Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Scripture Readings
- Primary Reading: Colossians 3-4
- Secondary Reading: Psalms 24
Key Verse
Colossians 3:22 — “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;”
Devotional Thought
Paul writes to the church at Colossae from a Roman prison, chained to a guard yet free in Christ. In these closing chapters he sets before them a vision of life that has been utterly reordered by the resurrection. The Colossians had once walked in fornication, covetousness, anger, and filthy speech—Paul names these plainly, reminding them, “in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” But now they are dead, and their life is hid with Christ in God. So he calls them to “mortify” the old members and “put on” the new man, renewed in knowledge after the image of their Creator. This is not self-improvement; it is resurrection life working itself out in ordinary households and workplaces.
Notice how concrete Paul gets. Wives and husbands, children and fathers, servants and masters—these are the actual relationships of daily life, and the gospel touches every one. Servants are told to work “heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men,” and masters are reminded they too have a Master in heaven. Then Paul lifts his eyes to the wider mission: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” He sends Tychicus and Onesimus to comfort the church, greets Aristarchus, Marcus, Epaphras, Luke, and Demas by name, and asks that this letter be read also in Laodicea. Even from a prison cell, the gospel runs through ordinary people, ordinary greetings, ordinary faithfulness.
Psalm 24 asks the searching question that undergirds all of this: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?” The answer is “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart.” We cannot manufacture such cleanliness; it is the gift of the One who ascended. “Lift up your heads, O ye gates… and the King of glory shall come in.” The King of glory has entered, and He is making His people fit for His presence.
As February draws toward its close and winter lingers, we may feel the pull of earthly things—the dull routines, the old tempers, the familiar sins. Paul’s word to us is the same as to Colossae: set your affection on things above. The life you now live is not your own; it is hid with Christ in God. And when He appears, you will appear with Him in glory.
Reflection
- Where in your daily life are you still “walking” in the old man—anger, covetousness, or careless speech—rather than putting on the new man?
- Paul names specific people and sends specific greetings. Who has God placed in your path this week to encourage, serve, or pray for by name?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, King of glory, we lift our hearts to You. We confess that we have too often set our affection on things below, walking in the very sins from which You have delivered us. Cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, for we cannot ascend Your holy hill on our own merit. Clothe us with the new man, renewed in knowledge after Your image. Let Your peace rule in our hearts and Your word dwell in us richly. Teach us to walk in wisdom toward those without, redeeming the time, and to do all things heartily as unto You. Amen.
Psalm Verse
Psalms 24:1 — “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”