Bible Reading Plan | Devotion for the week of January 16, 2022

Weekly reading: Colossians 1-4; Psalm 82-84
Passages referenced: COLOSSIANS 3

Before Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Colossae, he had never been to their city. In AD 60–61, during his first imprisonment in Rome, Paul penned this letter to the Colossian church after receiving a report that heretical teachers had infiltrated the church. The news came from Epaphras, likely the leader of the church at Colossae and a convert of Paul’s from his more than two-year ministry in Ephesus. Epaphras had come to Rome in part to serve Paul during his imprisonment and confide in him regarding the dangerous teachings the Colossians were hearing. 

The church at Colossae was under attack from false teachers denigrating the deity of Jesus; they were teaching that He was not God. Can you imagine what it would have been like to have placed your faith in the work of Christ only to be later taught that He was not God? Paul was determined to address this head-on with the church and correct this false teaching.

Although this letter was written to the Colossians, we are so blessed to be able to read this letter! It is powerfully written as the nature of Jesus Christ as Creator and Redeemer was nonnegotiable to Paul, and it was critical to him that this church know God in His greatness and glory, rather than in the deficient view given them by the false teachers. He described Jesus with some of the loftiest language in all the New Testament, focusing on Christ’s preeminence and sufficiency in all things. Paul presented Christ as the center of the universe, not only as the active Creator but also as the recipient of creation—in His taking on of human flesh. Christ was and is the visible image of the invisible God, containing within Himself the fullness of deity. Because of His divine nature, Jesus is sovereign, above all things, with an authority given Him by the Father. As such, Jesus is also Head over the Church.

Paul also makes the point to remind them of how they used to live, how they were once far away from God, His enemies, separated from Him by evil thoughts and actions. We, too, once were dead because of sins and our sinful nature. Then God made us alive in Christ and forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of charges against us and nailed them to the cross. He has reconciled all things to Himself through His death on the cross, making believers alive to God and setting them on the path to right living. This proper view of Christ served as the antidote for the Colossian heresy as well as a building block for Christian life and doctrine both then and now.

Our view of Jesus Christ will impact every area of our lives. Our faith in Jesus Christ should transform the relationships we have in every area of our lives—in our homes, our churches, and our world. Chapter 3 addresses how to live the new life in Christ: putting to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within us and turning to live a life in Christ. Since we have been raised with Christ, we, therefore, must clothe ourselves and put on qualities that are motivated by Christ’s love. And because He is Lord over all, the life of the Christian is a life of submission to Jesus.

So, what about you? Are you following after Jesus? What are you holding onto that needs released to Christ (put to death)? Pray and ask God to show you areas of your life that you have not surrendered and are yet to be clothed by the transforming power of Christ’s love. – Drew Scholl

• Check out The Bible Project’s overview video of the book of Colossians. It is an excellent source for background information and context that walks through the book’s sections and themes. It can be really helpful for those who appreciate some visuals while learning.

• Do you have questions about this week’s Bible reading? We’d love to help! Rather than relying on the first thing you find on the internet, email us at biblequestions@warsaw.cc. We are more than happy to answer that nagging question you have, provide you with some clarity, or point you in the right direction for further study.