Colossians 1:3-5. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.
We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of His household. We are the church, being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit (Ephesians 2:20-22). We live every day in the identity Christ has given us.
This means the church is not just a place we go to on Sundays—it is who we are, every moment of every day. When you go to work, you are the church. When you’re with your family, you are the church. When you’re alone, you are still the church, carrying the presence of the living God.
We must be careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). The way we treat one another, the words we speak, the thoughts we hold—these are not small matters. In the church, we must put off all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander. Instead, we must be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave us.
Above all, we must love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Love is the true foundation of the church. Without love, even truth becomes a weapon; even ministry becomes burdensome. But when we truly grasp how Christ has loved us, our hearts will be moved with compassion for the lost and the weak, and our lives will become living testimonies of the gospel.
As the church, we do not fight against people, but against spiritual forces of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). The devil knows the power of a church that is united in Christ. That is why he constantly tries to sow discord, jealousy, and division. But if we hold to the gospel—if we fix our eyes on Christ and pray together—no power of hell can stand against the church.
In this generation, God is calling His church to return to the true message of the gospel—that Jesus is the Christ—to restore the true altar of worship, recover the power of prayer, and reach the 237 nations and 5,000 tribes with the message of the cross. Each member is essential. Every believer has a role. There is no one too weak or unimportant in the body of Christ. God delights in using what the world considers weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27).
So today, ask God to use you in His church. Not according to your ability, but by His grace. Offer your heart, your time, your gifts. Let your daily life be a platform for Christ’s glory. Through you, may people see the power of the gospel and be drawn to the Savior.
And let us not give up meeting together. Let us encourage one another daily, and stir up one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:25). Let the church grow—not only in number, but in faith, love, and hope.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the love that covers all sins. Help me love deeply, forgive fully, and serve Your church with joy. May our church be filled with Your Spirit and shine as a light in this generation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.