ASLC Devotions -- Monday

Colossians4:15-17
¹⁵Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters^* in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. ¹⁶And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. ¹⁷And say to Archippus, ‘See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.’

I forget sometimes, in this age of quick communication and instant messaging, that not that long ago letters (actual hand-written letters) were not only rare, but treasured and shared. The letters, or epistles, included in our scriptures contain teachings and news to particular groups or churches and they have been passed through generations. Originally these letters would have been read in a gathered assembly, and as we see from the verses above, they would have also been shared with neighboring communities that perhaps did not receive a specific letter addressed to them.  We can and do still learn from reading these early Christians' mail.

And while we might not write that many letters anymore, there are still similarities to how we communicate today. After you've read this email, share it with someone else, your neighbors or friends or family, and make sure you read their response. And say to the one in your life whom you know has a task from God, "Don't forget to complete what you have been given."

Peace,
Pastor Jenn