Tuesday 17 August 2021

Psalm 43

Background

The thriving church in Colossae, a city in Anatolia (modern Turkey) was being diverted by some ‘super spiritual’ teachers who claimed insight into additional ‘mysteries’. In his letter to the church at Colossae,  which we will consider over these next few days, Paul is seeking to correct the error.

 As far as we know, Paul never visited Colossae. The church there began as a result of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus where a man called Epaphras found faith in Christ and took the gospel back to his home city of Colossae.

Paul begins the letter according to the convention of his day. Whereas we sign our name to conclude a letter, in Paul’s day it was expected that the opening words of the letter would proclaim who the writer was. Paul uses the opening greeting as an opportunity to make it clear that his only claim to apostleship and ministry is ‘by the will of God’ (verse 1).

Our theme this week is the supremacy of Christ and Saint Paul puts Christ supremely first from the outset. In writing this letter of correction, he calls on the "saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ" (verse 2) to take note of what he is about to share and opens the argument of his letter with thanksgiving for the faithful in Colossae and an assurance of his continuing prayers for them (verse 9).

 Apostles are those who have witnessed the grace of God and seek to live it out as Christ’s advocates and witnesses in the everyday world. As Paul said, it is only by the will of God that any of us can hope to fulfil such a calling.

To Ponder:

• Listen to: ‘Jesus lead us to the Father’.
• What does it mean to put Jesus first?
• What experience of God’s presence and love can you share with others?
• Who reflects God’s love in Jesus for you? Give thanks for them.

   

Prayer

God of all grace, by your love in Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, help me to live and speak as one who shows something of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus that others may be drawn to you. Amen.