April 30 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 4:7–18

Bible Text:

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me (Col. 4:7).

Devotional:

The topic of Paul's letter to the Colossians is profound. For us, the epistle is God's Word concerning the greatness of Christ as Lord of the cosmos. In it we meet a Savior who is completely adequate for all human need.

Originally, however, the letter was a vehicle of communication between a missionary and one of his congregations, so it has an important human side. Paul shows his gracious and thankful spirit for friends in Christ.

Tychicus was the mailman. Besides delivering the letter to the Colossian church, Tychicus had to tell the people how Paul was doing in jail and what the prospects were for his release. "Tychicus will tell you all the news about me," Paul promised.

The shift to personal matters at the end of the letter is not a turn from the majestic to the mundane. For our greatest need is to know God and to have people to love. We can't live a whole and happy life unless we stay in touch with God and other people, especially fellow Christians.

Lack of interest in other people is a result of and evidence of sin. Warm interest in others and regular prayers for fellow Christians prove the presence of grace.

It's a good custom to name the people you love in your prayers to God. If you don't live near your loved ones, write to them. Life is communion. We must stay close to God and keep in touch with each other.

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.