Colossians 1:9-14

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Scripture Colossians 1:9-14

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. [1]

Devotion

            Paul prays for the church at Colossae. He asks that they may know his will and be filled with wisdom from God and understanding in spiritual things. This is so they will not be tempted to follow the false teachers that were telling them they had to live and believe in things that God had not asked them to do. “Paul prays for believers who are doing well. He asks that they continue in the process of growth. The focus of much prayer is on those who are struggling and not doing well. While those are good prayers, Paul reminds us of the need to pray for those who are doing well since they are prime targets for enemy attacks. Many of our prayers ask for immediate relief from circumstantial or personal difficulties. While some of these prayers are good, Paul wants us to include prayers for spiritual growth and long-term development.[2]”

            Next, Paul asks that the church behave in a manner worthy of the Lord. Knowing God’s will and doing it. Not giving up hope when faced with adversity. Enduring hardships and being patient with one another and with their unbelieving neighbors rather than getting angry with them. Paul asks for them to bear the fruit of the spirit in all ways. Being completely given over to good works that all may see and praise God. Being filled with the Spirit means being controlled by Him. The Colossians are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and are to be increasing in their love for the Lord as they grow to know him better and better. “If pleasing God is the goal, how do we achieve it? Paul spells that out very clearly in verses 10–12. By bearing fruit, growing in knowledge, being strengthened for adversity, and giving thanks for salvation, we please God.[3]”

            In verse 11 Paul asks God to strengthen the church will all power so that they might be made strong for endurance and patience and to do it all with supernatural joy. It would be impossible to do this in their own strength, so Paul asks God to supply what the Colossians need. God may do this all at once or over time as a person recovering from sickness gets stronger over time. So, the Colossians are to get stronger in the Lord over time.

            “Finally, believers please God when they are joyfully giving thanks to the Father for the blessings of salvation. Just as Paul was clear to spell out specific means to please God, he is equally clear about the blessings of salvation for which we are to give thanks. This time we are given a list of three: God qualified us, rescued us (v. 13), and brought us into a new kingdom (v. 13).”[4] The Colossians had been qualified by their faith in Christ and rescued from the darkness of this world, therefore they could enter into God’s kingdom of light.

            A kingdom where their sins though many would be forgiven, and they would be redeemed from their previous state of spiritual darkness. So, we ought to live in this same way. Hoping in Christ for salvation and eternal life in the Son. Our lives should be lived in the strength of the Lord and we should be filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit. So, that we might be a living example to the world around us of the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ.


[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 1:9–14.
[2] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 280.
[3] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 281.
[4] Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 282.

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