Week of July 15, 2007, Colossians 1:1-14

One of the Scriptures for Sunday is from Paul's letter to the Colossians, chapter 1, the first fourteen verses. Paul shares his thanks for for fellow believers, and shows ways to pray:
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints--
5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel
6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.
7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for fellow Christians that encourage us by their faith and their faith lessons to each of us. Thank You for the hope that You bring through Your Son, Jesus, and Your love You have for all the saints. Thank You for Your word of truth in the Gospel. Thank You for Your word bearing fruit and growing in the lives of others.

We pray, that You, O God, would fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. May we live a life worthy of You, Lord, and please You in every way. Help us to bear fruit in every good work. Help us to grow in knowing You better. Help us to be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might, so that we might have great endurance in life, patience in every situation, and so that we live joyfully, and give You thanks, for You have qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Jesus, thanks for Your presence and Your peace with us always. Amen.

May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to Himself;
May the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in His service;
May the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls;
May the fire of the Holy Spirit bring comfort, guidance and fervency;
And may the blessing of the almighty and most merciful God - Creator, Word and eternal Holy Spirit - be upon us and remain with us always.
In the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You may send a message to me or prayer request by e-mailing: peacewm@tds.net.
May the God of love be with you now and always.