“If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister” (Colossians 1:23).

Are you standing firm in the faith given throughout the ages?  The world hammers against the truth and we veer away.  One must hold fast.  To what do you cling?  Where is your hope?  Are you living in the goodness of the Lord and living according to the Word you have received?  Live then in the promise the Lord gives and do not move away from the faith to which You have been called.

Lord, help me see where I am called by the world so that I would not go there.  Help me to see where the pollution comes in and help me avoid it.  Open my ears to hear the pure gospel so that I would cling to Your promise alone.  Let me never mix in those things which are not true.  Keep me close to Your Word so that I may now and always abide in You and You in me until we meet face to face.

Lord Jesus, Your Word is truth.  You have come to lead the way, for You are truth.  Guide me now and always in the true gospel way so that I would look to You knowing that only in You is there hope and a future.  Lead me this day where You know I need to go.  Guide me in the will of the Father and show me how to listen, hear, understand, and obey all that is good and in accordance with Your will.  Amen.

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Colossians 1:21-22)

The world hates God.  They may not say that this is what it is, but the world hates God.  You were born alienated from God and Christ has come so that you might be reconciled to Him.  But here is the problem: you want it on your terms.  That is not how it works.  It is on Christ’s terms.  Come then and surrender to the One who is able to make of you more than you can ever hope to be on your own.

Lord, You have come in order that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, O Lord, to walk humbly in Your presence, knowing that even though I want to do this, I cannot do this on my own.  Amidst the struggle of daily life, lead me in the way I need to go and then help me go that way.  You, Lord, know all that I need.  You, Lord, know all that is before me.  You know.  Help me to follow You.

Lord Jesus, You know me better than I know myself.  Your Spirit searches my heart and sifts it.  Continue sifting and do not give up on me.  Lead me where I need to go, not where I want to go.  Guide me along paths of Your choosing and ignore my pleas to follow other paths.  You are the author and finisher of my faith.  Use me as You will and lead me where You will, for I am Yours.  Amen.

“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:19-20).

We sometimes wonder how all of this happens.  Through Christ, is the best answer.  Where?  In all places.  Now, if through Christ all things are reconciled in all places, is there any worry for you?  Trust in the One through whom all things not only have their being, but through whom all things are reconciled through Him on the cross.  Christ has come to reconcile those who will be reconciled.

Lord, I believe I sometimes make this more difficult than it needs to be.  You are God and You have done and are doing what You have done and are doing.  You have come so that we may see You, the God who is above and through all.  Help me to turn to You, the Visible God so that I may turn to You, the Invisible God.  Lead me the way I need to be led and help me learn to follow.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh who has shown us the Father, You know all that is needed.  You have spoken and called for me to follow You.  That’s it.  Follow You.  Help me to do this, Jesus.  You know how often I want something else.  You alone know all that I need.  You know how I need to be reconciled.  Lead me, Lord, in order that I may learn to follow, and guide me along the path You have set before me.  Amen.

“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Colossians 1:17-18).

Have you ever thought about these things?  Maybe all of this thing we call creation was made specifically for the purpose of giving you the opportunity to be eternally united with Him as a child of the Heavenly Father.  Jesus is the Firstborn.  Now if He is first, it means there are others who will follow.  Not being God, for He told us equality with God is not to be grasped, but a child of God.

Lord, help me think more deeply and to realize what You are doing through this thing called salvation.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may walk in the light of Your salvation and live as You would have me live.  Help me now and always to look to You, my Lord and God.  You are my Savior and in You are all things held together.  Lead me, O Lord, and I will follow.  Teach me and I will learn.

My Lord and God, “God’s Salvation,” as your name means, guide me in the way of everlasting life so that I may now and always go where You send me.  Help me to better understand the gift of life which You have given me.  Help me to better understand the direction of salvation that You have provided.  Through all things, lead me in the way of everlasting life so that I may now and always be guided by You.  Amen.

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16).

Who is Jesus?  This is a question that those who do not know ask over and over again.  The cults prey upon the ignorance of those in darkness and offer all kinds of answers.  Jesus is the Word who is God.  The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  Through Him all things have come into being and apart from Him nothing came into being that has being.  Christ is the invisible God made visible.

Have you taken in what the Word says?  It is clear and there is no room for negotiation.  I know there is a cult that denies Jesus is God in the flesh, but even Scripture gives explicit warning about this.  Jesus is God in the flesh and it is God who is your Savior.  He has come that You may be eternally connected with Him.  Come into the eternal relationship prepared before the foundation of the world.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, the One through whom all things have been created, You are my King and Savior.  Lead me always in the way of life that You alone know fully.  Help me to see that in You alone is there all hope and the glory of all ages.  Guide me ever deeper into the life of a disciple so that I may now and always humbly abide with You and through You in the Father’s presence.  Amen.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15).

Faith is the conviction of things not seen.  We are told plainly here who Jesus is: He is God.  The One who is invisible makes Himself visible by becoming the only begotten Son.  God from God, Light from light, Very God from Very God; these are the words spoken amidst the mystery of God made flesh.  Yes, Jesus and the Father are One.  God is our salvation just as the Old Testament says over and over again.

Lord, so few words that speak something that is beyond my ability to comprehend.  You have become like one of us, God in the flesh.  Or is it that You have made us to be like You?  You have come to lead the way.  You have come to give the example of what living life is to be like. You have loved us so much that You have given up Your body on a tree that we might be able to be with You forever.  What an amazing God You are!

Lord Jesus, firstborn among many brethren, God in the flesh and the light shining in the darkness, though I may never fully comprehend the magnificence of what this means, help me to look to the Father as You taught us to look.  Help me to do those things You have taught us to do.  Help me to follow You as You asked me to do.  Through all things, help me be Your disciple.  Amen.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).

The picture of dark and light runs throughout Scripture.  God separated the dark from the light.  Jesus is the Light shining in the darkness.  We have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and given the light.  Come then and live as a child of God, a light bearer, and one who has been redeemed to become like Christ.  You are one for whom the Lord died to redeem you, and you have what He gives from the cross.

Lord, so often I hear what I must do.  Here I am hearing what You have done for me.  Help me come to the place where I do not think in terms of what I must do but live in the freedom of doing what is good because it is pleasing to You.  Take me out of dark thinking and into thinking as one who is in the light.  You have forgiven my sins, redeemed me, and given me the power in You to become like You.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, truth, and life.  You have asked me to bear the light that all may see and glorify the Father in heaven.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may be guided by Your goodness.  Keep me close to You in order that I may not walk again in the shadows of the dark kingdom.  In all things, remind me that You have redeemed me and that You have a greater purpose for me by walking with You.  Amen.

“Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light” (Colossians 1:10-11).

The world is not perfect.  You know that.  It takes steadfastness and patience to navigate this sinful world as a redeemed sinner.  The Lord will not only amply supply your needs, but also, He will teach you amidst all strife of this life, His plan and purpose.  You have been given the power to become a child of God.  Live in that power and walk as a child of the Light, no longer in the darkness.

Lord, there is much I need to learn and many, many things that I do not know.  Guide me by Your light so that I not so much seek to know things as to know You.  Lead me into Your Light so that I may see goodness and be one who practices what I see in You.  You have accomplished for all who believe the salvation we all need.  You have finished the work, and now, learning to live as a child of the Heavenly Father begins.

Lord Jesus, teach me today the way of being thankful, steadfast, and patient.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I would now and always walk humbly with You.  You are my Lord and Savior and in You alone is there all hope and a future.  Lead me in the way You would have me go and help me to willingly obey Your ordinances.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all that You have done, are doing, and will do.  Amen. 

“So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10)

You have been given grace and mercy.  The Lord has died for your sins so that you might be redeemed.  The Lord has demonstrated His love for you.  What then shall you do?  Does one jilt the one they love?  May it never be!  You have been invited into a loving relationship with the Lord.  Live now in that relationship and do what is pleasing for the One who loves you and whom you say you love.

Lord, teach me how to live this loving relationship that You have established in grace.  Guide me according to Your goodness that I may learn more and more each day and walk in such a way that it is pleasing to You.  Nourish in me that fruit which You shall grow and increase in me those things which You know I need to know.  Let me never forget Your grace upon which I depend.

Lord Jesus, You are the model of godliness.  Lead me this day, Lord, in the way of life You are teaching me so that I may walk in a way that is pleasing to the Father.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to know that I am unworthy, but to walk as though I were, not by my might or power, but by Yours.  Lead me, O Lord, and help me to accept Your teaching so that I would humbly follow wherever You lead.  Amen.

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9)

Do you hear the things Paul was praying for?  He prays for us to be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Will you receive what the Lord gives you?  Will you walk in the knowledge and wisdom He imparts?  This is always a good and true question that we should at all times be willing to answer.  The Lord would have you grow in His likeness.

Lord, you know all that is right, good, and needed for me to grow into Your likeness.  You have sent those who would speak Your Word so that I might receive the mercy and grace needed to continue on the path of following You.  You know what I need Lord.  Help me live into the life You have called me live into and for which You died.  Guide me in the Gospel way, giving thanks for the saints who have prayed for me.

Lord Jesus, help me join the communion of saints who at all times and in all places have prayed for those in need.  Lead me, O Lord, in the Gospel way so that I would join as one of the active saints who cares for others as I have been cared for.  You know where that direction is.  Help me to understand that You do know all things and I need to learn how to follow You, now and always.  Amen.