The Hope of the Gospel
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Colossians 1:18-29. Paul talks about Jesus being the head of the body, which is the church. Paul said it pleased God that all fullness should dwell in Jesus.
Jesus made peace through His blood on the cross and reconciled everything to Him in heaven and earth. Paul tells them they were once alienated and enemies in their minds because of their wicked works. Now Jesus reconciled them through His death on the cross, and made them holy and blameless in His sight.
Let’s look at Philippians 2:5-11:
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Paul exhorted them to stay firmly grounded in the faith, and not stray from the hope of the gospel, which they have heard. He reminded them that the Gospel had been preached to every creature on earth, in which He was a minister. Paul told them that he rejoiced in his suffering for them, since his job as a minister of God was to fulfill the Word of God in them. How could Paul rejoice when he was in prison?
Paul talks about the mystery of the Gentiles, which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Ephesians 3:6 tells us, “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.” Paul says we preach this, warning and teaching to every man, that we might present them perfect in Jesus Christ. Paul worked very hard to preach the gospel, by God’s power working in him even when he was in prison. His desire was to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone.
Daily Bible Reading:
Colossians 1:18-29
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
Things to think about:
- How could Paul rejoice in his sufferings?
- What was the mystery that Paul was talking about in this Scripture?
- How can we be made holy and blameless in God’s sight?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for this Scripture in the book of Colossians where Paul is writing to the church of Colosse. Help us to do as Paul says and keep the faith and hope of the gospel in our lives. Thank You for all the ministers that You have sent to share the gospel, so we might know You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.
Daily Bible Verse:
from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
– Colossians 1:23
Featured Book:
The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse
by Deborah H. Bateman.
The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. This book is a study of the book of Colossians from the Old Testament of the Bible. The Book of Colossians is one of the Apostle Paul’s letters. In this letter Paul acknowledges the people of Colosse for their faith in Jesus Christ, their love of the saints, and their hope in heaven.
Paul encourages the Colossians to walk worthy of the Lord, to put their hope in the gospel, and to let the peace of God rule in their hearts. Paul also discusses with the people of Colosse how to have relationships that are pleasing to God. Paul reminds them of the great sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made for them on the cross and encourages them to redeem the time.
The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse contains eight Daily Bible Reading lessons, which can be used as a personal or group Bible study. Each lesson contains a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, several questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer to go along with the lesson. Our desire is that this book will help you to have a better understanding of Paul’s letter to the Colossians and how you can apply his message to your life today.
For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.
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Deborah
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