Colossians 1:9 says, For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; Paul said that since they heard about the faithfulness of the followers of Christ at Colosse that they had not ceased to pray for them, and to desire that they might be filled with the knowledge of God with all wisdom and understanding. We need to pray for this today for our fellow believers and for us ourself. Knowledge and wisdom come only from God,and we cannot attain it if we do not put our faith in Jesus Christ. Verse ten adds, That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Paul said they prayed for them so that they might be fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. He did not pray that they would become richer in the material things of this world, but in the heavenly things of God. We need to pray today, not for material blessings, but for an increase in God's kingdom and our faithfulness in working for that purpose. Verse eleven continues, Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Paul prayed for them to be strengthened with all the might of God according to His glorious power, so that they would have patience as they endured long-suffering with joyfulness. Too often, as Christians, if the least little thing goes wrong in life, we begin to question God and whine about it. We need to bear the problems of this life with faith and long-suffering instead. Verse twelve states, Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: As Paul told the people at Colosse, we need to give thanks to our heavenly Father Who has made us worthy to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints of light by our faith in Jesus Christ. Verse thirteen adds, Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: This is what accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord did for the people then and is what it still does for us today. We are delivered from the power of sin and darkness and translated into to the kingdom of Christ. This is not something we can do for ourselves, but is something that God did for us when Jesus Christ died for our sins. Verse fourteen continues, In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Paul said that redemption from sin and restoration with God comes through the blood of Jesus that He shed willingly on the cross for our sins. There is no other way to salvation. Verse fifteen declares, Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: Paul said that Jesus was the image of the invisible God, and the first born of every creature. Jesus was not the physical image of God but the spiritual image, and He is also the Creator of all things and the first born in redemption. Verse sixteen adds, For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Paul further explains that Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things. We need to always acknowledge the power of Christ. Verse seventeen continues, And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Paul declared that Jesus Christ, though He had recently come to earth as a man was the eternal Son of God, existing before all things and making all things. Verse eighteen states, And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Paul said that Jesus is the head of the church, those who put their faith in Him, and He is the firstborn from the dead so that He could have dominion over death. Death came into the world because of disobedience of man to God, and the dominion of spiritual death was defeated by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross to atone for our sins. Verse nineteen adds, For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; Paul said the heavenly Father gave all fulness of the Gospel to the Son, Jesus Christ. Verse twenty adds, And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Paul then said all things on earth or in heaven are reconciled by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. If we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord, then we can be at peace with God. He has died for our sins, and we are called to die to all the things of this world when we put our faith in Him.
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