August 5 Daily Devotional

28 Jul August 5 Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

THE GOSPEL IS DOING ITS WORK

Colossians 1:6 “. . . the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.”

In today’s devotional verse what you read describing the gospel doing its work in Colossae also describes its work today.  This is important for you and all your fellow congregational members to keep in mind as you think about the ministry of your own Christian fellowship.

In this one verse you see the gospel remains most important in the church today.  St. Paul writes in Romans 1:16-17, “. . . the gospel . . . is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

There are those who seek after special programs and develop marketing campaigns hoping to grow their congregation.  These merely provide, at best, venues to present the gospel.  In the end, as St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18,23-25 “. . . the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God . . . we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

The Gospel IS God’s power for your salvation.  The English word dynamite is derived from the Greek word for power.  Picture in your mind a stick of dynamite having the power to break huge rocks apart.  Likewise, the gospel has the power to break apart the solid stone of unbelief in a heart so that the Holy Spirit can create faith in it.  The gospel is the means used by the Holy Spirit to call you to faith and then to keep you in that faith to life everlasting.

Prayer:  Enlighten my heart and mind, O God, by Your Spirit working through the power of the Gospel to increase in me Your grace and faith to believe in Your Son for forgiveness, life, and salvation.  In His holy name.  Amen.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

• Refrain:
  Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
  Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
  Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
  And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.

Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.                                        (Frances J. Crosby, 1875.  Public Domain)