Grace Changes Things
Pondering Colossians 1
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf. He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.—Colossians 1:6-8
Early in his letter to the Colossians, Paul affirms the impact of grace upon the lives of those who believe. It is an impressive thought that I believe Paul is using to help the Colossians to be strong, faithful, and dependent upon God. He will address some of their challenges later, but he wisely built them up on the foundation of grace first.
Before we face any of the struggles of the daily Christian life, we must understand the role we are playing in the larger picture.
The Gospel is life-changing news, and it is spreading all over the world.
When you understood the truth of God’s grace, it changed you.
As others hear the Gospel, grace is changing their lives as well.
A good example is our brother Epaphras. Paul names him twice in this letter and once in the letter to Philemon. Notice how Paul describes him:
One who shares the good news.
He is beloved—someone who others learn to care about quickly.
He is a worker in the kingdom.
He is a close associate of Paul.
He reports to Paul the good things that are happening in Colossae.
He is familiar with the church of Colossae because he is a member (4:12).
He is always praying for his fellow Christians (4:12). The NIV says, “He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” We will revisit this when we get to Chapter 4!
What a great biography! In just a few sentences, we understand how the grace of God changes a person’s life. And then we can see how that influence changes the lives of those around! Epaphras is a tremendous example of a believer changed by grace and empowered to spread the Gospel!
Grace is a powerful force that surrounds and empowers the believer to spread the Good News about Jesus to others. In Colossae, it has strengthened them as a body of believers. The Holy Spirit has filled them with love. And the Gospel is being spread across the world. This is where our true spiritual strength originates: grace changes things.
Note: We will have another post from Colossians on Monday morning. Have a great weekend!
Yes it does❤️