Welcome to week 41 of Weekly Word! We are so glad you are here as we study through the books of Colossians and Romans.
As we walk through our sermon series, So That, our weekly readings, devotionals, and reflection questions will ground us in the supreme sufficiency of Jesus and the power of the gospel, so that His grace transforms our lives from the inside out.
Below, you’ll find this week’s readings, a short devotional, and reflection questions for your own time with the Lord or discussion with your community.
Readings:
- Romans 8 & 9
- Colossians 3:5-17
Devotional:
Readings: Romans 8 & 9, Colossians 3:5-17
In Romans 8, Paul declares one of the sweetest promises in all of Scripture: there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We learn that we have been adopted as God’s very own children, given the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us in our weakness, and anchored in the truth that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Then, as Paul moves into chapter 9, he pulls back the curtain on the breathtaking mystery of God’s sovereignty, reminding us that our salvation is grounded entirely in His mercy and purpose, not our human effort.
So how does this lavish grace and secure standing change the way we live daily? Colossians 3:5–17 shows us the beautiful outcome! Because we are secure in His unshakeable love and chosen by His grace, we are called to actively “put to death” the lingering habits of our old self—anger, slander, lying, and selfish desires. The verse goes on to instruct us to put on the new wardrobe of the kingdom: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and above all, love. We don’t change to earn God’s favor; we walk in this newness of life because we are already His holy, beloved children!
Putting on Christ’s character isn’t a burden we carry to make God love us—it is the joyful response of a heart that knows it is already fully loved! May the Holy Spirit strengthen us this week to shed the old and walk confidently in the rich, beautiful life Christ has given us.
Reflection Questions:
- Read Colossians 3:12–14 again. Which of these godly traits—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, or love—do you feel the Holy Spirit inviting you to “put on” in a specific relationship or situation this week? Spend a few moments asking God for the grace to walk it out.
- Romans 8 reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ. What worries or lingering guilt do you need to surrender to Him today so you can rest fully in that promise? Take some time to write a prayer of thanksgiving for His unshakeable love!
Dig Deeper
Want to dig deeper into the big picture of Romans? To get more context on how the book is structured, specifically chapters 5–16, check out this animated short video from BibleProject that breaks down the main themes of the second part of Romans!
We also encourage you to check out this video resource from BibleProject on the book of Colossians.
We are praying for you as you dig into God’s Word this week!