Colossians 1:3–8 (ESV)
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard
before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned
it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
Lutherans maintain that you must receive the gospel message
and that it comes to you through Word and Sacraments. Faith is created by hearing the gospel. The gospel is also proclaimed in Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Our proof text for faith coming by hearing is found in Romans 10:17, which
states: “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” But today’s text is just as clear. Today’s text states: “Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come
to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.” Telling
others about Christ is crucial to spreading Christianity. We too are to make known to others your love in the Spirit.
I pray: O Lord, help me to be bold and give me courage to share the gospel
to others. Help me to not be concerned about what others might think, but to boldly proclaim what you have done for me and for the world. Amen.