After commending the church
members in Colosse, Paul the apostle wrote to them concerning his
prayer and desire that they be “filled with the knowledge” of
God's “will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding”. He
also prayed that they “might walk worthy of the Lord” in
everything they do, “be fruitful in every good work, and
increasing in the knowledge of God”. In
chapter one and verse eleven of his letter to the Colossians, Paul
continued his prayer by writing about strength, patience and
longsuffering. We read:
Strengthened with all
might, according to his glorious power,
unto all patience and
longsuffering with joyfulness;
The verse begins,
“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,...”
Paul prayed that the Colossians would be “strengthened”
or “made strong and confirmed” “with all might”
which means “inherent power,
power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person
or thing exerts and puts forth.” It further means “moral power
and excellence of soul”, and let us note the measure in which this
strength is to be fashioned “according to his glorious
power” or “force, strength,
and might. It infers “one mighty with great power, a mighty
deed, a work of power and dominion”. No doubt being “strengthened”
was an important characteristic which was to be found with the church
members in Colosse, and it was only through God's “glorious
power” that they would receive it.
The verse continues, “...unto
all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”
In addition to being “strengthened”
Paul added “unto all patience”
which means “steadfastness, constancy, endurance, sustaining, and
perseverance”, “and longsuffering”
or “forbearance, slowness in avenging wrongs” “with
joyfulness” or “gladness,
the cause or occasion of joy, of persons who are one's joy”.
In other words, the Colossians were to be people who were very
patient with one another and the circumstances within which they
found themselves, and they were to be so with great joy and gladness
within their souls.
As we consider Paul's words
in this portion of his prayer, we may all be challenged. How strong
are we in the faith? Are we patient with others and our situations,
and are we longsuffering and forbearing with people and circumstances
we encounter? The greatest part of this verse is these attributes can
be obtained “according to his glorious
power”. If we try to develop these traits on our own, we are
sure to be limited. However, when we factor the Lord Jesus into the
equation, we will learn to be strengthened, patient and longsuffering
in a manner that is pleasing to Him. May the Lord have the freedom to
engage us fully as He develops his characteristics within our lives.
Next
time Paul will talk about giving thanks and being partakers of the
inheritance,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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