SCRIPTURE: Colossians 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I love this letter, I love how it conveys Paul’s heart and passion, how it expresses the meaning of the message of Jesus so clearly – at least it does for me.
Paul is a passionate missionary for Jesus, and you can feel his excitement at the beginning of this letter for the new Jesus followers at Colosse.
But his passion for them is only beaten by his passion for Jesus, and his “song about Jesus” in the middle of this chapter shows how HUGE Jesus is, not just for Paul and other believers, but for the whole world!
Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together… So he is first in everything. [Colossians 1:16-18]

I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. [Colossians 1:24]
Paul sees His mission as an extension of Jesus’ mission, so that he is actually participating in the suffering of Jesus.
This is just another way of saying that Paul is carrying the cross too, with Jesus, for the sake of others.
That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. [Colossians 1:29]
And Through Him, the mighty power of Jesus is at work, and that is why he is working and struggling so hard!
Do we see ourselves as an extension of Jesus?
Are we prepared to make sacrifices for Jesus, for the sake of others, that they too may discover the secret – having the fullness of God through Jesus in us?

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [John 20:21-22]
We have the same mission as Paul, which is the same mission as Jesus – this is why we have received the Spirit.
If we are Jesus-followers, then I am, you are, missionaries for Him.
Through us Jesus is getting His message out – that we can be rescued from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Jesus!
I am His lips, His hands, His feet, and He calls me to carry a cross just like Him – that is, to make sacrifices for the sake of helping and blessing others.
When we do, we participate in His mission to rebuild God’s kingdom and restore God’s family.
When we do, then His message bears fruit all over the world, and peoples lives are changed as they meet Jesus.

The message I take home with me from today’s reading is that Paul’s passion is not just unique to Him, it needs to be evident in me too!
An overriding passion for Jesus, and a subsequent passion for people, that they too might know and receive Jesus!

PRAYER:
Lord, make me passionate for You, and for people! Give me an opportunity to participate in Your suffering today – not just for the sake of suffering, but to bless others in Your Name!