A Tugging Of The Heart
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. Colossians 1:3-5
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. Colossians 1:9-10
INSIGHT
Reading through Colossians 1:3-14, it is evident how deeply Paul cared for the people of Colossae. Paul was in prison for teaching about Jesus, and Epaphras, a co-worker, came to visit and update Paul on how things were going. After hearing about the people of Colossae, Paul wrote a letter to encourage and challenge the people there. He thanks God that the people have been faithful and then intently prays for them to continue growing in their faith.
Several years ago, I met with a parent who had some questions about the curriculum we used in our kid’s ministry. We had lunch, and I explained our heart behind what we did, and we talked through some other questions. After lunch, the lady asked if we could meet again because she wanted to pour into me. I have to give her credit because that took courage, we had just met, and she didn’t know much about me. While I wasn’t sure what exactly this meant, I am eternally grateful for the care she has provided over the years.
She later told me that she had a tug on her heart to care for me and felt the Lord was calling her to reach out. I can think of many times in my life where I have felt a tug or a nudge to step into something, but then fear or doubt has kept me from committing. However, as I look back over the last six years of my life, the challenges of marriage, a miscarriage, motherhood, job changes, and more, I cannot find the words to share how appreciative I am for her responding to that tug. She has challenged me, encouraged me, and prayed over me regularly. It has impacted my life and the lives of those around me all because she was willing to step in and actively love.
God has called us to live in fellowship, first with our Father but also with one another. We will never experience the richness of doing life together when we stand on the sidelines as a spectator. We have to jump in. We have to participate because love requires action. The lady I mentioned has embodied this kind of courageous love. She has had her own ups and downs and busyness over the last six years, but instead of waiting for a more convenient time, she has given of herself to do life together. She has faithfully prayed for our family and me, she has touched base to see how things are going, and she has challenged me to dig deeper into what it looks like to live life with God. This kind of love doesn’t require perfection; it merely requires willingness.
REFLECTION
Where have you felt a tugging at your heart to encourage and support someone else?
How can you respond to this prompting with action?
PRAYER
God, thank you for Your Word. Thank you for creating us to do life together. I pray for eyes to see where You want me to step in and for a heart that seeks others. I pray that the fears of not having the right words or having enough time would dissipate as I seek to love others. I pray for courage to step into fellowship, and I pray for boldness to love. Amen.
Katie Robinson, Treasure Island's Curriculum Coordinator, wrote today's devotional.
