The apostle Paul began his letter to the saints in Colosse by mentioning his avid intercession on their behalf (cf. 1:3). Before detailing the prayer, he explained the reason he prayed for them (cf. 1:4-8). Having heard of their faithfulness in Christ after the preaching of the word by Epaphras, he continually thanked God, and asked for their spiritual well-being. This was something Paul customarily did, as should we. Our spiritual needs outweigh our physical, and as such, so should our spiritual petitions outweigh our physical. This is how Paul lived – with every intention to glorify God, and strengthen the saints. The content of this prayer is rich with teaching and encouragement; it is beneficial to examine.

While Paul made mention of the prayer in verse 3, it is not until verse 9 that he gave the outline of his continual prayer on their behalf. His request to God is as follows: “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him” (1:9-10a). His desire for the Colossian saints is for their pleasing the Lord. The Christian’s goal should be to walk worth of his calling (cf. Ephesians 4:1). Pleasing the Lord should be the height of our concern, and the depth of our purpose. In order for this to be accomplished we must know His will! The man whose will supersedes that of His heavenly Father will fail miserably. Christ Jesus created us for walking in good works (cf. Ephesians 2:10), and we are thoroughly equipped to do so by allowing ourselves to be enveloped in His word (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The manifestation of such “worthy walking”, and “fully pleasing” is mentioned by Paul in four points. Firstly, that they are “fruitful in every good work” (1:10). Such is the purpose of our spiritual birth – we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). This concept is so emphasized in scripture that “to him who knows to do good and does not do it…it is sin” (James 4:17). Negligence to bear the fruit of good works defeats our very purpose – by walking in good works we glorify God (cf. John 15:8). For this reason, we must work while it is still day (cf. John 9:1-5).

In order to bear fruit to God we must know what it is that He desires. It is this which led Paul to his second point concerning their pleasing God – “and increasing in the knowledge of God” (1:10). “God prepared [good works] beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10), and has ensured our knowledge of them by revelation. What is a good work? “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12), but by increasing in the knowledge of God, and “by reason of use [we have our] senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). We cannot know unless we give diligence in study (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15).

Thirdly, Paul requested that they be “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” (1:11). In striving to bear fruit, the Christian is burdened with the reality of warfare – “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:17). During this war we are strengthened with spiritual armor (cf. Ephesians 6:10-17), and in this text, the knowledge of God. Such strength is derived from faith, and promotes “patience and longsuffering.” The faith we have in Christ and His promises produces joy. Even, and especially, in the midst of suffering and hardship. Such strength from faith allowed people of God amazing triumph (cf. Hebrews 11:33-34).

Last in the list, Paul mentioned his desire for their “giving thanks to the Father” (1:12). We are not simply required by the Preeminent One to do His will, but to “[give] thanks to God the Father through Him” (3:17). He is overwhelmingly worthy as He has “qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (1:12-14). Those who understand the magnitude of such grace bestowed upon them by God cannot help but burst forth with the giving of thanks. Those who neglect to be thankful do not fully understand the depths of His love on a personal level (cf. Ephesians 3:14-19).

May we all have the presence of mind to offer such a prayer on behalf of one another as Paul did for the Colossian saints! May we all seek to grow as he described, and “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him” (1:10)!