Colossians 1

Our passage today is the first chapter of four of a letter written by Paul the Apostle to the church at Colossae (or to the Colossians).  Paul had probably never been to Colossae, but a Colossians named Epaphras was probably in Ephesus when Paul was there.  Epaphras responded to Paul’s message and became a believer.  Then he went back to his home town of Colossae and started a church…one of the first church planters in the early church!

Paul had heard that a dangerous teaching was being shared at the Colossians church.  Paul wrote this letter in response to this news, encouraging the Colossians to grow towards Christian maturity.  Christian maturity is one of those terms that sound impressive, but what does it really mean to obtain Christian maturity?  Paul gives us some idea in the first section of his letter.  First and foremost, we need to have faith in Christ Jesus.  We need to admit that we are sinners (not just mistakers), believe that Jesus died for our sins (He paid the price), and confess that Jesus is not only Lord of All but also Lord of our life.  Asking Him to be our Lord and Savior is the first step towards Christian maturity.

Paul continues discussing the love the Colossian Church has for one another.  We are called to be perfect in love – loving everyone no matter what!  (Now sometimes it’s not healthy to hang out with everyone, but we still need to love them).  We need to be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”  If we seek God every once in a while through prayer or through reading His Scripture, it will be a challenge to learn His Will for our life.  We need to seek Him daily, moment to moment to hear His guidance and direction.  When we listen to Him and follow Him, we stop listening to our direction and our desires.  Eventually, what He wants is what we want too!  This is the only way to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.”

When we listen and follow God and His guidance, we begin to reveal fruit in our lives.  We gain a strength to endure every struggle, we have patience to wait for His timing (which is never our timing), and we have joy in all things.  These are marks of Christian Maturity. 

Oftentimes our churches are filled with those who have taken the first step.  They have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but they have not given Him Lordship of their lives.  They have not relinquished control.  We like to do what we want to do, say what we want to say, and go where we want to go…and if God comes with us that’s ok…if He doesn’t that’s ok to.  This style of living is not revealing Christian Maturity.  This is demonstrating immaturity.  When it’s all about us, we sound like a toddler, “Mine” or “I do it!” instead of a growing Christian.

Do you have the marks of Christian Maturity in your life?  Or does your response to life seem more like a toddler’s?  Where are you growing and where do you need some attention.  Either we are growing in our faith or we are dying…there is no standing still.  Which way are you headed?

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy