...who God is...

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

3 In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. 7 This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit” Colossians 1:1-8.

The first three verses of this letter to the new Christians in the city of Colossae (verses 1–3) is a typical standard letter-opening of Paul. But Paul, as usual, fills the regular opening form of this letter with new content. God and Jesus, God and Jesus: they are there in his thinking, his writing, his praying, and even in his formal letter-opening. He and Timothy are writing to Colossae because they are following God’s will, living as servants of King Jesus. The Colossian church is part of the same family; and what Paul most longs for is that God’s grace and peace should reach out and enfold the new Christians in the small inland town.

The opening of the letter serves equally well as an opening to everyone who reads it today. Our prayer should be that, through reading and praying our way through it, the same grace and peace will reach out and embrace us too.”

But did you notice what Paul said about God, the Father? He identifies God as “God our Father” (verse 2). Then Paul identifies God as “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 3). First Paul tells us that GOD is OUR FATHER. This is how exactly how Jesus identifies God in Chapter 6 of Matthew’s Gospel when He teaches us to pray: “OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN” (Matthew 6:9). Paul obviously learned who Jesus is, namely, that Jesus is GOD OUR FATHER! Three remarkable words!

Jesus is GOD. 2. Jesus is OUR FATHER, and the FATHER of Jesus.      And 3. Jesus is GOD OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN! Paul was willing to share that Jesus, from the very beginning, was God Our Father in Heaven!

Take time and think about who God is and who Jesus is, and think also of who God is for everyone in the world! Jesus is GOD, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN! Jesus is everyone’s God, everyone’s Father, and in heaven, whether or not you believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ identity is not dependent on our faith. Jesus is who He says He is — in and of Himself!

Today’s Prayer

Oh Lord, I thank you that You are who You say You are.

I thank You that You are God, the Creator and Savior of the world.

I thank You that you are EVERYONE’S Father!

I thank you that we are all Your children.

I thank You that we all belong to the Family of God.

Forgive us and heal us, and fill us with the Love of your Holy Spirit.

May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

the Love of God,

and the Unity of the holy Spirit

be with us all!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.