By His Will

DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

BY HIS WILL

Col 1:1-2

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

NIV

Another letter sent out by Paul as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit, this time to the church in Colosse. Once again, he states he is an apostle, who is a delegate, specifically an ambassador of the Gospel, officially a commissioner of Christ, as the Greek word means which is translated as apostle. First, we would have to consider something rather strange. If that is how someone who is called an apostle is defined by the Greek word, then could it be possible that we too should be seen as apostles? Are we not a delegate of God? Have we not been considered as ambassadors for Christ? Have we not officially been commissioned to go out into all the world with the gospel of Christ? Another lexicon translates the word apostle as a delegate, a messenger, one sent forth with orders. Although it is true this word has been applied to the twelve selected by Jesus, it does not mean the title apostle can only be applied to the twelve or is inclusive to them. Just thinking about those twelve, who we first are introduced to by Matthew as he gives all their names, Judas was named as an apostle, yet how did he turn out? So, just having that title does not mean great men of God. However, there has to be some difference between an apostle and a disciple, although the twelve were also called disciples all throughout the gospel accounts. It was not until Luke wrote Acts that he referred consistently to them as apostles. While they were with Jesus they were disciples or learners. Paul, on the other hand, had never been with Jesus, he had never traveled around with him those three-plus years learning at his feet. Paul had this supernatural experience with Jesus, which resulted in his conversion from a zealot Pharisee persecuting believers in Jesus, to an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. We, neither, have been with Jesus, nor traveled around with him, learning at his feet, but we call ourselves disciples, for we are always learning more about God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, we also have been sent forth into the world, as Paul was. So then why would we not consider ourselves as apostles as well as disciples? It would not be boastful, as it seems Paul is not being boastful as he makes it clear, he is not an apostle by his own making, or will, but by the will of God. Have we chosen to be sent, to be his ambassadors? Can we make ourselves Christians? Can we save ourselves? Of course, the answer is no. We also cannot send ourselves. It is by the will of God that we are saved, and that does not mean in the sense as chosen, but it is by his will his creation can be saved through Christ Jesus. It is also by his will that we are sent into the world. Thus, it is by his will that we are apostles, ambassadors of the Gospel. Just as with Paul, we have been sent, with the authority of Jesus, to tell others about Christ. It all comes down to, by his will.