Colossians 1:9-14

Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  We are filthy in our sins and can do nothing to bridge the gap between God and ourselves.  We can do nothing to even contribute to our salvation.  We stand in holiness before God only because of Jesus' atoning blood on the cross.  As a redeemed child of God, however, we now need to also grow in practical holiness in our lives.  In our Scripture passage today, Paul prayed for the Colossian Christians.  Paul prayed for practical holiness in their lives.  Paul's prayer in Colossians 1:9-14 is a beautiful example of the type of prayer we should pray for ourselves and for others.

Paul prayed that the Colossian believers would be filled with the knowledge of God's will and purpose.  Paul's prayer was that their understanding of God's will and purpose for them according to Colossians 1:9b would come through God's "spiritual wisdom and understanding."  Godly knowledge must not just be a possession of facts.  Rather, Godly knowledge involves a practical change in our lives.  Godly knowledge results in a change in our attitudes.  Godly knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in our lives involves our giving up our selfish "me" centered attitudes and being clothed with Christ-like attitudes.

Godly knowledge also involves Christ-like actions in our lives.  Paul continued to pray for the Colossian believers in Colossians 1:10-11. Paul prayed that they would "live a life worthy of the Lord" and that would "please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might."

This must be our prayer and passion also!  Our lives must be lived not for ourselves, but for the glory of God.  This is the purpose for which we were created.  Our lives must show spiritual fruit and evidence that we belong to the Lord.  The only way this can happen is if we are "growing in the knowledge of God."  We can only live for the Lord if we are immersing ourselves in His Holy Word, and we are seeking the Lord and His will with all our hearts.  Our lives can only be lived for the Lord through His power residing in us.  As believers we have in our possession the Lord's resurrection power in us!  This resurrection power gives us the potential and power to live for the Lord!  As believers, however, we must make the conscious and willing choice to walk in Christ-like attitudes and actions.

Paul also prayed that the Colossian believers would be strengthened with God's power and might, so that they according to Colossians 1:11b would "have great endurance and patience."  God's power in us is sufficient for us to prevail in patience even during those very difficult times in our lives.  We have God's power in us to not only endure these difficult times with gritted teeth, but we can even go through these times with a joyful and thankful heart.  We can in all things have hearts filled with praise, because we belong to the Lord for time and eternity!

Colossians 1:12b-14 reminds us that as children of God we "share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."  Jesus Christ has rescued us from the "dominion of darkness" and sin. Christ has delivered us from Satan's kingdom to His kingdom of righteousness.  He has done this for a purpose, however, and that purpose is so we can live as trophies of His grace and for His glory.  God has given us His resurrection power to live for Him.  It must be our choice and responsibility, however, to resist sin and the devil and to pursue His holiness and His will in our lives.  May it be our consuming passion to live for the Lord!  May it be our consuming passion to grow in practical holiness in our lives!