I was ill last week, so I missed the bible study last week.
Colossians 1:24-29, 2:1-5
Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:24-29 NIV)
Colossians 2
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. (Colossians 2:1-5 NIV)
Why is Paul concerned? Because comfort, wealth, and ease start taking over life. these things will make us (Our Hearts) proud. This can cause us to forget our Lord. It might even cause us to ask “Who is The Lord” What happens to our faith when we have it all? Can you see why Paul is concerned? Paul was willing to suffer for the church, to keep it on track. He looked at this as a privilege. Question to ask your self: What is suffering to you, and to what point are you willing to suffer? For every one, the answers will be different.
Think also, the purity of God, the wholeness, the Holiness of God. And he wants to infuse that of him in us. Wow. To think of God all pure, perfect, without imperfection, and he wants to take his perfectness and infuse that into us.
Do you feel your walk is staggered? Where is your focus? Is it right in front of you? Maybe it’s that we need to look to Christ, and walk with Him, in fact lean on Him.
Feeling like you can’t do this alone? Paul says in chapter 2 that we need each other, that its together our walk will be stronger. It’s together we can encourage one another. I can look back in my own walk and see when I walked alone, I would fail, but when I walk with the fellowship of others, my walk may not be easier, but it will be stronger.
We have to push away the pull of God to do wrong
Paul tells us this so we are not deceived.
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