Qualified by Christ

Colossians 1:9-12

After applauding the church at Colossae for their good fruit, which brings glory to the Lord, He emphasizes how it is all possible.  I alluded to this in the last devotional, but Paul’s prayers for the church are for knowledge of God’s will and the wisdom and knowledge of how to act upon it.  Why is this so important?

I have been studying spiritual warfare for over 10 years now, and the number one key to success is understanding our identity as God’s children through the power of Jesus Christ’s sanctifying blood.  Now that Paul has expressed his gratitude for the church’s good Christian fruit, he is transitioning into the point of his letter.  He is calling them to a higher level.  He is essentially teaching them what some might already know.  But, as I say often (repeating what I heard a pastor say once), “Even Christians need to hear the Gospel again every once in a while.”  We must pay attention to the rest of this letter if we want to be successful in the daily Christian life!  We aren’t saved from hell (although that is a significant benefit of salvation), we are saved to expand God’s Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.  If we identify ourselves in Jesus Christ, then we need to learn how to act like it.  Look at what Paul writes in verse 10:

So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects.

Paul also writes in Philippians 2:12-13

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

But what does that mean exactly?  James 2 mentions that our faith without works is useless, using the faith and belief of the demons to exemplify that simply believing isn’t enough.  Now that we have been empowered to act on God’s behalf, if we don’t, we are wasting it!  This is where understanding our identity is crucial.  Our spiritual enemy wants to distract us from this part of salvation.  Sure, we might get into heaven one day when we die, but when we neglect to live in Christ’s authority here on earth, we continue to let Satan reign all around us.  This is foolish, isn’t it?  Why would we want to do that?  I don’t think we intentionally desire to allow him to reign in this world, but our passivity allows him to continue to incite destruction.  God has chosen to subdue the world and reign over it through us.  The question is: will we work to live into this purpose?

Consider what Jesus said to his 12 disciples as He was preparing them in John 14:

12 Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in me, the works that I am doing he will do also, and he will do greater works than these because I am going to the Father. 13 And ⌊whatever⌋ you ask in my name, I will do this, in order that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Have you ever considered yourself capable of not only doing what Christ did while on earth, but doing greater things than He did?  Some theologians speculate that Jesus was only talking about the original 12 disciples and that it meant starting the church and spreading it across the nations.  But Paul wasn’t one of the original disciples.  He never met Jesus in physical form.  He is also writing to the church at Colossae and telling them to do these greater things!  Look at Colossians 1:11.  This message is for them, and you!  

As we continue to grow in the knowledge of who God is and who we are because of Him, we must seek wisdom for how He wants us to wield this power.  As the letter to this church continues, we will learn the details of how this works in our daily life.  For now, seek God’s knowledge and pray for wisdom.