Tuesday December 3, 2013
Colossians 1:3-8

The power of prayer is really a remarkable reality of the life of faith. People have been praying since the beginning of time. The Jewish community from biblical days had been praying for a Messiah for centuries. They dreamed about a day when everything would be different. They longed for a time when the power of God would reign in every aspect of daily life.

The Apostle Paul describes the answer to that prayer in the closing words of verse five when he describes “the true message of the gospel” that became available to the people. He knows that his language will be understood because he has already heard stories about the faith of the people and of their love for God. It is a faith in Christ Jesus that has become the answer to their prayers.

Isn’t it interesting that sometimes our prayers are answered but we are somehow blind to the reply? For example, we already know the accounts of the birth of Jesus. We have assurance that he is the savior of the world. We are confident that the love of God has been expressed through his teachings. So why do we need to go back to the beginning to remember his birth once again? Maybe it is because we forget and God knows that we need to be reminded once again. So we start fresh.

That is a part of the message of Colossians 1:3-8. It is a reminder. It calls the people (us!) to remember when we first heard the gospel message. It invites us to remember the people who helped us understand the love of God. It takes us back to the beginning so we can recall the answer to our prayers and the prayers of God’s people from ancient days. It calls us to reflect, remember, and to rejoice.

And so, we take time to pray, to return to our history, and to pause in the presence of God.

Memory Verse For This Week:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Colossians 1:15

Missional Prayer Focus For Today:
Please pray for the ministry of Habitat for Humanity as lives are changed because affordable housing is made possible. Pray for the volunteers who build, the donors who provide, and the families who will be impacted by the love of God.