STAYING THE COURSE: GOD ALONE

Easter is only a few weeks away!  We continue with our sermon series Staying the Course.  In our lives the distractions seem to be multiplying daily and we struggle to focus on the most important realities.  This is critical for finding meaning and purpose for living.  When we focus on the immediate and temporary, we do not sense the “worth” or impact of our lives. We simply find ourselves exhausted and struggling with despair.  How can we stay the course toward finding the value and purpose of our lives?  Our scripture this week is Colossians 4:1-10.  This is the concluding chapter of this letter to the Colossian church and Paul is focusing on what will truly make a difference for these believers, but also for us.  The title of our sermon is God Alone.  Ultimately, this is what will give us a laser sharp focus for finding meaning and purpose.  When we focus on God’s presence, power, and providence in our lives, then it infuses our transitory existence with eternal value!  How do we begin to maintain this kind of focus? Paul shares with the Colossians church several practices that can transform their distracted, despairing view of the world to a determined hope for redemption and rejuvenation.  It is our most earnest and determined prayer that you will be encouraged by the power of Holy Spirit as you prepare your heart for new life!  We pray that you are also infused with a sense of God’s hope and love as you read Colossians 4:1-10:

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. ² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. ⁷ Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. ⁹ He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.  ¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him. (NIV)