Colossians Devotional | Knit Together in Love
Colossians: Christ Above and Before All
The Glory of God Revealed in Jesus
Knit Together in Love
“1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” - (Colossians 2:1-3)
Do you know how to knit? I don’t. But my mom and sisters do. My daughter, Molly, has learned a little bit.
Do you have a blanket or a scarf or something that’s knitted? Possibly, a gift from someone?
I want you to think about a knitted blanket:
The yarn is tightly bound in a woven pattern, criss-crossing and intermingling fibers
It’s often colorful, made up of various hues of yarn
It’s warm and comforting, welcome on a bitterly cold day
People most often receive a knitted blanket from someone who loves them
It takes a long time to make one, but it’s worth it
It’s evidence of a commitment, in love, to sit down and do the monotonous work
We often pass them down to others we love
Don’t you see what the church could be, if we were “knitted together in love?” Imagine a body of believers who could also be described in the manner above? That’s what Paul wants to see happen with the Colossians. It’s what I want to see happen with us.
What “knits us together in love?” It’s the encouragement of our hearts in the gospel. As we live this life together, not just worshipping on Sundays, but helping one another grow in Christ. What knits us together is when we make a commitment to one another--to help one another, day by day, “reach all the riches of full understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.” We become knitted together in love by committing to handing over our time and our text messages, our meals and our leisure time, our work and our asking for help...using all of our lives to be with one another, reminding one another of the gospel: that Christ loves us, lived for us, died for us, and secured a new life for us with his resurrection.
He is the Lord and he’s changed everything. There is good reason to lift up our heads, take steps of faith, risk our resources and lives, and serve one another. There is good reason to have hope, especially in the darkest of days. Jesus is Lord and he’s alive and he’s ruling and reigning and he loves us. Let us be knit together in the love of our Lord for us--and for our Lordly love for one another.
How closely would you say you're “knitted together in love” with your church?
What “yarn” has the Lord given you that ought to be used for weaving yourself and others together?
What will you commit to doing--today--to draw close to others in the church, loving them with the Word of God and the acts of God?