Colossians 2:1-5
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face… (v. 1) I had a strange thought here, hearkening back to John 17:20, one verse in Jesus’ “high priestly prayer”: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word… Most of us have probably read or heard that in this verse Jesus is praying directly for us. So I wondered in the first verse of today’s reading whether we are included among those who have not seen Paul “face to face”. Might he still be in heaven the fervent missionary that he was here on earth? Might he still be praying for each and every one of us who reads his letters? Yeah, a strange thought…
Whether that’s the case or not that Paul is “struggling” for us, either way, for those who have not seen him face to face he asks that …their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (vv. 2-3) Is Paul saying here that only when we are “knit together in love” that we can attain to “all the riches” and the “full assurance” of understanding and knowledge of Christ? I fully believe that my faith has certainly been strengthened by my being solidly planted in our church body and in other similar bodies prior to St. Andrew’s. And to repeat a refrain from my post yesterday, I fully believe that my knowledge, understanding, and wisdom have all increased by being a part of all of you. We simply can’t do this alone, folks. We need each other!
Slava Bohu!
Apparently, the false teaching in Colossae and Laodicea involved gnosticism, which says there is secret knowledge that some don’t get, and that Christ was not fully human. Col 1:26, 2:6-7 talk about Christ as the mystery, “in you the hope of glory” and “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. There isn’t another secret. Just Christ! That’s enough theology for me – stick to Christ, follow Him, listen, learn, and act, to become more like Him. Thanks be to God for keeping it simple for me!
You’re really good with the “me” applications, Debbie. You get us personal and your comments touch our hearts. Me, I’m more in a different world: “Just the facts, ma’am, just the facts.” (Sergeant Joe Friday, Dragnet)
Amen, Debbie and Fred!
And yes, Debbie—I am totally happy and secure in simply sticking to Christ and keeping it simple!