Friday, August 27, 2010
Colossians 1:2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
COMING BACK HOME TO CHRIST
The core of Paul's letter to the Colossians is what we call the "Gospel" or the "Good News". Basically, the Gospel says that although humans are sinful and therefore separated from the God who is sinless, God sent His Son to suffer for our sins thus bringing us back into a "father-child" relationship with Him.
Paul was captivated by the Gospel message. If Christ is the door to peace with God, what could be more important? What could be more precious? Nothing, Paul thought.
Throughout his letter to the Colossians Paul repeatedly comes back to the Gospel, comes back to Christ, like a person coming home from work--to rest.
This is really what being "evangelical" is all about. People associate all sorts of things with that word, some good, some bad. But at the core it really means following Paul's example and repeatedly "coming back home" to Christ and the forgiveness He offers--like a person who's left the office, or the store, or the construction site--to sit down and rest.
If you have a minute today, check out how many times Paul comes home to the Gospel in Colossians chapter one. Each time He does, he also invites the Colossian Christians (and us) to do the same. (I counted eight times in verses 2, 12-14, 20-23, 26.)
Be evangelical. Come home to Christ and rest, and may His grace and peace define who you are.
