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Nov 25, 2018

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:28-2:5


This passage describes Paul's struggle to serve Christ and His kingdom, on behalf of the Colossians and the people of Laodicea.  What drives Paul, to the point of his willingness to be imprisoned and even to die, is the proclamation of Christ.  Christ is portrayed in this passage as God's mystery.  Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God to humanity.  He is the path to the true knowledge of God.

Paul is constrained, as we should be, to make known the glory of God in Christ to others.  The aim of the work of the apostle is that "we might present everyone mature in Christ" (Col 1:28).  The idea here is that Paul has labored that people would not only come to Christ in conversion, but would grow in Christ to a spiritual maturity (cf. Eph 4:12,13; Heb 5:14).

This ought to be the goal, not only of everyone working in a church, but the goal of every parent for his/her child, and the goal of every Christian for himself/herself.  But let us be clear that such spiritual maturity is the product of diligent labor.  Paul describes his missionary work as a 'struggle' (Col 1:29; 2:1).  

Deliberate use of time and energy, for the sake of Christ, is a matter of mind and emotions as we fight against our sinful passions and our tendency to be lazy.  But the great encouragement here is found in Colossians 1:29 … "For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."  Christ Himself, by His Spirit, is at work within us giving us the will and the capability to serve Him.