A Prayer to Stand Firm in Faith
A. Paul's three prayers for the Colossians (9-12)
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may 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 so that you may have great endurance and patience,
and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (9-12)
B. God, Jesus, and the Church
1) God and Jesus (13-17)
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. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (13-17)
2) Jesus and us (18-22)
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- (18-22)
3) We must not abandon the hope of the gospel (23)
if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (23)
Summary
Not striving to know God at an ever deeper level, not persevering in suffering, and not being grateful for God's grace puts our faith at risk. This happens when we turn away from the hope that is offered through the gospel. Even though we have been forgiven, we still struggle with our sinful nature. False teachings contrary to the gospel and false teachers were a problem in the Colossian church. We need to pray for one another so that we are not tempted in a similar way. For our own growth, we should pray as well as spend time getting to know Jesus better.
For Discussion
1) How are we encouraged to pray for one another?
2) What is the hope of the gospel?