Family of God!

For Wednesday, April 3, 2024:

Colossians 1:4-5a NLT, to the church in Colosse from Paul and Timothy: “We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven.”

Early Christians called each other “brother” and “sister.” Some still do nowadays. Believers were all selected to join the family of God, and everyone in the family are akin to one another. “To all who believed Jesus and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Three things cemented Paul’s affiliation with these people. The first was “faith,” knowing who Jesus was and believing he could do what he said he would do. And the second was “love for all of God’s people.” “Loving their neighbor” was the differentiating value that set Christians apart from the general population. And the third, “confident hope.” The Message translation explains it like this: “The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.” Jesus promised believers a hereafter in the presence of God, and he will not fail us!

Paul sought out these characteristics in the Colossian church just as we should seek them in our own church and in our own lives. We are saved by grace through faith, so double down on the faith. Continue loving your brothers and sisters and all God’s people, even your enemies. Pray that they would see the light and change their ways. And cling tightly to the hope promised by Jesus, who said he would never leave us or forsake us. Count on it!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Church!

For Tuesday, April 2, 2024:

Colossians 1:2a NLT, to the church in Colosse from Paul and Timothy: “We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Early Christians were considered somewhat unusual. They didn’t fit in with the rest of society. Almost everyone else had a selfish “look out for #1” mentality. But these unconventional Christians shared their resources and loved everybody. How odd!

Epaphras was the Christian leader in their city, and he taught well. Followers of Jesus were “all in!” Believers frequently gave up businesses, homes and land, and donated the proceeds to the work of the church, helping spread the Good News! They had experienced unconditional love and friendship from their new Christian family! There was no going back; this was too good! They had made a decision to join up with these Christians. They liked what they saw, and chose to do life with these people. No one is ever sorry they made that decision!

Paul and Timothy wrote only the one letter to Colosse. It was assumed that all the Christians would be doing life together, and their one message would be heard by all.

At my church, following the Good Friday service, we all received an email from the lead pastor expressing gratitude for all the really good people in the congregation, people with whom we can live our lives. I believe God put us together, and each of us made a decision to stay.

I hope everyone reading this has a good church family that they can count on during life’s trials. God wants us to all experience fellowship!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Resurrected!

April 1, 2024 Monday Message:

Mark 16:6b NLT, the angel inside Jesus’ tomb speaking to the women: “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”

Jesus had told his followers that death could not hold him, but rising from the dead? They’d never seen anything like that! But early that Sunday morning, the women brought spices to care for the body. They were the first to see that the stone was already rolled away, and that Jesus had gone missing! The angel told them to inform Peter, the de facto new leader of the believers, that the risen Jesus would meet them in Galilee, just as he promised.

Some ancient manuscripts end there. A few include a short ending, and more include a longer conclusion. Let’s look at that.

Mary Magdalene told the disciples, but they didn’t believe her. Jesus appeared to two followers walking in the country. They quickly returned to tell the others, but no one believed them. Later Jesus appeared to the 11 as they were eating, and rebuked them for their disbelief. He personally told them they should believe what they have seen with their own eyes! He instructed them to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.” This is similar to the Great Commission at the end of Matthew, where it says to make disciples of all nations, and baptize the new believers.

Uncompromising faith is commanded for us all. Jesus told believers to both have unshakable faith and to teach others about salvation through Jesus. Share the Good News! Jesus promises that the faithful will cast out demons in his name, lay hands on the sick to heal them, and experience an increased layer of protection.

Therefore the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. We should all join them!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship