Day 303: A pastor's labours – Colossians 1 vs 24 – 2 vs 5

24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.  25-26 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.  For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. 27 And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. 28 So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.  29 That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

Chapter 2 vs 1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2-3 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.  In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4-5 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. Colossians 1:24 - 2:5 New Living Translation's paraphrase (English Standard Version link)

What does verse 24, and verse 1 of Chapter 2, tell us about the life the apostle Paul was living?

He obviously went through some very hard times. We know from the book of Acts and from his other letters that he had been mocked, stoned, beaten, shipwrecked and imprisoned. Certainly not the self indulgent lifestyle so many Television 'ministers' live today. Yet how did he view all these sufferings (vs 24) and why did he willingly put up with them? (vs 25-26)

He saw the hard times he went through as part of Jesus' sufferings for the Church. (Paul himself had once been a persecutor of Christians, and when Jesus came to him in a vision Jesus had said to him 'why are you persecuting me?') Christ feels the anguish Christians go through. And the reason Paul endured his sufferings was because he was entrusted with the marvellous message of telling non Jewish people how they too were welcome into God's Kingdom.

What was Paul's purpose in going to different Churches and writing letters to others? (vs 28 and Chapter 2 vs 2-3)

He wanted to increase their knowledge and understanding of all that God has done for them in Christ, and to strengthen their faith, and to stimulate their love for one another. No wonder he says in vs 29: “That’s why I work and struggle so hard - and I lean on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.”

What was at the very centre of Paul's message, and the message of every faithful pastor and missionary who've served Jesus Christ since Paul's time? (vs 27)

It’s the wonderful truth that Jesus Christ lives within every one who turns from sin and believes the gospel message. And, because Christ is in the believer, they know for sure that they will share in His glory. They enjoy new life now, and they will share in the resurrection when He returns.

Most of us don't know just how much suffering the apostles of old, and missionaries ever since, went through as they took God's message into the world. It's only as we read biographies that we learn of some who were burned on stakes, murdered by cannibals, or cast into prisons. But they laboured in love. Love for Christ, and love for His Church. Oh may we never take for granted the good news that God brought to us through His servants, and the sufferings they endured for the sake of Christ.