Colossians 1:9-14 New International Version (NIV) 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Paul is telling the Colossians that he has never quit praying for them. But that should be our call as well. We are called to pray for each other-the ones we like, as well as the ones that we may not care so much for. The “jerk” that cut us off on the highway. We should pray for him that he should slow down and enjoy this beautiful world that God has provided and that God should bless him. God may be calling that particular person to our attention to inspire a prayer for him. Then we should pray for ourselves and ask for forgiveness for calling this child of God a “jerk”.
Paul is telling the Colossians and us that we should continually, without stopping, ongoing pray “that you/I may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Paul doesn’t tell us to pray once asking for God’s will to be done. No he says we should see every event and every person as an invitation to pray.
Paul is also telling us to “ have great endurance and patience”. Great- there’s that P word again. Anyone that knows me knows that patience is definitely not one of my virtues. But Paul is telling us to continually pray that God’s will be done. We always want to know what God’s will is today, if not yesterday. But Paul says to endure & be patient for God’s will to be done. As Pastor said on Sunday, “if we are told to pray “come” then God’s reign is not here yet or at least not fully.” So maybe there is a reason to be patient!
Jesus really wants us to be a child of God. He really wants us in his kingdom. By giving His life to save mine/ours, He has paved the way to get into His kingdom. As Paul says above, by “giving joyful thanks to the Father, it has qualified us to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light.” All that I/we need to do to enter into His kingdom is to pray with endurance and patience and give joyful thanks to the Father.
Paul has given the recipe, now it’s up to me to follow it. Will you follow with me?
Lord, teach me the secret of ongoing prayer. Please give me the endurance and patience to pray for others and to give thanks to You. Help me to see every event and every person in my life as an invitation to pray. Amen
Jerry