April 10 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 1:1–3

Bible Text:

To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse (Col. 1:2).

Devotional:

For the rest of this month we will read through the letter to the Colossians. Here we learn more about Christ—specifically, who he is with respect to the universe and the Christian church.

Paul addressed the letter to a congregation in Colosse, a small town in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). As a child of his time, Paul mentions only the "brothers" in his address; there was no need to mention the women separately. Today we address audiences as "ladies and gentlemen" and Christian congregations as "sisters and brothers" because we have one Father and form a spiritual family in Christ.

Paul calls his readers "saints," or holy ones, indicating that they are a group of people dedicated to God. Saint is a confusing word. To most of us, a saint is a virtuous person, a cut above the rest. But in the New Testament all Christians are called holy—dedicated to God—because they have been bought by the blood of Christ. One who is dedicated to God is thereby a saint.

I had a friend who always began letters to me with the words "Dear saint Andrew." My inclination each time was to protest: I am no saint. But on second thought I always recognized that by God's grace I am.

You too are holy. Because you are in Christ Jesus, you are a saint. God has set you apart for service.

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.