Morning Devotional

Colossians 1:25-28   25 I became a servant of the church by God’s commission, which was given to me for you, in order to complete God’s word. 26 I’m completing it with a secret plan [or mystery] that has been hidden for ages and generations but which has now been revealed to his holy people. 27 God wanted to make the glorious riches of this secret plan [or mystery] known among the Gentiles, which is Christ living in you, the hope of glory. 28 This is what we preach as we warn and teach every person with all wisdom so that we might present each one mature in Christ

Once again we see the language of yesterday and the language of today collide with the words "secret plan". Unlike today, when we may think of a secret plan as a devious or shadowy doing, Paul meant something very different. Paul’s understanding of the ‘mystery’ is quite different from this. It is acknowledged that the truth had been ‘hidden’ in ages past but is hidden no longer.  

In reality, there are gifts that God has blessed us with that is not for everyone. There are gifts that you may have that others will not or groups you can belong to while others simply look in. Physical gifts differ greatly. I will never conquer the great mountains of the world or play in the NBA.  There are privileges some are born into while others are not. Many are gifted but not everyone will attain the same heights and Paul understood this, which made his determination to teach each person the secret plan much more remarkable. Available to every person, Paul says, is the good news of Jesus Christ. The love of God and His transforming power is not hidden or gifted to the few but open to the entire human race. In this gift there is not an us or them but an all. The glory of this mystery lies not in its exclusiveness, belonging to a few, but in its inclusiveness, for it is intended for the nations and it is brought to people not by semi-secret rites but by public proclamation.

Today, you and I called are called to continue the message Paul began. I hope I see you later this morning and/or at the church picnic. God bless, pastor Carl

Almighty God, in Your vastness of love You have given all people access to eternal life. May I, as Paul declared, be an instrument of Your love by proclaiming publicly for all to see and hear. Lord, bless my families, my country and the world around me. Dwell among us. I ask this in Your Son's Holy name. Amen