him.

That may be obvious and within your culture there are sub-cultures that are maybe a little more hard to discover, but you must find them. We need to know who we are reaching.

Let’s pray for open doors today no matter where we are.

A survey taken during 24-27^th April 2020 and published by TearFund revealed that 1 in 20 adults had started to pray during lockdown that had not prayed before. Just over 26% said they prayed at least once a month. But why?

45% said it was because they believed in God.

33% said they prayed because they believed it would work.

26% said they prayed during crisis.

24% prayed because they felt lonely.

It would appear that in the UK this pandemic has caused people to look beyond themselves for help. May that continue for Jesus is waiting!

In this final section of Paul’s letter to the Colossians which started with him saying he was praying for them and thanking God for them he now goes on to ask for prayer for himself.

The Apostle starts, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4 v 2)

Just a brief reminder:

Paul is telling the Colossians to ignore the infiltrators who are saying Christ in their life isn’t enough and they need other things also. They have died to performance, been hidden and now raised in Christ and are with Him above and beyond the circumstances of their life.

Bluntly now: In that place talk to Him.

One of the top ten hymns of all time is the following:-

What a friend we have in Jesus/ All our sins and griefs to bear
And what a privilege to carry/ Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit/ Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry/ Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?/ Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged/ Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful/ Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness/ Take it to the Lord in prayer

Joseph Scriven wrote the lyrics of this hymn, but it was actually published anonymously in the 1850s/1860s, mistakenly attributed to someone else. It wasn’t actually until 1886 that Joseph got recognition for his work, the year in which he passed away.

When asked if he was the author Joseph replied, ‘the Lord and I did it between us!’  Joseph went on to tell how he had forgotten about the hymn for many years, having so many troubles and trials on his mind.  It was found by a friend who was visiting Joseph during one of his severe bouts of depressive illness.  When asked about it Joseph beset by severe depression brought upon by tragedy after tragedy, with watery eyes said ‘that’s a very personal poem of testimony that God helped me to write to comfort my mother during a time of great sorrow in our lives.  I never intended it to be used by anyone else.’

He was born in Northern Ireland in 1819. He suffered much heartache during his life.  His fiancée drowned on the eve of their wedding and then his second fiancée died prematurely after becoming ill. Joseph never quite recovered from this second tragedy, and suffered periods of depression for the rest of his life. 

And yet through all this, he knew what it was to have a friend in Jesus. 

Having migrated to Canada he joined the Plymouth Brethren and began to help in the ministry especially amongst the elderly, the physically handicapped and brought comfort to the poor and those with mental health problems. His own suffering made him more aware of the suffering of others.

This broken man in many ways put others first as he walked with Christ his friend.

Your life may be a broken one and there may be far more questions than answers. You may not be swinging from the chandeliers of life and it can be simply a struggle. But friendship is a sharing of experiences, a personal and deep bonding of genuine care. There is a friend, His name is Jesus, talk to Him about everything.

Joseph Scriven died by drowning and no one knows whether it was an accident or suicide. But this broken man of prayer left a legacy that people are still singing about in 2020.

Back to the Apostle:

Be devoted in prayer. He doesn’t encourage them to pray. They obviously did that. He tells them to be devoted to it. Continually, throughout the day, all the time, about everything, talk to Jesus.

Be watchful. In ancient cities, built into the walls were huge watchtowers and watchman were posted day and night. But God spoke about how He had called His people to pray, see how they must do that with perseverance: “I have posted watchman on your walls , O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise in the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6-7)

Be thankful – which is the language of faith. How can you talk to Jesus without being thankful for all He has done and who He is?!

Let’s pray. Christ is waiting to be asked.

For those who are responsible for others take heed …

“It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favouritism.” (Colossians 3 v 25)

When we are served then we are to be right and fair with those who serve us

This is how the Amplified Bible explains it; “For he who deals wrongfully will [reap the fruit of his folly and] be punished for his wrongdoing. And [with God] there is no partiality [no matter what a person’s position may be, whether he is the slave or the master]” (vs. 25 AMP).

Slaves have rights according to Paul. In his letters, masters are given 3 principles to live by:

• Do the same as slaves. That is if you hope to receive respect then show it; if you hope to receive service then give it.
• Don’t threaten. They are not to misuse their position of authority.
• Realise that Jesus is the Master. He is over them as much as they are over the slaves.

Leaders of the Church must walk in the justice of the Kingdom of Christ. How do people serve us? And how do we lead them? We must lead them as a Christ the Shepherd does.

In the years to come when sheep remember the shepherds that have been responsible for their life. They will perhaps have forgotten the many words spoken and the way they were led into new things. But they will never forget they were shepherded, they were cared for, they were loved.

Sheep never forget the cross. That is the justice of the Kingdom which Shepherds choose and which is Christ’s.

Everyone reaps what they sow …

There is no guarantee on earth of fairness of treatment from those whom we work for. Sometimes partiality means that bad workers are unfairly rewarded and good employees are penalised or left unrewarded. Paul assures us that there is a final rewarding and punishment, and with this there is no partiality.

For most of the Jews of Paul’s day they believed that God actually hated the Gentiles and loved the Jews. Think about the following beliefs:
There were 3 things to be thankful for as a Jewish man, you were not a slave, a woman or a GENTILE.
Never help a GENTILE, not at all, no matter how small or how much of an emergency it was. The answer was NO.
Funerals were held for Jews who married GENTILES. They were dead people.

Yes, it ran deep!
Church leaders, like Peter, once believed all of that.

Peter was part of the discipleship team of Jesus and still he was prejudiced. How was that possible?! He had seen the love of Jesus to every person no matter Jew or Gentile. How could he hold such hate in his heart? But he did and it needed changing for God has no favourites. He loves equally.
Maybe the answer can be had by asking the same question of those today who are in a discipleship team, who love and follow Jesus, but who look down on other people and condemn them because they are different to them. For example, U.S. Pastor Steven Anderson who after a nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida on June 12th 2016, where 49 gay people were killed actually unbelievably said on national tv, “The good news is that there are now 50 less paedophiles in this world.”
Yes it still exists this hatred towards others.
You might disagree with a person’s belief or behaviour but you are stupid to disagree with God’s love!
With the measure you use it will be measured against you. That’s the justice of the Kingdom of Christ

In an ever changing world at risk from the pandemic and persecution there is one constant: Jesus Christ. He is not first among equals He is supreme above and beyond all. He is not one of the ways to the Father He is the only way.

“It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favouritism.” (Colossians 3 v 25)

The Apostle Paul has just finished a household list of responsibilities as he did in his Ephesian letters and just before the verse we will focus on in v24 he reminds us all that we serve the Lord Jesus Christ in all that we do. Whether you are a slave or a master; whether you are in the pulpit or in the pew; title or no title; there is no favouritism. Everyone is the same and treated in the same way.

If you do wrong in the home where no one can see, you will be repaid for that wrong because the Lord Jesus Christ is in the home.

If you do wrong in work you may think it is okay because it is not in the Church but you will be repaid, for it is the Lord Jesus Christ you are working for.

Whether you are an apostle or a deacon, a bishop or a member, regardless of your position, power or privilege we are answerable to the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is how the Amplified Bible explains it; “For he who deals wrongfully will [reap the fruit of his folly and] be punished for his wrongdoing. And [with God] there is no partiality [no matter what a person’s position may be, whether he is the slave or the master]” (vs. 25 AMP).

When we serve then we are to do so with responsibility

Surely Paul will call for the emancipation of slaves? It doesn’t even appear the thought had crossed his mind.

I think perhaps Paul is not trying to devise a new way of life but how the Spirit would help us in the one we are in.

Slavery seems to have been universal at this time. There are estimates of up to 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire. Many were well-treated and many were abused. They included not only domestic slaves and manual labourers but educated people as well. Nobody challenged this constitution.

Paul is not looking to a new world but with the filling of the Spirit then our lives are changed and charged with purpose so that whatever we are doing we are really serving Christ. Behind their master is Christ, maybe hard to imagine, but the Spirit can help you find the face of Christ even in the worst of places.

That’s the justice of the Kingdom of Christ.

The context is always important. The previous blogs through these chapters set the scene.

The Apostle is telling the Christians in Colossae that Christ is enough. They are to come away from the teaching that you need something else as well as Christ to be acceptable to God. That is not where they are. They have died to those kind of things and have been raised to a new life with Christ. Don’t focus on rules and regulations but on Christ. Let Christ be seen more than your rules of life.

If you view the Bible as a rulebook then you will hate this blog. But if you see the Bible as a place where you encounter God not as a download of information and stuff to do but instead, a place where you are not only encouraged because you learn new things of Him but a place where you weep and struggle and even argue with Him, then that’s where I am at.

We are in a similar place to when Paul wrote to the Ephesians a household code of practice, common at the time of him writing. It reads quite similar.

“Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers,do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” (Colossians 3: 18-24)

Let me join the angry cry!

Should abused women stay with their husbands?

Should children obey their parents who teach them how to steal?

Should slaves even be slaves?

Why doesn’t Paul speak more about what we want him to say? Look at all we know in 2020 surely we need the Apostle to be more denouncing in his words. How helpful that would be.

But of course it isn’t 2020 when he is writing this Spirit-inspired piece of Scripture. He chooses the citizens of lowly status to speak into. Women who are ranked below men; children who have no rights and slaves who are purchased objects. What is he doing?

He is pushing the social boundaries of his day with the aim being the gospel mission, people to find Christ. For example he has already said in v11 there is no slave or free, that itself would have sent many scurrying to the verses of the Old Testament that slaves did not have the same rights as their free Israelites.

In the verses we read today, 5 times the Lord’s name is mentioned. Look at them. Paul is bringing the challenges of his society into the shadow of Christ. How much more should we? Whether that be about slavery or racism or diversity, what does being in Christ and with Christ and following Christ teach us about those terrible things? What would Christ do? How much more should we be pushing boundaries within and outside the Church?

Maybe that’s the point the Apostle is making. Don’t see these verses as a Christian manual for 2,000 years later. I don’t think Paul was writing with that in mind. But see how in the history of faith the Bible speaks into that day.

The Bible speaks today into the difficulty of our day. Let us use it not as a proof-text or to back up the inquiries of our opinions.

Thankfully the Spirit has developed our society and culture since the day of Paul and the Roman Empire. It is our responsibility now to do what the Apostle did to take Christ into the challenges of our generation and to do this with wisdom for the gospel mission.