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Bible Month – Colossians – Wisdom & Understanding

‘For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.

I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments.

For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.’
(Colossians 2 v. 1 – 5)

And so, Paul
– contends / struggles in prayer for these early churches
– prays for ‘strengthened hearts’ (courageous hearts) and uniting love – great goals / aims for us in our prayers for life in church
– longs for the church to grasp that Jesus, Himself, is the mystery / the hidden treasure from whom flows all wisdom and understanding – Paul has found the treasure map, and is longing to lead others to find the treasure!
– wants to protect the young church from plausible deceptions
– is one with them ‘in spirit’, overflowing with thankfulness for their strength of faith ‘in Christ’.

So, we PRAY:

Strength us, Lord,
with courageous hearts
and a divine, uniting love
that we may remain faithful to You
and strong for one another.
May we discover, all the more
that You ARE our treasure,
the source of all wisdom and understanding,
peace and joy,
security and love.
And may we invite others to discover this treasure, too.
In Christ, and for Christ, alone.
AMEN.