Colossians 1:22-23 Blameless, Holy, and Beyond Reproach
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 28, 2020 Colossians 1:22-23
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
(Understanding the Text) Paul gives the promise that Jesus will present us holy and blameless and above reproach as long as we continue trusting in Jesus. I guess this is where they get the idea that there is some kind of Colossian heresy that Paul is fighting against. Paul is saying that the Colossians began correctly in their faith in Jesus. As long as they kept their faith in Jesus as they were originally taught, they would be made holy and be with Jesus. However, they needed to be stable. That means not seesawing back and forth between belief and unbelief. They needed to be steadfast, meaning to hold on to what they started with.
Paul says that the gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven. Why does he put it that way? For me, I think of those on other worlds who witnessed the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus, but that’s just on my mind. I’m not sure if Paul was considering that. Was this a reference to the widespread preaching of the gospel, or was this in answer to some belief of the Colossians?
Paul identifies himself as a minister of the gospel. I think of a minister as a pastor, but I don’t think that this is what Paul is referring to here. According to Thayer (and Strong’s), the word used is “διάκονος /diakonos/, which means “1) one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master, a servant, attendant, minister 1a) the servant of a king 1b) a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use 1c) a waiter, one who serves food and drink.” Paul was referring to himself as a servant, a person who is a messenger and assistant to another. I don’t think he was referring to himself as in an official office of the church. Instead, he is saying here as he has elsewhere that he serves Jesus as his Lord and Master.
(Revelation of God) Jesus feels that it is important that I become above reproach. He felt so strongly about this necessity that He died to achieve this cause. Why does God feel it is so important that we become holy and blameless? I guess because if I do not become blameless, I will continue hurting others. Paul says that the key to becoming holy/blameless is to cling to the knowledge of Jesus’ sacrifice so that I could become blameless. I look at how important Jesus believes my transformation is. I see how much Jesus loved me in giving His life for me, and somehow that knowledge will work in me to make me holy. I can’t see it right now, but I trust Jesus that He did not go through all that He did for a futile cause.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that my only job is to remain true to Jesus. I need to be steadfast and faithful to Him, and He will make sure that I become the best that I can be. He will ensure that I grow into a beautiful character that shines out in glory. I only have to remain faithful. I claim your promise that You will complete the job in me that You have started. I claim Your promise that no one can pluck me out of Your hand. Make me holy, blameless, and above reproach.