PAUL’S LABOR FOR THE CHURCH

Passage: Colossians 1:24-2:5

Key verse: 1:28

NIV

Paul’s Labor for the Church

24 Now I rejoice(A) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,(B) for the sake of his body, which is the church.(C) 25 I have become its servant(D) by the commission God gave me(E) to present to you the word of God(F) in its fullness— 26 the mystery(G) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known(H) among the Gentiles the glorious riches(I) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,(J) the hope of glory.

28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing(K) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,(L) so that we may present everyone fully mature(M) in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously(N) contend(O) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.(P)

2 I want you to know how hard I am contending(Q) for you and for those at Laodicea,(R) and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart(S) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery(T) of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(U) 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.(V) 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit(W) and delight to see how disciplined(X) you are and how firm(Y) your faith in Christ(Z) is.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paul's Ministry to the Church

24 Now (A)I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh (B)I am filling up (C)what is lacking in Christ's afflictions (D)for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 (E)of which I became a minister according to (F)the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 (G)the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 (H)To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are (I)the riches of the glory of (J)this mystery, which is Christ in you, (K)the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that (L)we may present everyone (M)mature in Christ. 29 For this (N)I toil, (O)struggling (P)with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

2 For I want you to know (Q)how great a (R)struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that (S)their hearts may be encouraged, being (T)knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of (U)God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 (V)in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order (W)that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For (X)though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your (Y)good order and (Z)the firmness of your faith in Christ.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul endured many hardships, yet he found joy in them because they were for the sake of the church. Despite all he faced, he remained aware that his trials did not compare to what Christ endured in His body. Paul understood that his mission involved bearing these burdens for the church. Paul was called to suffer for the church (Acts 9:16). God commissioned Paul to spread the gospel to the Gentiles, and he presented the gospel to them just as God had told him. Paul called the gospel the mystery “kept hidden for ages but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.” (26) This mystery is Christ in us, our hope of glory. In Christ is all wisdom so that we may become fully mature. Paul worked very hard to make sure this gospel was spread to the ends of the earth.

Paul labored incessantly for God’s people in Colossae and Laodicea, even though he had never met them. His goal in his labor was that they may be encouraged in their hearts and united in love. In this way, they would come to know the mystery of God, who is Christ. While it may be tempting to some to seek out wisdom and knowledge from false teachers who promise many things, we have Christ which is the embodiment of all wisdom and knowledge.

Prayer: Father, help us to avoid all false teachings and cling to the wisdom found only in Christ.

One Word: Jesus is the one we proclaim