Paul includes a benediction in the salutation of his letter to the Colossians. In his modest little greeting, 'Grace and Peace to you through God our Father,' the apostle packs a number of rich redemptive truths that teach us about God’s work of atonement in Christ.

Jesus was barely out of the boat on foreign soil when He was confronted by a man possessed by a legion of violent, powerful, and merciless demons. The first thing the demons did was surrender, so great is the Son of the Most High God. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has liberated us from the forces of hell so that we might become ambassadors of heaven.

In addition to informing his Colossian readers that their new identity in Christ makes them saints, the Apostle Paul also informs them that they are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. Because faith is so important to the Christian life, and there are a number of popular misunderstandings about the nature of true saving faith, we will look at the character of biblical belief.

You don’t work as a fisherman your entire life without encountering a few storms, including some very bad ones. But when Jesus instantly calmed a storm that the disciples were sure was going to kill them, they began to realize they were in the presence of no ordinary teacher, or even prophet. They were in the presence of the One who is Lord of All and in whom alone we may rest secure through the unrest He endured for us on the cross.

In Genesis 48 we read the story of the second and third acts of Jacob as death nears: his bequest to Joseph of a double portion of his property through the adoption and blessing of his oldest sons, Manasseh and Ephraim - a story that raises questions about the meaning of family and stories, and our recognition of and response to change, as well as alluding to our adoption in Christ.

As part of Paul’s salutation in his letter to the church at Colossae, he addresses the believers as "holy and faithful brothers." Calling them "holy" is an important way for the Apostle to point out their new identity in Christ, and the label has important implications for how all Christians should see and conduct themselves.

Most of what we hear every day is shallow, temporary, or unedifying. It affects us either negatively or not at all, and is quickly forgotten. But God’s word takes root in our souls and produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who are trained by it. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus challenges us to be not just hearers of the word, but doers, as we follow the One who perfectly obeyed in our place.

Most of us find ourselves in debt at some point or another, whether due to a student loan, car payment, mortgage, or even a standard bill. But what if our debt is far beyond our ability to pay? Or what if we don’t even realize that we are in debt? And what if our debt is a charge against the holiness of God Himself? Only the blood of Christ can repay the greatest debt we owe. Only Jesus can meet us in our poverty (and our pride!) so that we might find our life in Him through His atoning work on the cross.

Jesus’ offer of rest for the weary and burdened is among the more well-known and cherished verses in Scripture. The context of his invitation, in Matthew 11-12, along with the context of our current circumstances, provide us an opportunity to think about what Jesus is offering, how we experience it, and why we should come to him for rest. Although we may sometimes prefer to complain about our burdens or pridefully display our weariness as a badge of honor, when we consider what Jesus means by a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light, we will realize that it is far better to come to him, submit to him, learn from him and be refreshed by his gracious presence.

John the Baptist was known for his divine call, fearless preaching, and wilderness endurance, yet even he began to doubt when forced to wait for the Lord’s plan to unfold. Waiting is hard. It tests our faith, challenges our hope, and seldom proceeds according to our expectations. But Jesus reminds us of His miracles and the testimony of Scripture that points to Him so that we might wait well by His grace and for His glory.