Colossians 2:1-7
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.[NASB1995®]
As we read this passage there are several things that can catch our attention and help us understand what Paul is conveying.
Paul’s love: the brothers do not know him, they have never seen him in person, nor does Paul know them (only Epaphras), but there is a genuine, passionate love that cares for them, in the same way that a father would He worries about a son who is far away, and who he knows is going through a difficult time. Paul’s relationship with the Colossians is not blood but spiritual, they are from the family of Christ.
The danger that the Colossians run: the brothers were in danger of being deceived by strange philosophies, but the greater risk was that those philosophies clouded their understanding to the knowledge of Christ (in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden) .
Be firm in Him: for them, as for us today, there was only one way to avoid being victims of those who tried to deceive them with persuasive reasoning, only one way to remain firm in the Truth. And it was (and is) to be grounded, rooted and affirmed in the One who is the Eternal Immovable Rock!
God bless us for each day to fix our eyes on Jesus!
Scripture quotation taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
