“See that it is read”! This is Paul’s aim here. Two kinds of literature were to be read by the believers in Colosse and Laodicea: a letter and another letter.

The first letter was the one that the Colossians just held in their hands and that Paul had addressed directly to them. This text was inspired by the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit later made sure that it was recognized as part of the whole Word of God. That is why we have it in our Bibles today.

This is the first and most important thing: that we believers read the Bible. You children who are already saved, you young people with your questions, you stressed-out adults, and you Christians who have grown old: read the Bible—including the letters of Paul! Some of what he writes cannot be found anywhere else in the Word of God.

There was a second letter, “the one from Laodicea.” What did it contain? To whom was it addressed first? Had Paul also written this letter? We do not know. It was currently in the hands of the Laodiceans and was read there. It is quite possible that it was a letter purposely not included by the Holy Spirit in the inspired Word of God.

If so, this would be an example to read good, recommendable literature, besides the Bible. This could mean explanations and expositions of the Bible, Christian daily devotions and calendars, books to help in practical aspects of the life of faith, or inspiring biographies of men and women of faith.

“See that it is read”! And let us, ourselves, also read! Let us read the Bible first, but also other books that help us understand it and put it into practice in our lives.