Title: What We Should Save
Contents
What we must ask for (Colossians 1:9-12)
God has given us the privilege of prayer to overcome adversity, problems, and tribulation. But sometimes we forget the privilege of prayer and become weary and frustrated as we try to do it with our own knowledge and experience. In today's text, Paul is teaching us what is truly precious and valuable. Through his prayer, I hope that you will be able to pray that pleases God and use the privilege of prayer to solve your problems.
Ⅰ.Praying to know God’s will (9)
Generally, when we think of prayer, we think of asking God for what we want and receiving an answer. But Paul did not pray that way. First, he sought to know the will of God. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
① When we know God's will, we can please God in everything.
②When we come to know the will of God, we will bear fruit in every good work.
③ When we know God's will, we can grow in knowing God.
Ⅱ. Pray for strength with all power (11)
Paul's prayer prays that the Colossians may experience God's power beyond the knowledge of God, a life worthy of the Lord, and a fruitful life. Saints! Let's pray that we will not be rejoicing for a moment when we receive God's power, but that we will be victorious in the evil world by continuously receiving and enjoying God's power.
Endurance and long-suffering, these two refer to the saint's perfect patience. Obviously, “endure” and “long-suffering” are far from enjoyable. Nevertheless, to bear them with joy is precisely because of the power of God that comes after the “power of glory.” Therefore, there is a difference between the patience of the world and the patience of the saints. Pray that our members will be able to endure hardships with joy through the power of God. The promises of God are guaranteed even in the perseverance of perseverance.
Ⅲ. Pray for Thanksgiving (12)
The ultimate purpose of praying and seeking God's grace is to praise God (2 Corinthians 9:11~15, 4:5). This shows that our Christianity is a thoroughly God-centered, true religion. Paul himself was thankful, and now we pray that the Colossians will live a life of thanks as well. Just thinking about what God has prepared for sinners like me and for the unqualified, it is natural to be overflowing with gratitude. However, it is very natural to thank God for equipping us with the qualifications that are worthy of the enterprise he has prepared for us. Jesus prepares a place for us in heaven, and on earth he qualifies us by the Holy Spirit, which is a double grace for us (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Saints! Let's look back at our prayers. Do you not pray only for your own comfort, success, and success? Do you not pray only for solving your own problems? Now, like Paul, let us broaden our prayers and pray more maturely. Pray that we will know God's will well so that we can please God, bear good fruit, and be able to bear it. Pray that we will continue to receive God's grace, overcome hardships, and live a life of gratitude for giving a sinner like me the right to receive the inheritance.