The Kingdom of God's Beloved Son

What the Prophets Foretold
Jesus and the Davidic Covenant
A Messianic Priest-King

Colossians 1:9-14

The Message

^9-12 Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
^13-14 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.

 
For Reflection

Paul prays for the church as we should pray for the church.  The church of Paul's time is not the church of our time.  The church has evolved and is evolving. It is not a static institution.  Reformation is the constant both in the church and in the lives of the faithful.  There must be a reason for what some researchers are calling a world- wide decline of religiosity.  Some suggest that God is preparing us for reformation.  I am not disturbed by the arguments that seem to divide the church.  On the contrary, I am encouraged by it. God will "rescue us from dead end alleys and dark dungeons."

 

Pray

for the church universal.  Pray that conflict will lead to change where God wills change.  Pray that you will be encouraged by evolution toward the Kingdom of God.