30-Day Personal Devotion Challenge Day 1

Good Morning Church Family – Day 1

Read Colossians 1:1-2

Devo Thought: How is it that we become members of the family of God? This short introduction to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae tells us a little about that. Oftentimes, the introductions to Paul’s letters get overlooked, or we think to ourselves that we’ve got to read this to get to the good stuff, but the introductions are just as inspired as the rest of the letter. So, here, in this introduction, we find out who the letter is from and who it is going to. More importantly, we find out an answer to the question I started with. How is it we become members of the family of God? The Apostle Paul gives us a hint in his description of himself. He writes, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…” There it is. Paul is in the position he is because that was God’s desire. Without stretching the text too much, what that means for you and me (if we are followers of Jesus) is that God wants us to be in His family. He desires to know you and me. Another letter writer, Peter, puts it this way, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” So, I want to encourage you to leave the text thinking about the fact that God wants you to be in His family. That is His desire. It’s a pretty overwhelming thought that God, the creator of the universe, wants us to be a part of His plan and family.

Prayer – Focus on gratitude