[Friday's Devotional] - Therefore

One of Paul's favourite ways of warning his readers that he has come to the end of his theology and wants to turn to practical Christianity is to use the word "Therefore" and here it is again in Col 3:12. But Paul is not the only one to use that word as a warning to change our ways, Jeremiah also uses it. But for him it is an agony of soul as he watched his people turning away from God, falling more and more into the hands of the enemy as they refuse to turn to God. Jeremiah despairs of all he is trying to do. But God comes to him and responds "Therefore, if you repent I will restore you so that you may serve me"

The mysteries we have been thinking of this week demand a response from us. We can be like Jeremiah and despair of ever being able to bring this generation back to God, or we can do what Paul suggests in his 'Therefore'

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col 3:12-14

Jeremiah had to bear such a lot of rejection of his message, Paul did too, so it should come as no surprise when we find that sharing our faith often seems to fall on stony ground. But both these great men of God met with God and were restored so they could serve. We too are holy and dearly beloved. We too have Christ in us, the hope of the nations. We too having been forgiven ourselves can reach out to others.

A thought
What should follow the word 'therefore', in my life today?


Alan Cartwright

Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 14-15, Colossians 3- 4:1, Proverbs 24:15-22