April 17 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the beginning of a new life for all believers. It's also the pledge of our resurrection (1 Cor. 15). The study of Colossians is part of this month's meditations on the meaning of the resurrection.

Bible Reading:

Colossians 1:24–29

Bible Text:

I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions (Col. 1:24).

Devotional:

The writer of this letter sits in prison. You probably did not notice that thus far, because he is not given to self-pity. Even now, when he begins to speak of his suffering, he doesn't complain.

Paul says that preaching the gospel and suffering go together. His imprisonment does not contradict the strength of the gospel. Rather, Paul's pain for the sake of the congregation shows that his mission is genuine and his apostleship authentic.

The suffering of the Son of God was of course unique, never to be repeated. Christ's shed blood made atonement for all our sins. Nothing can ever be added to that!

But in fulfilling their missionary task, Christ's followers identify with the conquering Lamb, the suffering Savior. No stronghold of Satan can be conquered without painful labor on the part of Christian workers. People are not led to the Lord or kept with the Lord without the toil and tears of Christians who give of themselves until it hurts.

Paul and all Christ's followers must pay the price of suffering before the kingdom can fully come. The Bible talks about Christlike suffering as if it were a quota that must be "filled up" before the end can come. Suffering for Christ's sake is the cost of discipleship. It's the price that must be paid before all will bow down before Jesus.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.