Announcing a new study!  Stay ‘til the end.  Colossians 1.1-2

Announcing a new study!  Announcing a free gift, dear readers~

But first, please indulge me for a moment of explanation, as to how and why we find ourselves in this place.

After studying Luke’s gospel several years ago, we stayed with Dr. Luke and studied the book of Acts, which describes Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, the arrival of the Holy Spirit—just as Jesus had promised—the start of the early church, and the spread of the gospel into other lands, initially launched through one man—Paul.  How I have grown to love Paul, through studying his letters to the churches in chronological order: Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Romans and Philippians.  And then last spring, I cracked the door open to Colossians, but one look prompted an in depth study of our Lord Jesus Christ, as given us by the beloved disciple John.  (All of the aforementioned book studies are archived at www.pastorwoman.com, and may be downloaded and printed for consideration)

Paul’s writings, which account for more than thirty percent of the New Testament, are invaluable to all who want to know and grow in their Christian faith.  Though Paul wrote to new believers in Jesus Christ almost two thousand years ago, his teachings inform us about what it means to live for Christ today … about the difference between life under the Law and the free gift of God’s grace.  Paul teaches of getting along with others, (in and out of the church), being an effective witness, loving without hypocrisy, matters of the Holy Spirit, and keeping Jesus Christ as our focus …  What’s more, Paul’s life is proof that God can change anyone, as Jesus’ interruption of Paul’s travel to Damascus literally caused the Christ-hater to do a 180-degree turn and become Christ’s biggest promoter and Christianity’s first missionary.

I invite you to locate the little book of Colossians in your Bible and read completely through it—won’t take you long, as it is just four chapters.  As when he wrote Philippians, Paul writes from prison, having gotten word about things happening among the believers in the little town of Colossae,

[from] “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”  verses 1 and 2

His was a standard greeting in the ancient world, almost like presenting a business card at the start of a business lunch--introducing himself and greeting those to whom he was writing.  His title – “apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” – whoa, a strong, affirmative statement, by one who had been challenged on that point.  His position was strong, and it was right, because he had been called to it, through a face-to-face encounter with the risen Lord, though true enough, he had not been one of Jesus’ 12 disciples.  He couples himself with Timothy, his dear Christian brother—perhaps because his readers knew Timothy, or Timothy was the scribe for Paul’s words, or simply the one who delivered the letter to the Colossians. 

Paul's greeting commends their Christian faithfulness, and extends the best he has to offer them—“grace and peace from God our Father”.  He really had a thing about grace.  I guess because grace had turned his world upside down!  Yes, grace had changed everything for Paul, and so he leads with it.  I have written about grace dancing – and that reminds me that grace draws me to itself, it invites my participation.  “I know nothing, except what everyone knows —if there when Grace dances, I should dance,” wrote the poet W. H. Auden. 

God doesn’t wait for me to come to him . . . he runs to me, with arms outstretched.  And in his arms, I remember how to dance again.  Now that, dear friend, is amazing grace.