In the letter to the church at Colossae, Paul reveals several truths about the gospel of Christ. We are partakers of a heavenly inheritance through the work Christ did on the cross. He qualified us, rescued us, and reconciled us to present us to the Father as a pure vessel. When we fully and at last realize our sins are forgiven, we are guiltless, we stand spotless in Him then we can rejoice. We can see His light through the dust storm and approach Him without shame or fear that He will dismiss us or rebuke us for coming to Him.
As we believe in Him and the hope held out in the gospel, we can bear fruit throughout the world, come to know Him even more, and take on His strength no matter what the circumstance looks like. Let us cast all of our care upon Him and know renew our minds with the thought: I am forgiven, I can feel His pleasure in my daily tasks, and I can operate in His strength in whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. This knowledge is a game changer. It changes how we see each day, each task, each person – when we know we are accepted in Christ then we can pour that same awe inspiring love out for it will overflow from within us. We will no longer be bound by measuring out what we will give to others in our efforts or love – for all we do we understand is done unto Him. With thankful hearts, let us press on in all patience and endurance fully knowing we are loved by the Lord. Let Him direct our steps and seek His knowledge and wisdom for every task – in doing this we will be in awe at what He creates through us.
How lovely is My bride, I have washed you, cleaned you, and purified you with My blood. I make you whole and knew and raise you up to perform every good work. Yes, your fruit will go into all the nations, for these have need of seeing Me and coming in to My light. I have made you to stand, so stand firm in My strength.
Do not be compassed about with the trivialities of the world that drag you down, for My hope inspires. It does not cast down or insight dread, for these are the works of the enemy. Stay your mind on Me so that My light can shine through you and all these things that swirl about your feet, the dust, smoke, and mire twist around you as a tornado surrounding you on every front, for when you look around all you see are the murky, swirling winds.
Overcome these in Me. How? By resting in Me, by trusting in Me, by putting forth your efforts in Me. The world reasons the only way to overcome these is to fix each one, but My love some are tasks and others are spiritual forces. I will give you wisdom and knowledge to know how to handle the tasks and I will make you to stand over the spiritual forces. I give you authority over these, only be very careful to speak and act as I release you and prompt you to move.
Do not try to fight these in your own strength or even clear your name with the dust that surround sit. I will shine brightly upon you and these will see that you are My vessel, fit for My uses. I call you out of the crowd, for you have put your hope in Me. I call you out to walk with Me and not in the ways of the world. Rejoice and be thankful for all you see Me doing and even in what I do in the invisible.
I love you, I beautify you, just be at ease in Me, for here in My peace My flow gushes out and pours on all those around you. Let this flow be continual by keeping your mind stayed on Me. When you look at the dust storm – the flow is hindered. Walk in a way unknown to man, rejoicing even though circumstances do not show a place of ease and comfort – I have overcome the world and you are seated in Me. You are to overcome by standing in Me. Be at ease and just listen to My promptings, I will tell you which way to go.
Even here I will not only give you wisdom and knowledge to know how to do each task, but I will anoint the works of your hands. I will also bring those in your path that I need to pour into – as you focus on Me you are free to pour and recognize what I show you. I need your focus on Me rather than the dust storm.
- “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people – the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world – just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” Colossians 1:3-23
- “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3
- “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:12-17