Colossians 1
Have you ever met someone for the first time, and had them say, “It’s so good to finally meet you, *insert mutual friend’s name* has told me so much about you!” They might have even shared some of the positive things they have heard, or encouraged you based on what they have heard about you from others.
This is similar to what’s happening in Colossians 1. Paul and Timothy do not know the majority of people who were part of this community in Colossae, but they have heard lots of good things from their friend Epaphras and are writing to encourage them. This happens in 2 major ways in Colossians 1: Through the encouragement of prayer and the encouragement of Christ Jesus.
As the modern church, we can be encouraged by these words, but also learn how to encourage others from these words. God wants to use this letter to sharpen us and shape us into people who lovingly encourage others and serve Jesus faithfully. And He has done it for generations before us. Let’s look at each of these sections more closely.
The encouragement of prayer
Paul and Timothy write that they have “not ceased to pray for you [the Colossian church].” Imagine if someone, especially someone you had never met, told you that they had not ceased to pray for you since the day they heard of you. That would be powerful. There are so many people in our lives that we can be praying for, from disciples, to friends, to family, to leaders. What if you committed to praying for one of these people, each day, for a certain amount of time? What if you then told them about that? Imagine how loved that would make them feel. Imagine the impact that could come from those prayers.
In a similar manner to this passage, Paul instructs the Thessalonian church to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:16). Be encouraged that Jesus models this himself, as he is called our “intercessor” in Hebrews 7, where the author writes that,
“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (v. 25)
Jesus never ceases to intercede for us as his disciples. We are always on his mind as he continuously reconciles us to our God. To pray continuously for the people in our lives is to be like Jesus.
The encouragement of Christ Jesus
After sharing their prayers for this community, Paul and Timothy include a poem about who Jesus is (verses 16-23). It has many connections to other parts of scripture, some written far before this letter, and some expanded upon by Paul after this letter was written. If you have some extra time today (and are feeling like a bible scholar), take some time to reflect on these connections:
What is this poem saying about Jesus in light of Genesis1?
The letter to the Ephesians was written after this letter to the Colossians, how does Paul expand upon ideas in this poem in Ephesians 2?
Paul and Timothy were seeking to reassure this group of believers by reminding them of who Jesus is, and why He is worthy of our steadfast faith. Perhaps you are in a season where your faith seems shaky or unsure. Maybe following Jesus is getting hard, and throwing in the towel is getting more appealing. This is an okay place to be. Be encouraged by this poem. We serve a loving God who has made it possible for us to be reconciled to Him. This poem might not fix your doubts or frustrations, but it can remind you of why placing your faith in Jesus is worth it.
Now that we have dug a little deeper into the encouragement of prayer and the encouragement of Christ Jesus, I want to offer some ways to walk in these encouragements this week.
Because we have the authority through Jesus, our intercessor, we can pray to God on behalf of others. He invites us to do so. (Matthew 6:5-13; Matthew 7:8-9). Choose someone to pray for everyday this week. Pray prayers like those Paul and Timothy prayed in Colossians 1. At the end of the week, tell the person about how you prayed for them, and what you prayed for.
Meditate on the poem about Jesus. You could write it out, say it aloud, or thank God for who He is and how he has reconciled you. Because of Jesus, you have complete peace with God. You are no longer alienated, but a part of his family. May this truth saturate your life and encourage you and others around you.
