“When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.”

The Christians were sharing the letters from the Apostle Paul with each other and learning the truths of God straight from his hand. Paul wrote the letter to be publicly read the to whole congregation of the church, and not to anyone person in particular. The listeners did not realise they were designated to be in the canon of Scripture, but the truth in them resonated with the Holy Spirit who dwelt in each one of them. Paul does not hide from the Christians and teaches them the full council of God, pointing out their failure and weaknesses that they might grow in grace and turn from all evil. 

The Christians placed great value on the Word of God. They read the Scriptures when they met together but did not always live accurately according to the precepts taught in them. Much like we do today, they appreciated, read and agreed but putting it into practice was more challenging. They were prone to false teachers and the wretched judaisers, who sought to dull down the message of the gospel and make it of no effect. Their difficulties were much the same as we face today, and the scripture is timeless in dealing with these recurring issues that follow the truth of God in every era.

We need the Scriptures at all times to strengthen our faith and the bonds we have with each other. Swapping letters was a great way to spread the Word, establishing it as the truth of God and ensuring that all the people were exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The letters would have been copied and delivered to the other churches and thereby were spread through the country.

“These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the door posts of your house and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Every time and place is good for the Word… let it be read among us…