Grace Empowerment: Faithfulness and Fulfillment
When Paul closed his letter to the Colossians, he did not end with casual greetings or fleeting words. He ended with a call—a baton pass in a race that would extend far beyond the streets of Colossae. The entire letter has been about one great truth: Christ is at the center of everything—our lives, our churches, and our mission.
In his final words, Paul reminded the believers that the gospel is not merely for personal reflection but for public participation. Imagine a relay race. The last runner is often the fastest, the strongest, the one trusted to finish well. But the last runner cannot stop short. The race is only complete when the final runner crosses the finish line. Paul passed the baton to Archippus, to the church at Laodicea, and ultimately, to us.
With Christ at the center, we will find that grace empowers us to be faithful to the church and to fulfill our calling.
Faithful to the Ministry of the Church
In Colossians 4:15-16, Paul mentions the believers at Laodicea and Nympha’s house church. These were not rival congregations, but partners in the gospel. Paul’s vision for the church was not territorial but Kingdom-focused. He saw doctrinally sound churches as teammates in the gospel. As he wrote in Philippians 1:5, “In view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.”
The church is not a competition; it is a community on mission. At Grace, we must remember that we are not an island. We are part of a global work, joining with gospel-preaching churches near and far. Hillside, Liberty, Graceway, our Converge churches—they are not competitors but partners, each running their leg of the gospel race.
The call to faithfulness is not just for those in leadership but for every believer. In 1 Samuel 3:19, we read that Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and He let none of his words fail. Samuel was faithful to God’s call throughout his life. His ministry was never defined by title but by obedience, even when faced with hardship. In 1 Samuel 8, when the people rejected his words that they already had a king, in the Lord, Samuel remained obedient every step, doing what God required.
Fulfillment and faithfulness in ministry are not about position, title, or popularity; they are about obedience. Is that not what Paul calls us to in being faithful to the church and fulfilling our mission?
Fulfilling the Ministry of Our Calling
Paul then turns his attention to Archippus in Colossians 4:17-18, urging him to “take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” This was not a ministry assigned by man, but a calling given by God Himself.
As believers, we hold the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. As Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession…” (1 Peter 2:9). Each of us is called to serve the church, our community, our families, and the world with the mission of Christ.
Paul himself fulfilled his calling faithfully. In 2 Timothy 4:5-7, nearing the end of his life, he wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” But how did he finish his race? In chains. He ends Colossians with this reminder, “Remember my imprisonment.”
Some might think their “chains” in life are holding them back—circumstances, weaknesses, burdens. But Paul shows us that grace does not just save us; it sends us. Ministry will cost us something, but it is always worth it.
Paul usually dictated his letters, but here he signs with his own hand, underlining that gospel ministry is personal, costly, and eternally rewarding.
Seeing Beyond the Fog
In 1952, Florence Chadwick stepped into the waters off Catalina Island to swim to mainland California. She had already been the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. But that morning it was foggy and cold. For fifteen hours she swam. Her mother, riding in a boat beside her, continued to encourage her to keep pushing forward. Exhausted, Florence begged to be pulled out. Only when she was in the boat did she realize that the shore was less than half a mile away. At a news conference the next day, she said, “All I could see was the fog.…I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.”
The book of Colossians ends with Paul reminding us that Jesus is on the shore, we can see Him, and we can know Him. He has prepared a place for us. Though the fog of life’s hardships may hide it at times, His promises remain clear, unshaken, and unchanged. Look, we can see the shore!
Jesus saved Paul, blinded by sin. He has saved us, who were dead, and now we see. Christ is at the center—and grace is the power that will always keep Him there.
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places… I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:1-2, NASB 1995)