“My purpose 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.”
Colossians 2:2
This is a verse to live by, one that is so easily
memorized and put to good use. This is a verse that God can recall from your
heart over and over as the answer to many situations. This is Paul’s statement of
purpose to the people of Colosse and Laodicea but it can easily be ours as
well.
After reading the verse, highlighting it, and decided to
memorize it- it started sinking in how many modern issues Christians face today
which can be aided by this verse. Our
purpose is so that they may be encouraged in heart. Paul is contextually
talking about member of the church body as the “they” and we should strive to
keep the teaching in context. Our purpose is to encourage in heart and unite
in love all those who know Jesus. Help them to come to complete
understanding of the knowledge and mystery of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A few verses earlier at the end of Chapter 1 (Col.
1:28-29) Paul says, “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with
all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I
labor, struggling with all his
energy, which so powerfully works in me.” What an amazing realization to have;
that we are to struggle with all his
energy in order to help believers come to the full knowledge of who God is.
Another way to apply this verse is when thinking about those who haven’t come to know Jesus as their savior. What if we put those people groups in as the “they”. I’m not taking the teaching out of context; I’m simply using the lesson learned and applying it to my whole life. My purpose is that they (all people) may be encouraged in heart and united in love. When we respond to the LGBT community or those believing in false religion, with encouragement and love, it can be the bridge that units us. Showing love: a sense of peace in the absence of judgment. Who are we to judge? Who are we to convict? Our job is to love, only. We are to love people to Jesus. Many know John 3:16, but not many have memorized the next verse which is JUST as important. John 3:17 sates, that Jesus came to save the world, not to condemn it.
Another way to apply this verse is when thinking about those who haven’t come to know Jesus as their savior. What if we put those people groups in as the “they”. I’m not taking the teaching out of context; I’m simply using the lesson learned and applying it to my whole life. My purpose is that they (all people) may be encouraged in heart and united in love. When we respond to the LGBT community or those believing in false religion, with encouragement and love, it can be the bridge that units us. Showing love: a sense of peace in the absence of judgment. Who are we to judge? Who are we to convict? Our job is to love, only. We are to love people to Jesus. Many know John 3:16, but not many have memorized the next verse which is JUST as important. John 3:17 sates, that Jesus came to save the world, not to condemn it.
What if we apply the next part of the Colossians verse to
members of false religion- “so that they may have the full riches of complete
understanding, in order that they may know the mystery that is God, namely Christ.”
By being loving and encouraging to these people, we can perhaps open up conversations
that enables us to fill in the missing information about Christ. I love that
Paul explains it by says “full riches of complete understanding”. It’s
extremely frustrating to only understand or know part of the truth. How
beautiful the picture of helping someone come to know the whole story of Jesus.
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