Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24
Paul's letter to the Christians in the town of Colossae near Ephesus (Turkey) shows that he is confident that the people are being basically faithful to his word, but that they are being subjected to some wrong teachings. He warns them against following "regulations" and some ritual practices that probably came from Jewish traditions. A combination of those traditions and theological speculations seemed to be threatening the church, he apparently felt, although it was fairly common at the time.
Throughout his letter, Paul urged the townspeople to forgive each other "just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. "Above all," he wrote, "Clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
But the bottom line in Paul's letter is for us to know Jesus Christ in whom we serve, achieve and live. And for that recognition, we will know our inheritance – His salvation.
Val Hymes
