May 18, 2015

“Read, Take Heed,”

Blessings folk!

Paul is closing his letter to the church in the region of Colossae.
The letter was not limited to them.
Read and see.

Col 4:17-18
When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.
Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

The letters that were written were passed from one group to another.
They were encouraged to share the truths written to each one.

Paul then speaks a word of exhortation to a particular individual, Archippus.

• take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord
• fulfill it.

A word for all of us.
Take heed to that which you have received from the Lord.
Fulfill it.
Be not slothful.
Be not lazy.
Listen not to the lies of the evil one.

Then, Paul closes the letter with a greeting in his own hand...he wrote it. The previous portion would have been written by someone who was receiving the Word from Paul...a Amanuensis. He wrote it with his own hand as a form of signature, a verification of authenticity.

Paul then requests that they remember his imprisonment.
Pray for him.
Be obedient to the leading of the Lord.

Then he spoke grace over them.

May we do likewise.