30 Jun July 31 – Daily Devotional

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

GRACE TO YOU

Colossians 1:2 “Grace . . . to you from God our Father.”

“Grace to you from God your Father.”  I cannot think of a more meaningful way to greet a group of Christians than with the word “grace.”  Grace is God’s redemptive love which is always active to save sinners and maintain them in a proper relationship with Him.  It assures them of God’s continued faithfulness to His chosen people.  It communicates to them they are favored by God fully although undeserved His favor may be.

St. Paul most often greeted a Christian congregation with the word grace.  It summarized the gospel message, the good news of God’s undeserved love and forgiveness, Jesus called him to his apostleship to deliver.  It communicated that God was at work through His Son Jesus Christ to bring those addressed by Paul into a faith relationship with Him and one another.

The church at Colossae was under attack by false teaching that attempted to direct them away from Jesus and His Father to other gods. Some had gone in that direction.  Others were in danger of going there also. Is this not the case today as well.  There are so many gods to worship. Satan, through the world is presenting new ideas that appeal to your heart to draw you away from Jesus. He has equipped  many teachers to teach life pathways that unfortunately do not lead to life, health, and well-being but to spiritual and eternal death.

This grace addressed by Paul to the Colossians is alone the key to a life pathway for you that will lead you to a full and abundant life now and for all eternity.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God . . . through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:24)

God’s grace for you is so unlimited and sufficient that He never gives up on you.  Because of His grace He desires you to believe in His Son and through Him to receive a crown of everlasting life.  (Revelation 2:10b)

Prayer:  O Lord, send Your grace from heaven and save me; put to shame him who tramples on me. Send out Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness! Amen.

Amazing grace— how sweet the sound— That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see!

The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come;

His grace has brought me safe thus far, His grace will lead me home.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail And mortal life shall cease,

Amazing grace shall then prevail In heaven’s joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.

(LSB 744)