Paul's Desire For The Colossians
By John Hendrix
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. (Colossians 1:9-12)
Paul did not start the church at Colosse, but he wrote to them when Epaphras - a preacher among them - came to Paul in Rome. In the sentence quoted above, we see Paul's hope for the Colossians. Paul's desire for the Colossians contains many good goals for us.
1. Filled with the knowledge of God's will.
We must earnestly desire knowledge of God's will. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge," Hosea mourned in 4:6. The psalmist hid God's word in his heart that he might not sin (Psalm 119:11).
There are those who call students of God's word "legalists." Some are accused of worshipping the Bible more than God.
Indeed, there are people who study God's word with a cold heart. Some can quote volumes of scripture without much interest in obedience to it. Some know a lot of God's word but do not honor the two greatest commandments in it: love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39).
Though some may wrongly seek out God's word, no one can please God without learning from His holy word. To please God we must begin with the knowledge of His will.
2. Knowledge in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Knowledge needs wisdom and spiritual understanding to have any value. Some at Corinth had knowledge in a way that made them proud (1 Corinthians 8:1). Many others have knowledge of the will of God but do not obey it. Trivia: that is what we call knowledge with little or no application. We turn God's will into trivia when we do not strive to understand it.
Spiritual understanding is key. We see the physical world through the lenses of our eyes. When those lenses are distorted we do not see the world aright. We need spiritual lenses to see God's word. A heart full of worldly loves and ambitions will strive to misconstrue God's word, wresting it to justify his fleshly desires. A heart set on heaven will see a strait and confining gate and a narrow, even difficult, way (Matthew 7:13-14). However confining and difficult, spiritual eyes will see the road that leads to everlasting life.
3. Walk worthy of the Lord.
None of us deserve salvation, nor are we worthy of Christ's death for us. Yet there is such a thing as a worthy life. God has empowered us to live a life that pleases Him. Do not believe, nor teach, that we cannot live pleasing to God, for many will no even try. God protects us from any temptation that is too great for us (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can live right as long as we cling to Him. (James 4:7-8)
4. Fruitful in every good work.
This fruitfulness expands upon the idea of the "worthy walk." That is, the worthy walk is fruitful in every good work. Bearing fruit is giving back from what was taken in. The watered and tended plant bears fruit for the gardener. Woe to us if we do not bear fruit!
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away…." (John 15:2)
Fruitfulness in every good work is more than simply a virtuous life. It includes the teaching that we do in word and action. It includes monetary support of teachers (Philippians 4:17). It includes alms to the poor and needy. It includes all things that rebound to the glory of God.
5. Increasing in the knowledge of God.
Having started by hearing God's will, believing and obeying it, we must continue to increase in this knowledge. Learning God's will is a lifetime walk. There is no "graduation"; at no time in life do you know all you need to know.
If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know. (1 Corinthians 8:2, NASB)
6. Strengthened with all might according to God's power.
Spiritual knowledge requires strength to be put into practice. Without Christ I want to do good, but I do not have the power (Romans 7:18). We find the power to do good through full submission to God's will. God will work through us, Christ will shine through us, if we surrender our lives to God.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
7. All patience and longsuffering.
What requires strength more than patience or perseverance? Starting something is good, but continuing it is the true test of conversion. We must have God's strength to persevere. We must persevere to please God:
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)
Some teach that a saved person cannot be lost. God's word teaches that we must endure until the end.
For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)
8. With joy.
Do not let yourself be caught up in a rut of drudging service to God. This life has toil and sorrow, but Christians have every reason to rejoice. Many things we may not know, but we are assured of God's love, the forgiveness of our sins, and an eternal home in heaven. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). We must allow ourselves to feel and express that natural joy that comes from a life that is pleasing to God.
9. With thanksgiving.
Early on his road to perdition, mankind was unthankful towards God (Romans 1:21). Perhaps we can avoid apostasy through true thankfulness-a heartfelt and spoken appreciation-towards God for what He has done for us.
Who more than the Christian has reason to be thankful? We have nothing that was not given to us - even spoon fed, it seems at times, unwillingly - by our Loving God.
Paul's desire for the Colossians is God's desire for us.