Changing Lives Everywhere

“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth” Colossians 1:6b

 The Good News is being preached everywhere. Sinners are hearing an amazing message from God — a message of His grace and kindness. Sinners all over the world are embracing this Good News. Lives are being transformed.

A brother named Epaphras brought the message into Colossae. It was just what sinners needed to hear. God loved them even though they were sinners. God wanted to bring them back to Him. The Colossians immediately accepted the message. Lives began to change right there in Colossae.

People were trusting Jesus. They were tired of being trapped in their sins. They unsuccessfully tried everything else to find freedom but it only led to more bondage. This Good News about Jesus was different. Just trust Him. They did just that. They believed Jesus died for their sins. They trusted Him to take their sins and make their lives new. They entrusted their very lives to Him.

People were loving each other. Not only were they loving the people they liked, those to whom they naturally were drawn, they were loving all God’s people. Barriers were torn down. Bridges were built. Hope replaced cynicism. Unity replaced division. Making peace with each other replaced making fun of each other. Grace and peace replaced judgment and strife. Lifting each other up in prayer replaced putting each other down in gossip.

People were looking forward to heaven. With the town declining the people of Colossae needed some hope for the future. God provided the hope they needed. The future of Colossae might look bleak, but God has something in store for these people. People were seeking the joys of heaven.

Lives were changing — really changing — right there in Colossae. The Good News was bearing fruit and growing. People were no longer trusting in themselves, but in Jesus. People were no longer gritting their teeth and just enduring one another, they were loving each other. People were no longer living for the here and now, they were looking forward to heaven. When Paul and Timothy heard that lives were changing they did not hesitate, they knew just what to do. They gave thanks to God.

Our lives are changing. Lives are changing everywhere. Give thanks to God.

— Bob Clark

7/11/2001