World English Bible translation
Today's Scripture
For I desire to have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2:2 that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 2:3 in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.Today's Lesson
Today's Scripture is a transition from the opening introductory material to the more direct chapter 2. In the beginning of this letter, Paul laid the groundwork of theological concepts for what was to follow. In the rest of this chapter he writes to the Colossians about specific problems that he has heard about them. Today's verses accomplish two purposes. First, it maintains the autobiographical theme of the last several verses. Second, it maintains the focus of the letter on Jesus Christ.
In Lesson 13 we discussed the personal nature of verses 24-26 of chapter 1. Paul begins this section by re-emphasizing to the Colossians how hard he is working in their behalf. Lest anyone believe that it is inappropriate that Paul speaks of "how greatly I strive for you," let me suggest that to place this verse in context we must connect it to the last two verses of the previous chapter. There, Paul writes that he labors because God works within him mightily. Paul can only put out as much as God puts in.
Paul also had another purpose that may not be readily discernible here. He wants the Colossians to realize that they are part of a greater church. The community of Christians was growing all the time. Just because they had never met Paul does not mean that they had no connection to his work. In fact, they have come to know Christ through a fairly direct result of Paul's work. Paul taught Epaphras and Epaphras taught them. But the relationship does not end there. Paul's continuing ministry will also impact their faith as well.
We are all part of a greater whole. Our lives are affected by everything that believers do throughout the world. The way that people react to our faith has a lot to do with the way people of faith have responded to them in the past. The Colossians shared their Christian experience with their neighbors in Laodicea, with those in Ephesus down the river and with those all over the Roman empire. You might even say that they have shared their Christian experience with all believers since the time that this epistle was included in the Christian canon. Each one of us has an impact on each other.
This is why Paul writes that he desires for all believers "that their hearts may be comforted, that they being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding…" We belong to one another as well as to Christ. He knits us together with His love. God has redeemed a whole organism, not just individual cells. We must learn to accept one another and to work together toward the common goal of glorifying Christ.
Finally, least the discussion drift too far from Paul's main theme, he draws us back to focus on Jesus Christ. He writes that he wants all believers to know the mystery of God. The phrasing here is a little rough because the underlying Greek is not the best. A rough idea of what Paul is trying to say is that he wants them to come to understand the mystery of God because the mystery of God is Christ. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
For Paul, knowing Christ is the ultimate goal. There is no worthier subject of study than the Son of God. Everything that we need to know of life is found in Christ. There is nothing else that you can accomplish with your life that will be more important than knowing Christ.
Every day we spend our lives in various tasks. We work and then relax. We eat and sleep. We have our routines that help us to survive our hectic lives. Occasionally, we must stop and remember what our priorities are meant to be. Sometime today, stop and consider how much time do I really devote to my relationship with God? And, in a related question, how much time do I devote to my relationship with the people that God has placed in my life? We do not live in isolation. First there is God. Then there are those whom God is trying to knit together into your life. Allow God to come into your life completely. Allow Him to knit you together with others around you with His love.
Psalm / Past Lesson /
Next Lesson / Lesson Archive / Home© 1999 adailywalk.com - These materials may be reproduced as long as they are never sold in any form.