Changed: All Over the World

“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” (Colossians 1:6)

Have you ever watched the opening or closing ceremonies for the Olympics? There’s something exciting about the idea of people from all over the globe gathering together in one place, nation by nation in an endless-seeming parade, that makes the world feel more connected than ever.

changed_350Another mind-blowing thing to wonder about is, How many of the people in that stadium are Jesus-followers who once heard the good news about salvation from sin and ‘understood God’s grace in all its truth’? How many of the people from China and Zimbabwe and Russia and Bolivia and Canada are fruit-bearing believers walking the same path you and I are?

Paul writes about our connection to all of them, a connection far deeper and longer lasting than just being “fellow citizens of the global community.” We are brothers and sisters of a million different mothers and just one Almighty Father. I can’t wait for the opening ceremony of eternity in heaven.

Think: Do you ever think about all you have in common with believers in Jesus “all over the world”?

Pray: Pray for all the believers around the world who, just like you, came to God through Jesus.

Do: Pick a country or two to look up on Wikipedia and think about all the believers who live there.