Title: Experience of the Grace of Freedom
Colossians (4) Great experience of the grace of freedom (Colossians 1:18-23)
< The happiness that gospel workers get >
The church in Colossae was not founded by the Apostle Paul himself, but by Epaphra, who heard the gospel of Paul. So, the apostle Paul felt the need to give deeper convictions about “who is Jesus?” so that the members would stand firm in the “right gospel” without being deceived by “other gospels.” That is why the book of Colossians is particularly rich in descriptions of the divinity, excellence, and greatness of Jesus. Such a description continues in the text as well.
The Apostle Paul says that the children saved by Jesus' atoning death could be set up before God as holy, blameless, and blameless (verses 21-22). That is why he says that we must have strong faith and not be shaken from the hope of the gospel. Even if we emphasize the divinity and excellence of Jesus, our faith can be shaken, so the apostle Paul emphasizes that the gospel is spreading in all directions and that he has become a minister of the gospel (v.
Like the apostle Paul, live proudly as a servant of Christ and a minister of the gospel. If you live with such a sense of self-consciousness and calling, you will follow saintly actions, and eventually fruits and blessings will follow. Living as a gospel worker is not an easy life where you have to enter through the narrow gate of suffering. However, there are great rewards along the way, but above all, there is the blessing of enriching and strengthening the soul. The more you resist the temptations of laziness, and the more you are willing to risk the inconveniences and difficulties of life for the sake of holy work, your soul will be strong.
The apostle Paul lived with the zeal for the gospel, so he didn't have many comfortable days. Sometimes I went to jail. I sometimes have these counter-intuitive thoughts. The idea is that “God sent Paul to prison to rest a little.” Perhaps his most comfortable time was when he was in prison. Likewise, there are times when God allows a moment of suffering to rest. Knowing that principle, the Apostle Paul did not view suffering as a tragedy, but rather went on the path of suffering.
< The great experience of freedom >
Why did the Apostle Paul gladly walk the path of suffering? Simply put, because Jesus went the way of suffering. At that time, people fearing that hypocrisy would be exposed because of Jesus and that the vested interests would be destroyed, drove Jesus to the cross, but Jesus overcame the hypocrisy and violence of the world by voluntarily taking up the cross instead of avoiding it. Violence is only effective when feared. Through the love of the cross, Jesus overcame the power of violence and eventually triumphed.
Some people cry because they are moved by the love of the cross, but the important thing is not to 'shed tears in front of the cross' but to 'carry the cross'. When there is something dirty on the road, some swear, some pretend not to know, and some clean it up. The third person is the responsible person who wants to go the way of the cross. By such a responsible person, the world becomes brighter little by little. If you pray while feeling the heavy responsibility of the cross when you pray, God will have a heavier responsibility and gladly answer his prayers.
Two thousand years ago, Jesus went lonely on the way to the cross of Calvary. You are probably still very lonely. Because I don't have many friends. Many people love Jesus, but few want to work with Jesus. In the text, the apostle Paul confessed that he had become a minister of the gospel and said that he would fill the rest of the sufferings of Christ in his body. How pleased Jesus must have been when he heard that confession. Please please God by confessing that you will walk in the Lord's way, and relieve the lonely heart of Jesus.
Following the path of Jesus is not easy. Sometimes it's scary. However, if you overcome the threshold of fear and follow the path of Jesus, you will experience mystical joy filled in your heart and the blessings of unexpected encounters and fruits overflowing in your life. That is the grace of great liberty through the resurrection given when we take up the cross. After all, the experience of the grace of great freedom through the truth is only given to those who follow the path of Jesus. Now, let go of the attitude of blaming and turning away, and become holy spiritual craftsmen who melt hardships and wounds with love to create a wonderful life of art.