What am I willing to give up for the Kingdom of God?
Paul is in prison, probably taunted and beaten by the guard. He was in prison in Rome, which was never a nice place for a Christian to be imprisoned. Paul went through many different challenges and trials (2 Corinthians 11 v 23-29), but he writes in the book of Romans 5 v 1-5..." 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Paul saw these testing times as an opportunity to take them for the sake of the body of the church.
Colossians 1 v 24 - 2 v 5
Paul starts this passage by announcing his gladness at his suffering. He then states his job to bring the Good News which is where he could have left it and kept the job for himself, but I believe Paul believed in empowering others. He tells the Colossians they too can take the Good News because Christ lives in them. Paul gives them the opportunity and responsibility to share the mystery of the bible reveled to him and them by God. When Paul is giving them the this responsibility, which is the same as his - I wonder if they clicked at first because taking that responsibility meant that they would have to go through tough trials like Paul and keep focused on God. Paul was empowering them with a great responsibility!
Paul goes on to talk about discipling people in the church so they could be mature in their faith and relationship with Christ. Paul teaches us to use all wisdom to disciple people in a way that matures them and doesn't leave them with a shallow faith.
What kind of people am I reproducing?
Colosse was next to Laodicea, Laodicea being the luke-warm church in the letters to the churches in Revelation. Paul is encouraging the churches to come together to build a strong foundation in the Love of God. Their faith is strong but because they don't fully understand Jesus it isn't fully rooted in love. It is easy to judge the churches in the bible but actually the Holy Spirit was doing amazing things through them and they were pioneering the faith so they would come up against resistance and problems.
Paul was willing to go through suffering, give up an easy life for the body of Christ. How much am I willing to give up to build the Kingdom of God?
No comments:
Post a Comment