Together in Christ: 'Thanksgiving and Assurance' — Colossians 1:9-10

Monday, July 29, 2024

Merry Christmas!

We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

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So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
— Colossians 1:9-10 NLT

Key Thought

I love Paul's letter to the Colossians for several vital reasons:

  • He repeatedly exalts Jesus as the Messiah, our Lord, the Creator and sustainer of all things. [1]
  • While Paul had never visited Colosse, he felt a deep love for these disciples because of Christ, a spiritual closeness to them, and a protective concern for them because of their struggles with assurance. So, dear friend in Christ, I believe the apostle's words to them can also be his words for us.
  • He reminded them that God had rescued them at their conversion "from the kingdom of darkness and transferred them into the Kingdom of his dear Son." [2] This happened because of their faith in the power of God and their participation in Jesus' death, burial, resurrection as they are baptized and raised into a new life. [3]

Even though Paul had never been to Colossae, he was a great blessing to them (and to us) through his letter to them, assurance of them, and prayers for them. Our verses remind us of the incredible power of praying for new believers and sharing our prayers with them. Paul gave thanks daily for the Colossians. He prayed and told them about his prayers to reassure them they could grow in wisdom and understanding about Jesus as they lived to please the Lord and produced His good fruit in their lives. Paul also reminded them to continue to grow in their relationship with God.

Isn't this what we need to do for our newer brothers and sisters in Christ?

  • Pray for them.
  • Share our prayers for them with them.
  • Reassure them of their relationship with Jesus as they grow in their understanding of Him.
  • Encourage them to keep on growing in their relationship with God.

So let's do these things for our new brothers and sisters in Christ!

[1] Colossians 1:13-20, 27, 2:9, 15, 20, 3:10, 15-16, 24.
[2] Colossians 1:13.
[3] Colossians 2:12-13, 3:1-4.

Today's Prayer

Father, we ask Your forgiveness for not watching after new believers with more passion, concern, and love. We don't want the deceiver, the evil one, to separate one of these precious lambs in Your flock from Your people. We don't want them discouraged or downhearted. So, dear Father, use me to be a loving friend to new believers as I pray for them, encourage them as they grow, and reassure them that they can and will grow in their knowledge of Jesus and their likeness to Him as they pursue Him as their Savior and Lord. Thank You for Paul's example of loving concern for Your people. In Jesus' name, I pray and ask for this grace. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Colossians 1:13-14, 2:12-15, 3:1-4
  • Philippians 3:12-21

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Illustration

Illustration of Colossians 1:9-10 NLT — So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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