Daily Dose of Hope

April 13, 2026

Scripture: Colossians 2

Prayer: Heavenly Father, On this Monday, we come to you today in awe. You are almighty and wise but also filled with love and mercy. And we have the pleasure of experiencing that love and mercy. Despite our brokenness, you care for us and you continue to walk alongside us. Thank you, Lord, for your patience. Help us to focus more on you. Fill us with a consuming desire to know you better. Work in us. Stretch us. Challenge us. Convict us. We love you. Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan. We are journeying through Paul's letters and now we find ourselves in Paul's ninth letter, when we look at them chronologically.

Today's reading is Colossians 2. Paul was very concerned that the people of the Colossian church would be swayed by fancy and smart-sounding arguments. The arguments of false teachers often sound very convincing. They typically take a small bit of truth and twist it so that it sounds just right enough that people will be convinced. Paul knew this. His goal was for them to grow in their knowledge of Christ, become mature, well-developed disciples, so they would see through the untruths.

If they were rooted in Christ, like a solid tree with deep roots, then they would be less apt to be affected by the winds of false teachings. I love this idea of growing our roots deep into Jesus Christ. If we look at plants, we tend to focus on that which we can see. We see the trunk, the branches, and the leaves, and they maybe very beautiful. But what's most important is what we can't see-the deep roots which are vital to the health and longevity of the tree. If a bad storm comes, the tree will stay put because its roots are deep and strong. Paul wanted the Colossian church to have a deep root system as well, one that was firmly based in Jesus Christ. If they grew into strong, mature believers with strong roots, then they would be much less likely to be swayed by the fancy, sophisticated arguments of false teachers.

Historically, we haven't focused on having deep roots. In fact, our discipleship in most American churches has been quite shallow. We have required little of our members; we've asked them to simply warm a pew. Where has that gotten us? Being rooted in Jesus Christ means so much more than church attendance. It means reading and knowing God's Word and abiding with Jesus through prayer and Scripture reading. It means connecting with others for real accountability and listening to others who tell us hard truths about life and faith. It means serving others with the love of Jesus. It means giving sacrificially. And when the strong winds blow, we are ready. We stay solid and united in Jesus Christ, our roots strong and steady.

Let's convene again tomorrow.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki