Colossians 1:24-26

Colossians 1:24-26

I now rejoice in the suffering for your sake and I am filling up the missing essentials in the persecutions of Christ in my body for the sake of His body, which is the church.  Of which I became a servant according to the plan of God that was being given to me into you to fulfill the word of God – the mystery that has been hidden from the ages and the generations but now it was being revealed to His holy ones.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul rejoices in his sufferings.  I believe there are two reasons that he rejoices.  First of all, Christ suffered for the sake of His disciples.  When we suffer for the sake of others, we get to taste the sacrificial love of Christ.  Second, there is the example.  Paul rejoices because as he suffers he is putting a model of faith on display for others to see.  The reality is that suffering will come.  We will all face trials and tribulations.  When we encounter trials and tribulations and persevere, we demonstrate to others that they can persevere in their trials and tribulations, too.

What is your normal attitude to trials and suffering?  When are you likely to be able to sustain a good attitude through it?

Second Thought:

The middle of this passage gives us a fairly complicated way of expressing Paul’s purpose.  He became a servant of the Gospel in order that the Word of God should be fulfilled in the Gentiles.  What does it mean that the Word of God should be fulfilled?  Simply, God’s promise is to be proclaimed.  People need to hear about God’s generous offer of salvation.  People need to be invited into belief.  Of course some will accept and some will reject.  But the fulfillment of the Word is that the Gentiles will hear and have an opportunity to come to God and be in relationship with Him.

Are you are part of this process?  How can you help fulfill the Word of God in your part of the world?

Third Thought:

 The core of Paul’s message is the “mystery.”  We must be careful how we interpret this word.  Mystery can mean “a secret to which only a few people have access.”  Mystery can also mean “something that was unknown but is now revealed.  For example, for most of human history sickness was a mystery because people didn’t understand germs and microscopic organisms.  Today, most people have at least a rudimentary understanding of why people get sick.  That’s why most of us know to wash our hands or use hand sanitizer.  This is also what Paul means when he talks about the mystery of God.  Paul isn’t saying that there is some special hidden knowledge that only the right people can access.  Paul is saying that prior to Christ the manner through which God was going to save the world was a mystery.  But now in Christ we know!  We can spread the truth about what once was a mystery.

Do you understand the mystery of Christ?  Can you tell others about the mystery of Christ?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 1:27-29