Colossians 1:8-14
… he [Epaphras] has made known to us your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and m ay you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Paul could pray for anything for the church of Colossae. What does he choose to pray for? 1. That they may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 2. That they may be made strong with all the strength that comes from God’s glorious power. 3. That they may be prepared to endure everything with patience, in joyful thanksgiving. Why? Well there is only a reason given for the first prayer, and it is this: so that they may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.
It seems that what Paul wants for the church of Colossae is for them to “bear fruit in every good work” and to “grow in the knowledge of God” as this seems to be a description of what a life that is “worthy of the Lord” looks like. So ultimately he wants good fruit, and continued learning about God. This is consistent with the first of his prayers that they be “filled with the knowledge of God’s will.” It seems that Paul places value on learning, on information, on knowledge about God.
This leads to an interesting question: what is God’s will and how do we come to the knowledge of it? I point out this question because I think that it is a commonly asked one. It would be easy to read this verse and conclude that it is right for us to ask God to make known his will to us about our future, our careers, and the like. However, Paul puts a disclaimer on this prayer: “in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”. If this were the same as regular wisdom and understanding Paul never would have said anything. But he does, so it must be different.
…we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding
I think that it is a simple thing to seek to know God’s will with our minds. It is not a simple thing to know God’s will with our minds, but only to seek to know it. But to know God’s will with spiritual wisdom and understanding is something different. I don’t think I even really know what this is yet. I’m still learning, and making observations. I do think, however, that it has something to do with listening with the spirit and not with the mind. The mind seeks the to know God’s will for today and tomorrow and the future, but the spirit seeks to know God’s will in lifestyle, in heart.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend some time at the boardwalk across the marsh down in Mill Creek. It’s one of my favorite places to simply be. I was there with my friend Kevin and we took a bit of time to walk in quiet, learning to listen with our hearts. As we did that we were drawn to recognition of the incredible nature of God, of his absolute grace, and unfathomable patience, and his amazing love. From that place our hearts were drawn toward the unprotected, the innocent, the pure, and the effect this destructive world will have on them. Maybe that’s a little picture of what it means to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in spiritual wisdom and understanding. As we listened with our spirits we saw a little of the heart of God.
I don’t know if that is exactly what Paul meant as he prayed for the church in Colossae, but I do know the beauty of the heart of God when we stop and listen with our spirits instead of our ears and minds.
God, Maker of every good and perfect things.
Thank you for the beauty of your creation.
Thank you that you made everything, and decided to give us the senses to enjoy it all.
Thank you for sharing your heart and your will with us, your created things.
You truly are the Great One, the Master of All.
Thank you.