And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Colossians 1:21–23, ESV
When caught up in the ways of the world, our minds are different, and we see God less as a comfort and more as a threat. The people of God become persecutors, and the calling of God becomes rigid and unyielding. Hearts become embittered and find no grace in God, just as there is no grace that is found in the world. Minds become closed off to the Word, and the Gospel is a threat. In Christ, however, we can find change in the most hardened heart. When the Holy Spirit moves, and the truth of our Lord sinks in, a heart of stone becomes a heart of flesh. The world does not want the Gospel to be heard and for anyone to come to know the saving hope of God. As the people become more rebellious against God, the virtues of the Christian faith become evil, and the things that are against God are celebrated and admired. We, as the people of God, are reminded to stand steadfast in the truth, aware of the greater hope. The eternal gift of new life received in God for eternity, but also the new hope and life that we find in the here and now from our Lord Jesus Christ. The nature of the world is unyielding and unforgiving. There is no return for any who go against the law of the world. The labels and the narrative are never removed. Yet, in Christ, there is newness of life always before us who believe and trust in Him. We are not to change the Gospel to bring comfort to the world, but we are called to bring change into the world through the Gospel so that all the world will know the peace and comfort that comes from Christ the Lord.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.