Colossians 1:1

Letters to the Faithful - Colossians 1:1

Berean Standard Bible

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

King James Bible

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

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To all the beloved of God in every place—those who have been drawn by grace, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and sealed with the Spirit of promise—I greet you in the love and authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. May His peace anchor your soul and His truth renew your strength daily.

It is with deep conviction and humble clarity that I write to you, stirred by the opening words of a letter first written by the apostle Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus and a chosen vessel of the gospel. In those few words—“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother”—we are brought face to face with the foundation of all authentic ministry: the will of God. Paul does not begin by establishing his own credibility or recounting his many sufferings, revelations, or accomplishments. He begins by pointing away from himself and toward the sovereign will of the One who appointed him.

The ministry of the gospel is not self-initiated. The calling to preach, to teach, to shepherd, and to carry the name of Christ into hostile lands or quiet homes alike, does not originate in human ambition. It is birthed in the counsel of heaven. Paul was not an apostle by popularity, lineage, or preference—but by divine will. The call found him. The call changed him. The call consumed him. And such is true for all who are truly sent.

Beloved, we must recover this reverence for the call of God in our generation. We live in a time when many rush into ministry positions without the weight of heaven upon their shoulders, without the fire of God burning in their bones, and without the brokenness that comes from wrestling with the holiness of the task. Let no one presume to speak for God unless they have first been undone by Him. Let no one attempt to lead God’s people unless they have first learned to serve them in humility and tears. It is not the self-appointed who carry lasting fruit, but the God-appointed who abide in the secret place and emerge bearing His likeness.

If you are called, do not run from it—but do not rise up in it prematurely. Let the fire of calling be matched with the furnace of preparation. Let hiddenness be your friend. Let obedience be your habit. Let purity guard your name more than platform ever could. If you have not heard the Spirit affirm your assignment, it is better to wait than to go in presumption. And if you have heard Him, walk boldly—but never without trembling.

And see here, Paul does not stand alone. He writes with Timothy our brother. This is not a mere mention—it is a declaration of divine partnership. The work of the kingdom was never meant to be carried in isolation. Even apostles needed brothers. Even spiritual fathers needed sons. The burden of ministry was designed to be shared, for no one man embodies all the gifts, nor does any one voice speak all the wisdom of God. It is together, in fellowship and submission, that the Church grows into maturity.

In this, we are reminded that true authority in the kingdom never diminishes others—it raises them up. Paul does not overshadow Timothy; he honors him. He does not compete with him; he labors with him. Likewise, the Church today must be a place where spiritual partnership thrives, where older leaders make room for the younger, where emerging voices are shaped rather than silenced, and where brothers and sisters of all backgrounds link arms for the sake of the gospel.

To every Timothy reading this—young, unproven, perhaps uncertain—know this: your part matters. Your name may not carry weight yet, but your faith does. You may still be learning, but if your heart is yielded, God will use you. Surround yourself with those who have gone before you, and serve with honor. Your inheritance is not only what God will do through you, but who He will shape you to become along the way.

To every Paul—seasoned, tested, trusted—never forget that your mission includes raising others. Apostolic ministry does not merely build movements; it builds people. Your crown is not in crowds, but in sons and daughters who walk in the truth. Do not neglect the Timothys around you. They are not a threat to your legacy—they are your legacy.

And to the entire Church, let us recommit ourselves to the will of God. Let us measure success not by results, but by obedience. Let us judge ministry not by charisma, but by character. Let us value faithfulness more than fame, and service above self.

This one verse—so short, so unassuming—reminds us that we are not our own. That we are sent. That we are joined. That we are accountable to heaven and committed to one another. The gospel advances not by isolated heroes but by a family of faith walking in the call, in the Spirit, and in mutual love.

May you, wherever you are planted, receive afresh the weight of your calling and the wonder of your identity. You are in Christ. You are not alone. You are chosen, not by men, but by God Himself. And whether you are leading, learning, or somewhere in between, may your life testify to this one truth: that Christ is all, and in all.

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Almighty and Sovereign Lord, holy and eternal Father, we come before You with hearts open and lives yielded. You are the One who calls from heaven and places Your hand upon fragile vessels of earth. You are the One who sets apart, not according to the wisdom of this world, but by the counsel of Your perfect will. We thank You that You are still calling, still sending, and still sustaining those who say yes to the upward call that flows from Your throne.

We bless You, Lord, for those You have raised up as messengers of Christ—not by their own merit or striving, but by Your sovereign choosing. For every Paul You have appointed, for every life turned from darkness to light and commissioned with the gospel, we give You thanks. For every one who carries Your Word with conviction, humility, and holy fear, we pray strength, endurance, and divine clarity. Let them not grow weary in well-doing. Let their hearts burn with the fire of truth. Let their hands remain clean, and their message unmixed. May they never forget that their authority is borrowed and their mission sacred.

O Lord, let those who are sent by Your will walk in the weight of it. Let them resist every urge to elevate self and instead point all things back to the glory of Christ. Guard them from the applause of men. Deliver them from compromise. Hide them in the shadow of the cross and fill them with the Spirit without measure. Let their lives be shaped not by influence but by obedience—not by fame but by faithfulness.

And Father, we thank You also for the Timothys, for the brothers and sisters who stand shoulder to shoulder with those who lead. For the co-laborers who serve with quiet faith, for the sons and daughters in the faith who are being shaped by Your hand and positioned for their time, we ask Your blessing. Strengthen their hearts. Let them not despise the days of small beginnings. Let them walk with honor, submission, and boldness. Raise them up in purity and in power. Let their hunger exceed their gifting, and their humility outpace their progress.

We pray for spiritual fathers and mothers—that they would make room for those coming after them. Let them not hoard the mantle but share the burden. Let them pour out what they’ve been given. Let the next generation receive not only teachings but tears, not only strategies but a sacred fire. May there be a holy succession—not in name only, but in truth and Spirit.

O God, unite the generations in Your house. Let there be no division between the seasoned and the young, between the seen and the hidden. Let the Church rise in unity—apostles and brothers, leaders and learners, sent ones and supporters, all under the lordship of Christ. May no man think more highly of himself than he ought, and may no one feel disqualified who has been cleansed by Your grace. Let every part of the body work together for the edification of all and the exaltation of Your Son.

We pray now for the Church in every place—those gathered in cities and villages, in churches large and small, in regions near and far. Let the saints awaken to their identity. Let them know they are not forgotten, not forsaken, not unneeded. Each one is a vital part of Your design, chosen in Christ, filled with purpose, and sealed with promise. Let every saint walk in holiness. Let every home burn with worship. Let every gathering be marked by Your presence. May love abound. May prayer never cease. May truth never be compromised.

We ask that You sanctify the leadership of Your Church. Let the bishops and elders, the pastors and planters, the overseers and shepherds—let them walk worthy of their calling. Let their private lives be pure, their public witness strong, and their love for Your people sincere. Let no pride find root, no corruption take hold, and no distraction lead them astray. Keep them watchful in prayer and tender in spirit. May they lead not with heavy hands, but with hearts that bleed for the sheep.

Lord, we pray for unity—not the unity of convenience or appearance, but the unity born of shared devotion to Christ. Let our denominations not divide us beyond repair. Let our differences never outweigh our shared identity. Where there has been schism, bring healing. Where there has been suspicion, restore trust. Let us weep together again. Let us worship in one voice again. Let us contend for the faith—not against each other, but for one another.

And finally, Lord, may Your will be done in us as it was in Paul—without resistance, without condition, and without delay. May we live not by our dreams, but by Your divine direction. May we be content to follow, even when the path leads through hardship. May we boast only in the cross, carry only what You entrust, and speak only what You command. Let our lives be letters written by Your hand, read by the world, bearing the signature of heaven.

We give You glory for every calling, for every assignment, for every partnership in the gospel. Let Christ be magnified. Let the Church be built. Let the nations be reached. And let our hearts remain surrendered—until the day You return in glory.

In the holy name of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church and the Anchor of our souls,

Amen.