2:1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other friends who have never known me personally.
Paul is working for the church and for believers he has never met. I am struck by the fact that he continuously, tirelessly works with all his might for people he does not know. He knows them through their communion with Christ and the good news. We indeed are brothers and sisters through Christ.
2:2 My goal is that they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God’s secret plan, which is Christ himself.
Paul’s purpose if for the people to have a full understanding of Christ and be united with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ’s plan. Paul wanted each Christian to be mature (1:28). But he also wanted each church to be mature. In 1:4, Paul had already praised the Christians at Colossae because they loved other Christians. This united them. They also needed to know and to believe the complete truth about Christ. They did not need the secret knowledge and wisdom that the false teachers had. Christ gives to Christians all that they need. This should encourage them, as they trust Christ.
2:3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
In Christ lie everything that we needed to know, all the wisdom, knowledge and power. I wish sometimes that I could have been one of the believers back then to sit and look upon Christ’s face. I know that someday I will look upon his face and see all of that wisdom and knowledge; we will truly know our savior one day. This is an amazing thing to hope and wait for!!! I can’t wait to have all those questions answered and completely understand the mystery of this world and humanity.
2:4 I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments.
When a person knows the truth, he will recognize lies. And he will recognize anything that is false. The false teachers were clever in the way that they discussed things. They could reason well. They wanted to persuade people. They wanted people to believe them. Therefore, the Christians at Colossae had to know more truth about Christ. Then they could recognize what was false.
2:5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I am very happy because you are living as you should and because of your strong faith in Christ.
What a encouragement from Paul. He loves them and his heart is with them. And the people in Colossae were standing firm in their strong faith. Paul’s letter is like a pep talk for this church, a gentle reminder of the truth while all around them false teachers were preaching false doctrine, trying to lead them astray.
I love your prayer that we would be filled up! Each time we write to each other, it's like a pep talk. It's fun to be doing something Paul did, even if it's just the two of us right now. Our encouragement of each other will affect our families and those whose lives our families touch. I am in awe of Him and how He brought us back together at yet another time of transition. Remember last time, how much I was struggling with loving and respecting my husband, how I couldn't be nice to him in public. Now, I can't even imagine speaking ill of him in front of someone else! Our prayers are powerful and effective. And you guys came home from the DR earlier than you planned because we prayed. We are going to see God move and act on our behalf again as we come together in prayer and study once again. ~Angela
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