May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:11-14
In the opening verses of Colossians, Paul is telling the church of Colossae that he has not ceased to pray for them and give thanks to God for their faith since he first heard from Epaphras that they had received the Gospel. In the verses above, Paul is specifically praying for the Colossians to be given the power of God. I find Paul’s following elaboration extremely fascinating.
The first thing Paul explains is that the power is for all endurance and patience with joy. Whether we are enduring something or waiting for something, we should do it with joyful hearts. In Philippians, Paul charges us to rejoice in the Lord always (ch 4:4). In another verse in Philippians, Paul says that it is not at all troubling for him to say rejoice because he has no worries about doing so himself (ch 3:1). Paul isn’t the slightest bit burdened or uncertain of the command to rejoice because he has seen every trial and circumstance working towards his ultimate deliverance in Christ. How amazing! Lord, that we could all rejoice like the Apostle Paul!
Paul then says to give thanks to the Father. No matter what and in every circumstance, just as we are to rejoice, we are to give thanks to God. If it ever seems like giving thanks is difficult, keep reading and see exactly what God has done for us, and I promise it will become easier to give thanks and rejoice.
The first thing Paul says God has done for us is that He qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints. The word qualified literally means to be rendered fit or made sufficient. We lack nothing when God Himself qualifies us through Jesus Christ. Do you ever consider the inheritance that awaits us? The end of suffering. The intimate knowledge of God in face to face fellowship. The crown of righteousness. The ability to live in the way our new heart desires to live. I enjoy this life, but I can hardly wait to see Jesus. I can only imagine what that will be like until the day I experience it.
God has also delivered us from the domain of darkness. The word delivered here implies being rescued. Not to go off on a huge tangent, but not a lot of people who need to be rescued find their way out of situations. That’s what it means to need rescuing. God delivered us from the domain of darkness. We couldn’t see our way out and we weren’t even looking for a way out until God pursued us by His grace. Is it getting easier to rejoice and give thanks yet?
If it wasn’t enough that God rescued us, He also transfers us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He takes us out of the domain of darkness and sets us in the protection of the Kingdom of Christ. He doesn’t just rescue us. He adopts us. He makes us His own children and fellow heirs with His only Son, Jesus Christ.
Is anything more amazing than this? Is anything more worthy of our time than praising God and deepening our relationship with Him? He did more to pursue us than we can even fathom because He loves us so much. If God didn’t even spare His Son, how much of ourselves should we be giving to Him each and every day?
I come up short of giving God my all on a daily basis. However, there is nothing I desire to do more than to give Him my everything. By His grace, I am learning to do this more and more. It’s exciting. It’s refreshing and rejuvenating! It’s what I live for!
Rejoice and give thanks for God is good!
Colossians 1:11-14
In the opening verses of Colossians, Paul is telling the church of Colossae that he has not ceased to pray for them and give thanks to God for their faith since he first heard from Epaphras that they had received the Gospel. In the verses above, Paul is specifically praying for the Colossians to be given the power of God. I find Paul’s following elaboration extremely fascinating.
The first thing Paul explains is that the power is for all endurance and patience with joy. Whether we are enduring something or waiting for something, we should do it with joyful hearts. In Philippians, Paul charges us to rejoice in the Lord always (ch 4:4). In another verse in Philippians, Paul says that it is not at all troubling for him to say rejoice because he has no worries about doing so himself (ch 3:1). Paul isn’t the slightest bit burdened or uncertain of the command to rejoice because he has seen every trial and circumstance working towards his ultimate deliverance in Christ. How amazing! Lord, that we could all rejoice like the Apostle Paul!
Paul then says to give thanks to the Father. No matter what and in every circumstance, just as we are to rejoice, we are to give thanks to God. If it ever seems like giving thanks is difficult, keep reading and see exactly what God has done for us, and I promise it will become easier to give thanks and rejoice.
The first thing Paul says God has done for us is that He qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints. The word qualified literally means to be rendered fit or made sufficient. We lack nothing when God Himself qualifies us through Jesus Christ. Do you ever consider the inheritance that awaits us? The end of suffering. The intimate knowledge of God in face to face fellowship. The crown of righteousness. The ability to live in the way our new heart desires to live. I enjoy this life, but I can hardly wait to see Jesus. I can only imagine what that will be like until the day I experience it.
God has also delivered us from the domain of darkness. The word delivered here implies being rescued. Not to go off on a huge tangent, but not a lot of people who need to be rescued find their way out of situations. That’s what it means to need rescuing. God delivered us from the domain of darkness. We couldn’t see our way out and we weren’t even looking for a way out until God pursued us by His grace. Is it getting easier to rejoice and give thanks yet?
If it wasn’t enough that God rescued us, He also transfers us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He takes us out of the domain of darkness and sets us in the protection of the Kingdom of Christ. He doesn’t just rescue us. He adopts us. He makes us His own children and fellow heirs with His only Son, Jesus Christ.
Is anything more amazing than this? Is anything more worthy of our time than praising God and deepening our relationship with Him? He did more to pursue us than we can even fathom because He loves us so much. If God didn’t even spare His Son, how much of ourselves should we be giving to Him each and every day?
I come up short of giving God my all on a daily basis. However, there is nothing I desire to do more than to give Him my everything. By His grace, I am learning to do this more and more. It’s exciting. It’s refreshing and rejuvenating! It’s what I live for!
Rejoice and give thanks for God is good!
Comments
Post a Comment