Proclaiming God (Colossians 1:28-29)

Today's scripture: Colossians 1:28-29

While we're on earth, we who follow Christ have one mission: glorify God, proclaiming His goodness, sharing His truth.

In order to do that, we must know His word, and in order to that, we must study and meditate on it. Daily. In fact, to use a word from Paul, we must labor in learning God's word. While in the context of these verses, Paul is referring to "admonishing ... and teaching every man ...," I believe that word also applies to our study of God's word in order to proclaim Him well.

To labor means to "exert one's powers of body or mind especially with painful or strenuous effort" (Merriam-Webster online). Now I certainly don't find studying God's word painful, but I do find myself needing to "exert" my mind with "strenuous [defined: "vigorously active") effort." To really understand and apply God's word, yes to admonish and teach, but to proclaim Him, takes focus. And time. And effort.

And it can't be a short skim through a verse or two although any time in the Bible is certainly worthwhile. My small group at church is going through a wonderful study intended to bring us to a more intimate walk with God. Today's study was appropriate to this devotional.

I read Psalm 1:2 where the psalmist writes we're to "delight" in and "meditate on [God's word] day and night." Then Joshua 1:8 says we're not to allow His word to "depart from [our] mouth ..." And, again, we're to "meditate on it day and night." Finally, Psalm 119:97 says we're to "love [God's] law" and meditate on it "all the day."

That's how we labor to know God's word. That's how we're able to admonish and teach others.

That's how we can proclaim Him.