The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 1:9-12,
"Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light."
Paul had not met these believers yet and so, in his letter to them, he attempted to establish a personal link with them to enhance his effort in encouraging them in the things of God. No better way to do this than to tell the Colossian believers about his prayers for them. In praying for them and telling them of it, Paul communicates his concerns for them and his willingness to expend himself, on their behalf, on his knees. Our benefit of Paul's telling of his prayers for the Colossian believers is that it provides us an apostolic perspective on those things deemed important by Paul. What is insightful in Paul's prayer is the focus on things that, at times, we don't see in prayer today as outcomes sought.
A couple of initial observations from Paul's prayer is that he understood it was from the Holy Spirit that wisdom and understanding is given. It is through that wisdom and understanding that knowledge of God's will is unveiled. How many times have you heard someone pray for God's will? Perhaps Paul provides us insight here... I also note that Paul continually prayed for these believers, "we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God..." Here is an apostolic example of Jesus' teaching on persistent prayer lived out, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1. The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 is very instructive on prayer. Consequently, we find Paul continually praying for these Colossian believers.
"Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light."
Paul had not met these believers yet and so, in his letter to them, he attempted to establish a personal link with them to enhance his effort in encouraging them in the things of God. No better way to do this than to tell the Colossian believers about his prayers for them. In praying for them and telling them of it, Paul communicates his concerns for them and his willingness to expend himself, on their behalf, on his knees. Our benefit of Paul's telling of his prayers for the Colossian believers is that it provides us an apostolic perspective on those things deemed important by Paul. What is insightful in Paul's prayer is the focus on things that, at times, we don't see in prayer today as outcomes sought.
A couple of initial observations from Paul's prayer is that he understood it was from the Holy Spirit that wisdom and understanding is given. It is through that wisdom and understanding that knowledge of God's will is unveiled. How many times have you heard someone pray for God's will? Perhaps Paul provides us insight here... I also note that Paul continually prayed for these believers, "we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God..." Here is an apostolic example of Jesus' teaching on persistent prayer lived out, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1. The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 is very instructive on prayer. Consequently, we find Paul continually praying for these Colossian believers.
What I see as outcomes Paul is looking for in his prayers for the Colossian believers include the following seven (maybe you can see some I am missing - I left at least one out just to tease you):
Living a life worthy of the Lord.
Pleasing the Lord.
Bearing "fruit" in every good work.
Growing in the knowledge of God.
Being strengthened with "all power according to his [God's] glorious might."
This strength leading to great endurance and patience.
Giving joyful thanks to God the Father (because of our wonderful inheritance in the resurrection!).
Can you find at least one I left out?
These outcomes are important. Perhaps I should check my own prayer list to see if it reflects these things in my prayers for others I have concern for.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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