The Firstborn

Reading:  Colossians 1:15-23
    
    Before he can correct some of the issues troubling the Colossian church, Paul must first impress them with Jesus’ greatness.  He employs the word “firstborn” to describe two different dimensions of Jesus’ power.  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him”(Col 1:15-16).  Jesus is creator of all things, including the very powers that oppress his people.  This makes him “firstborn over all creation”—meaning not that he is part of the creation, but emphasizing his rank and dominion over it. Like a firstborn son, he ranks above everything in creation. “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together”(Col 1:17).  As firstborn, he ensures the continuing function of the universe as we know it.  

    Yet he has also begun a new creation in his people.  “And he is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent”(Col 1:18).  This firstborn speaks to how Jesus has emerged from the grave, ensuring that many more will follow him.  He is “the first to rise from the dead”(Acts 26:23).  Something new is beginning in him as he acts to “reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross”(Col 1:20).  There is peace, reconciliation, and hope despite the death we observe.  We partake in this new creation because he has also reconciled us to God (Col 1:22) and longs to “present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him”(Col 1:22).  As firstborn from the dead, Jesus gives direction to everything in our lives.  We are headed for resurrection.

    Paul wants Jesus’ disciples to share in his lofty view of Jesus.  He is more than a mere man, a path to wisdom, a noble teacher, or a kind healer.  He is over all creation, holding it together at every moment.  He is lord over death, having broken its clutches from the inside out.  He has all the answers and all the power—and he has reached out to me in love.  My job is merely to “continue in the faith, stable and steadfast”(Col 1:23).

-----------
One Thing to Think About: What might it mean for Jesus to “reconcile to himself all things”?

One Thing to Pray For:   The strength to “continue in the faith”
 

Bearing Fruit and Increasing

Reading:  Colossians 1:1-14
    
    Paul does not know the Colossians personally, but that does not stop him praying for them.  “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints”(Col 1:3-4).  Epaphras has told Paul about the good work God is doing in Colosse (Col 1:7-8) and Paul thanks God for them.  But he also sees this as part and parcel of the way God’s word works:  “Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you”(Col 1:5-6).  Paul sees a consistent pattern:  wherever the gospel goes, fruit and increase follow.  Lives are changed, hearts are softened, disciples are born, and God is praised.  

    So it is no surprise that Paul prays for this pattern to continue in the Colossians.  He wants them to live “bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”(Col 1:10).  There it is again:  bearing fruit and increasing.  We can only bear fruit when we are “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”(Col 1:9), so Paul prays for that too.  And we can only bear fruit when we have been “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy”(Col 1:11), so Paul prays for that too.  And we only persist in this path when we are consistently “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light”(Col 1:12), so Paul prays for that too.  Like a master gardener, Paul calls on God to gather all the ingredients (knowledge, strength, gratitude) to produce the rich fruits of Christian living in the Colossians.

    Wherever the gospel goes, fruit and increase follow.  We begin to live in different ways:  showing patience with frustrating people, forgiving those who have hurt us, growing in self-control, speaking in kindness rather than anger, and serving those around us.  So if we have the knowledge and strength we need, one question remains:  are we bearing fruit and increasing?

-----------
One Thing to Think About: In what ways am I “bearing fruit and increasing”?

One Thing to Pray For:   My brothers and sisters to be filled with God’s knowledge and strength
 

Divisiveness

Reading:  Romans 16:17-27
    
    Paul ends his letter with a warning:  “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them”(Rom 16:17).  Some people are divisive.  They separate people, cause problems, and make living the faith more challenging. While they may blame others for the conflict that seems to follow them, they are the common denominator.  Such people are dangerous; Paul demands that we “avoid them.”  The reason is that they “do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve”(Rom 16:18).  Though they claim to follow Jesus, their true allegiance is to themselves.  We cannot trust their words, which are full of “smooth talk and flattery,” but must look honestly at the fruits of their actions.  These are strong words, but divisiveness is spiritually devastating, both personally and within a local church.

    Despite this negative pronouncement, Paul is actually full of optimism about the Romans.  He assures them that “your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you”(Rom 16:19) and that “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet”(Rom 16:20).  The fact that we encounter self-willed people does not diminish our standing before God or our hopes of him fulfilling his promises.  “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ!  Amen”(Rom 16:25-27).  God has done so much to bless us and will complete his work, to his glory.

    Sad as it is, some people choose to cause problems in churches, families, and workplaces.  Christians must be peacemakers who seek to mend breaches, not create them.  We first follow Christ in our own relationships, then carefully examine the divisive influences we encounter in order to avoid them.

-----------
One Thing to Think About: What is the difference between standing for truth and being divisive?

One Thing to Pray For:   Harmony within the local church
 

The Depth of Christian Relationships

Reading:  Romans 16:1-16
    
    This may look like a section to skim or skip, yet something important is happening here.  Paul gives an extended set of greetings to the Roman Christians; he obviously knows a lot of them despite the fact that he hasn’t yet visited there.  “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well”(Rom 16:1-2).  Phoebe is a servant (this is also the word for “deacon,” a position of service in the church) of the church at Cenchreae.  She is deserving of honor and help because of her faithful work for Paul and the church.  There is history here.

    Each greeting seems to have a similar kind of story behind it.  Prisca and Aquila “risked their necks for my life”(Rom 16:4).  Epaenetus is “my beloved” and “was the first convert to Christ in Asia”(Rom 16:5).  Mary “has worked hard for you”(Rom 16:6).  Andronicus and Junia are “my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners” and are “well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me”(Rom 16:7).  Paul has a kind word for each person he mentions; these words were surely treasured by those mentioned.  “Greet one another with a holy kiss.  All the churches of Christ greet you”(Rom 16:16).  Paul wants the Roman Christians to know they share a bond with all other Christians.

    Relationships matter.  Behind each verse here there is a story of mutual work or late-night baptism or danger faced together or passionate conversations to build each other up.  Paul sees each one as “my beloved” or “our fellow worker”; the connections are deep.  As we work together for Jesus, deep connections are forged that last through the years and despite the miles between us.  We are not alone in our love for Jesus and dedication to him.  Those connections sustain and encourage us through the challenges of Christian living. 

-----------
One Thing to Think About: Do I value my relationships in Christ more than my worldly relationships?

One Thing to Pray For:   Encouragement from my brothers and sisters
 

Strive Together with Me

Reading:  Romans 15:22-33
    
    In this section Paul explains his travel plans and preaching philosophy:  “I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation”(Rom 15:20).  This desire to plow new ground in the gospel means that he has not yet been able to visit Rome.  “This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.  But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions…I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain”(Rom 15:22-23, 24).  But for the moment, he is going to Jerusalem to bring the gift the Gentile churches are giving to their needy Jewish brothers (Rom 15:25-28).

    We know that this gift is heavy on Paul’s mind from the many times he mentions it to the Corinthians (1 Cor 16:1-4, 2 Cor 8-9).  Here he channels his anxiety into requests for prayer.  “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company”(Rom 15:30-32).  He asks for the Romans to “strive together with me” by praying.  He asks for prayers for his safety, for the reception of his gift, and for his subsequent travel plans.  All these justifiable concerns are not just the topics of Paul’s prayers; he also asks the Romans to pray with him.

    The vivid words “strive together with me” remind us that prayer is a way we join in the good fight with other Christians.  Paul speaks of prayer as having real power to change God’s mind and thereby change the world in which we live.  He may even be thinking of Jacob striving with God until he received a blessing (Gen 32:24-28).  We may not be able to be physically present when other brothers need us.  We may not have the power to change anything about the situation ourselves.  We may struggle to have words that will help.  But we can all strive together in prayer so that God brings the blessings we seek.

-----------
One Thing to Think About: What matters am I currently striving about in prayer?

One Thing to Pray For:   A deeper sense of the power of prayer