The Gospel of Jesus Christ: Handle With Care (Colossians 1:24–2:5)

“Handle with care.” We’ve all heard, read, said, and maybe prayed those three words of request. Whether when passing a newborn to an excited older sibling for the first time, packing and transporting boxes of irreplaceable items, or offering help to a vulnerable, ill, or discouraged loved one, the need is the same—to proceed with caution, to speak with compassion, and to handle with care. And the care with which we handle a situation reflects its perceived worth and fragility. We care for robust things if they’re expensive and we care for inexpensive things if they’re delicate. But when something is both costly and vulnerable, we take special care. In his letter to the church in Colossae, Paul reminds his readers that the good news of Jesus Christ is both. The gospel is precious, costly, and invaluable. But it’s also fragile as it can be distorted, attacked, obstructed, and obscured. So, we as recipients and beneficiaries of that gospel must protect it, defend it, and handle it with care.