Daily Devotional - WK 13 - Day 67 - 03/28/24 - We Are Family

Author: Evangelist Lisa L. Dalton

We Are Family 

Col. 2:2-3
2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those [believers] at [a]Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen me face to face. 2 [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] [b]love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the [c]mystery of God, that is, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God]. (AMP)

Devotional:
Have you ever received a gift in a really big box, you opened it, and there was another box, then you opened that box, and there was another box? You never stopped opening the boxes because you wanted to know what the mystery gift was inside. Once you opened the last box, you found something that was very valuable and useful to you inside. In our spiritual case, it’s Jesus Christ in the box, i.e., the Bible. The word of God.

In this scripture, Paul was expressing to a group of new believers outside of Colossae; Laodicea. Laodicea was the sister church to the Colossian church. In this letter, Paul was expressing that he wanted them to become like one big family, loving and learning from each other. He didn’t want them to think they needed to be a part of some secret society to learn about Jesus. He wanted them to know that the salvation of Jesus is for everyone. Jews and Gentiles. He wanted them to know about the benefits they would receive from their understanding of the salvation given to them through Jesus Christ.

It wasn’t just enough to know that Jesus died for their sins, but Paul wanted them to know the intimate details of God through Jesus Christ. He didn’t want them listening to other philosophies and false prophets as it could cause their faith to waiver. Paul knew they were hungry for the word of God and because they didn’t know much about Jesus Christ, they could fall prey to anything, believing that what others were saying was true. He let them know that all wisdom and knowledge regarding the word of God and His purpose was in Christ Jesus, and they had to keep reading and studying the scriptures to gain more wisdom about who He is and His purpose. Much like the boxes. In order to get to the value in the box, you have to open all the boxes.

As you go throughout your day today, think about how much time you’ve put into studying the word of God and ask yourself this question. Do I have a full understanding of the intimacy of God through Christ Jesus? Do I fully understand the sacrifice He made on Calvary for me? Be honest with yourself. If you need to go back and study more, do that. The word of God will open up all the mysteries of God through Christ Jesus…His word.

Prayer
Lord, I thank You for making Your word available to me so I can understand You more and the purpose and plan You have for my life through the salvation that came through Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.