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Rejoicing in Suffering (Colossians 1:24)

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In Epistle to the Colossians 1:24, Paul writes one of his most challenging and easily misunderstood statements: “I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” At first glance, it can sound as though Paul is saying Christ’s suffering on the cross was somehow incomplete. But throughout his letters, Paul consistently teaches that Christ’s saving work is fully sufficient. Just a few verses earlier, Paul says that through Christ, God was pleased “to reconcile to himself all things” through the blood of the cross (v. 20). So Paul cannot mean that Jesus’ atoning sacrifice was lacking in saving power. Instead, Paul is speaking about the ongoing suffering connected to the mission of Christ in the world. Christ’s redemptive work is complete, but the church continues to carry the message of the gospel into a broken world, and that mission often involves hardship, sacrifi...
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The Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:21-27)

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In his letter to the Colossians , the apostle Paul reminds us of where we started and where God’s grace is taking us. He writes, “And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him” (vv. 21-22). Before we even realized we needed fixing, God was already pursuing us, reaching out into our isolation to bring us home. Through Christ, we are not just patched up, we are completely reconciled and made new. This is not about earning God’s love. It is about allowing grace to transform our hearts and lives day by day. This passage ends with a beautiful mystery: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (v. 27). Christ is not distant or unreachable. Through the Holy Spirit, he dwells with his people, strengthening, convicting, comforting, and renewing us. Wesley often spoke of holiness as the love of God filling the heart and overflowing into everyday life. ...
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Encouraging Words (Colossians 1:1-8)

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A couple of the churches I served presented me a wonderful gift for Pastors’ Appreciation Month. They both gave me a collection of notes written by members of the congregation. Each of these letters told of ways that I touched their lives and expressed appreciation for my presence and my work. The encouraging words in these letters have been such a blessing that I still look at them from time to time. Today’s reading works the other way around. This is a letter from Paul and Timothy to the people of the church in Colossae. Paul writes, “In our prayers for you we always thank God… for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (vv. 3-5). Notice how faith, love, and hope are woven together. Paul hadn’t planted this church himself (Epaphras did). He had simply heard about them, and what he heard moved him to gratitude. Their faith was already bearing fruit, and word was getting around. Pau...
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The Wonders of Creation (Psalm 104:24-34)

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Think of those moments that bring on such a sense of awe. For me, it can be standing on a beach, watching the waves roll in one after another. Or standing at an overlook seeing one of the magnificent vistas on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Or even a moment of seeings a thunderstorm rolling in across an open sky from a distance. Even the sudden whoosh and movement in the leaves and branches of trees from a gust of wind. In those moments, we sense something deeper than just the beauty of nature. We sense the sheer abundance of a loving Creator who delights in making life flourish. Psalm 104 invites us to notice that holy chorus. The psalmist looks around at the world with wonder and says, “O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” (v. 24). The seas, the animals, the mountains, the plants, and even the rhythm of day and night all bear witness to the wisdom and generosity of God. The psalmist sees the great and wide sea teeming w...
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A Good Work Begun (Philippians 1:1-11)

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There are moments when you pause and realize how far someone has come. Maybe it is a child learning to read, a friend finding their footing again, or even your own slow healing after a hard season. Growth often feels quiet and unfinished, yet something steady is at work beneath the surface. Paul writes to the Philippians (1:1-11) with deep affection, saying, “I thank my God every time I remember you… because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now” (vv. 3, 5). His gratitude is rooted not in perfection, but in participation. These believers are still growing, still learning, still becoming. Yet Paul sees evidence of grace already alive in them. Then comes this beautiful promise: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ” (v. 6). This is the rhythm of grace in the Wesleyan way. God’s prevenient grace awakens us before we even know it. Justifying grace meets us in Christ and sets us on...
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Marked by Grace (Galatians 6:11-18)

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Most of us know what it feels like to want proof that we matter. Sometimes people point to achievements, appearances, titles, or accomplishments as signs of worth. If you are wealthy enough or powerful enough, you can have your name emblazoned on a building. Other times, we may quietly compare ourselves to others and wonder if we measure up. The pressure to impress can creep into every corner of life, including our faith. We may feel tempted to present ourselves as stronger, holier, or more successful than we truly are. In Galatians 6:11-18 , Paul writes with deep urgency and honesty. He warns against those who are more concerned with outward appearances than inward transformation. Then he says, “May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 14). Paul reminds the church that faith is not about earning status or proving spiritual superiority. It is about the grace of God revealed in Christ. The cross changes how we see ourselves and how we see others. Pa...
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The Everlasting Dominion (Daniel 7:9-14)

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Have you ever felt like the world is spinning out of control? Between the nightly news and the noise on social media, it is easy to believe that the bullies, the empires, and the exhausting cycles of outrage have already won. We watch powerful people make terrible decisions, and we wonder if justice is just a dream. We continue to witness stories of violence, corruption, and uncertainty. Leaders embrace the appearance and language of religion and faith to cloak their evil designs. Daniel was familiar with the power of empires. ( Daniel 7:9-14 ) One night, God gave Daniel a vision that flipped the script on everything we think we know about power. Daniel writes, “As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire” (v. 9). This is not the image of a distant God. This is the Ancient of Days, the true king of the universe, taking ...
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