Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2020 16:12:08 GMT -5
The Ultimate Wave By: James Banks
Click on this link for the audio message
The gospel is bearing fruit and growing.
Colossians 1:6
Colossians 1:1–8
People love doing “the wave.” At sporting events and concerts around the world, it begins when a few people stand and raise their hands. A moment later, those seated beside them do the same. The goal is to have one sequential flowing movement work its way around an entire stadium. Once it reaches the end, those who started it smile and cheer—and keep the movement going.
The first recorded incident of the wave occurred at a professional baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees in 1981. I love joining in the wave because it’s fun. But it’s also occurred to me that the happiness and togetherness we experience while doing it is reminiscent of the gospel—the good news of salvation in Jesus that unites believers everywhere in praise and hope. This “ultimate wave” started over twenty centuries ago in Jerusalem. Writing to the members of the church in Colossae, Paul described it this way: “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it” (Colossians 1:6). The natural result of this good news is “faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for [us] in heaven” (v. 5).
As believers in Jesus, we’re part of the greatest wave in history. Keep it going! Once it’s done, we’ll see the smile of the One who started it all.
Reflect & Pray
From whom did you first hear the good news of Jesus? How can you share it with another person close to you this week?
I praise You for the wonderful gift of my salvation, Father. Please send me to someone who needs to hear of Your kindness today!
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul uses the first-person-plural pronoun to write “we always thank God . . . when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of [your] love” (Colossians 1:3-4). Who is meant by “we”? In addition to expressing the thoughts and sentiments of a young co-worker by the name of Timothy (1:1), he’s also reflecting the hearts of other friends and co-workers (4:10-17). Especially for those who’d never met him face-to-face (2:1), Paul makes a point of speaking on behalf of persons more familiar to them. Of those Paul names, Epaphras stands out as a “dear fellow servant” who not only had been the first to tell the Colossians about the gospel and grace of God (1:7-8), but who “is always wrestling in prayer for [them], that [they] may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured” (4:12). Mart DeHaan
Colossians 1:1-8
King James Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Click on this link for the audio message
The gospel is bearing fruit and growing.
Colossians 1:6
Colossians 1:1–8
People love doing “the wave.” At sporting events and concerts around the world, it begins when a few people stand and raise their hands. A moment later, those seated beside them do the same. The goal is to have one sequential flowing movement work its way around an entire stadium. Once it reaches the end, those who started it smile and cheer—and keep the movement going.
The first recorded incident of the wave occurred at a professional baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees in 1981. I love joining in the wave because it’s fun. But it’s also occurred to me that the happiness and togetherness we experience while doing it is reminiscent of the gospel—the good news of salvation in Jesus that unites believers everywhere in praise and hope. This “ultimate wave” started over twenty centuries ago in Jerusalem. Writing to the members of the church in Colossae, Paul described it this way: “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it” (Colossians 1:6). The natural result of this good news is “faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for [us] in heaven” (v. 5).
As believers in Jesus, we’re part of the greatest wave in history. Keep it going! Once it’s done, we’ll see the smile of the One who started it all.
Reflect & Pray
From whom did you first hear the good news of Jesus? How can you share it with another person close to you this week?
I praise You for the wonderful gift of my salvation, Father. Please send me to someone who needs to hear of Your kindness today!
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul uses the first-person-plural pronoun to write “we always thank God . . . when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of [your] love” (Colossians 1:3-4). Who is meant by “we”? In addition to expressing the thoughts and sentiments of a young co-worker by the name of Timothy (1:1), he’s also reflecting the hearts of other friends and co-workers (4:10-17). Especially for those who’d never met him face-to-face (2:1), Paul makes a point of speaking on behalf of persons more familiar to them. Of those Paul names, Epaphras stands out as a “dear fellow servant” who not only had been the first to tell the Colossians about the gospel and grace of God (1:7-8), but who “is always wrestling in prayer for [them], that [they] may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured” (4:12). Mart DeHaan
Colossians 1:1-8
King James Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.