Hello and welcome to Van Life Devotions. We are visiting Greece and Turkey, particularly where some of the world’s very first churches existed. Today we are in Colossae. This ancient city has largely not been excavated therefore there is not a lot to see. There was an earthquake here in AD60 and the city was never rebuilt like other nearby places, which meant that the population began to move to other areas. However, there was a church that was planted here, probably by Epaphras, and this church continued for several centuries in one form or another. During Paul’s three-year stay at Ephesus, “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10 NIV). It is quite possible that Paul, while in Ephesus, had led Epaphras to Christ, discipled him, and then commissioned him as a church-planter to Colossae.
Years after the church was planted in Colossae, Epaphras visited Paul in his Roman jail. He brought troubling news about heresies that were invading churches all around Asia, including Colossae. The Gentile Christians who had once worshipped the mythical Greek gods were being lured back into idolatry. The enemy was trying to convince them that they could worship Jesus and still worship “according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world” (Colossians 2:8 ESV). The Jewish Christians were also influencing with their “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (Colossians 2:21 ESV). Keep the law, they were told. Grace isn’t enough...
In response to these concerns Paul wrote a letter to the church that met here highlighting how to practically live out their faith in Christ and to answer these false teachings. In the first chapter Paul highlighted the supremacy of Jesus Christ. He wrote: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:15-20 NIV).
What wonderful truths about the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, the Son of the invisible God. God’s fullness was in Jesus, and through Him we were reconciled to God because of His blood on the cross. 2000 years later, with so many belief systems buying for our attention, this message to the Colossians is still needed to be proclaimed and accepted.
Let’s Pray.
Dear God. Thank you for reconciling us to Yourself through Your Son’s death on the cross. Help us to, as Paul puts it: “put off the old self... and put on the new self” (Colossians 3:9-10).
O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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