Sunday, May 22, 2011

Gospel Fuel

If you have never memorized Colossians 1:9-14, I want to encourage you to do so. As a matter of fact, I want to encourage you to memorize all of Colossians. Don't tell me you can't do it. For nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37). The reason I am exhorting you to memorize Col. 1:9-14 is that it is packed with Gospel Fuel (particularly vv. 12-14). In these verses, Paul is praying that the Colossians will be grateful because:

God has QUALIFIED them to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
God has DELIVERED them from the domain of darkness.
God has TRANSFERRED them to the Kingdom of His beloved Son.
God has REDEEMED them in Christ.
God has FORGIVEN their sins.

As I noted above, this passage is Gospel fuel. What I mean by Gospel fuel is that the more you meditate on the truth of the Gospel, the more God will fuel worship, love, and joyful obedience in your heart. When I meditate on Col. 1:12-14, I do not have to "pump" myself up to worship God, no, instead, I cannot help but worship the ONE who has qualified, delivered, transferred, redeemed, and forgiven me. As I meditate on the Gospel, I am empowered by the Spirit to live the Gospel. And as I live the Gospel, not only am I being transformed, but so is my home, my workplace, my city, and beyond. Colossians 1:3-14 captures Paul's thankfulness for the Gospel in the lives of the Colossians, in the entire world, and in Epaphras. The more we think on the Gospel the more our prayers will be saturated in gratitude.