One Verse at a Time

This episode looks at Colossians 1:9, “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”. We need God’s help to know God’s will. Paul knows this and so he prays it for the Colossians. We can pray this same prayer for ourselves and for those we know.

This episode looks at Colossians 1:8, “and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.” We thank God for those people in our lives who we see abounding in the fruit of love. We also ask that the Spirit would continue to work more and more love into our lives.

This episode looks at Colossians 1:7, “just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf”. We thank God for the pipeline of teachers who can help explain the less-clear parts of teaching to us. We also pray that God would help us to have the humility to be taught and the confidence to teach others the truth of the gospel.

This episode looks at Colossians 1:6, “which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,”. The gospel has spread beyond the personal reach of Paul and is bearing fruit anywhere and everywhere it is believed. The gospel provides the hope that drives true love. We can pray for God to help us dive deeper and deeper into gospel realities for the sake of love.

This episode looks at Colossians 1:5, “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,”. Knowing the future changes how we live in the present. We can thank God for the living hope we look forward to forever enjoying that waits for us in heaven. We can also ask him to help our hope to fuel great acts of love.

This episode looks at Colossians 1:4, “since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,”. We can thank God for how he has saved and works faith in others around us. We can also thank him for the acts of love we see him working in others around us.

This episode looks at Colossians 1:3, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,”. We should be a thankful people. Thankfulness drives away bitterness. We can always thank God first before we move into prayers for people to grow.

This episode looks at Colossians 1:2, “To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” We now see the recipient of Paul’s letter. In Christ we receive a new identity. We are holy ones set apart for God into a new family of brothers and sisters. We also thank God for his grace to us in these words.

This episode takes a look at Colossians 1:1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother.” Don’t worry, we will come back to the Psalms at some point! But for now, we are transitioning to the book of Colossians. This intro sets us up for the message of the book, which is that the fullness of God dwells in Christ Jesus, who is our hope and glory.

This episode looks at Psalm 4:8, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” God gives us rest for our souls. We can go to bed in peace even in the midst of crisis because God alone makes us dwell in safety. We can also look death in the face confidently because God will carry us through that final sleep and into eternal life and joy with him.