What’s missing in our culture today are courtesies, those words of respect, graciousness and sincere regard at the beginning of a conversation, a visit, a letter. So much is often said in those first few words if you only listen! We get to hear how Paul and Timothy greet the believers in Colossae today and catch a glimpse of how to pray for others to grow in their faith.
If you are trying to have a quiet time, getting started in a relationship with God or seeking guidance at this point in your life, you're in the right place.
In fifteen minutes or less you will listen to God's word for you, reflect on it and learn to pray to God as well as carry that word with you through the rest of your day. It's a perfect way to get started!
We are at the start of season four and praying through some of the letters in the Bible. Today we start one of Paul's shorter letters which has some very deep ideas and practical instruction, Colossians. The letters are unusual because we only hear one side of a two-way conversation. We have to try to understand in some part the other side of the conversation if we want to hear God's word for us in these writings.
Paul and Timothy write to the Colossians, believers who lived in a small Greek city about 100 miles inland from Ephesus in modern-day Turkey. Most likely Philemon lives in Colossae and these two letters (Philemon and Colossians) are carried at the same time to this city perhaps by Tychicus. Paul mentions another letter we don't have that he writes to Laodicea, a city about 10 miles west of Colossae that any traveler from Ephesus would have passed through first. Paul intends for his letters to each of the churches to be exchanged and read in each assembly.
Where do you need filling with God’s truth? Head, heart, feet, hands, will, emotions or spirit? If you know, make that your prayer today. If you don’t, I suggest you start with head and heart--knowledge, wisdom and understanding—and ask God to fill you. And whatever you have received, wherever you have gotten your fill, make it your job to share some of that with others today.
We are using the letters to grow closer to God as season four starts. We can't exhaust the riches in each part of scripture we cover, but you can go deeper into them on your own using our four step process. You can download the helpsheet that details and demonstrates the four step process we use on First Fifteen using Psalm 1.
If you want to get more daily encouragement you can follow me on Twitter or Instagram @WordofPrayer15 . Go ahead and get started listening and follow/subscribe to this podcast to hear more from God's word. You can also find us on Facebook at Word of Prayer 15.
We have a course on Philemon and Colossians for in-depth Bible study called "Christ Supreme". If you are interested in going deeper, check out the links on our website or the Facebook page.
A classic book that does an imaginative retelling of the Onesimus-Philemon story that will appeal to young and old is Twice Freed by Patrician St. John. You can find it on Amazon.
Additional resources at the Word of Prayer website https://word-of-prayer.com
