Friday, January 31, 2025

Read Col. 1:9-12, Paul Knew His Bible!

We have spoken in previous days of the great prayer of Col. 1.  Paul gives thanks for the faith, hope and love of the believers in Colossae, and then prays that they will grow in the life that pleases God, specifically in their love (good works that bear fruit and increase in the knowledge of God), faith (empowered by God’s strength) and hope (joyfully giving thanks in long-suffering). 

Recently, in my reading in the Psalms, I was blessed beyond measure (it is always so amazing to me how God’s word from Genesis to Revelation is in perfect harmony; so, yes, “beyond measure” describes the joy I get) to see that what Paul prayed for could easily have been the result of his study of the Scriptures.  In other words, it really wasn’t new.  Here is what I mean.

·       It started in Psalms 20-21, twin Psalms in which prayer is made for the King in 20 and the answers are recorded in 21.  Psalm 21 begins, The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD.  It ends with, Be exalted, O LORD, in Your own strength!  In OT times there was nothing more important for the king to know but that God was with him.  He was not on his own.  God would right his battles.  Paul says this to us in his prayer.  The prayer is that we might be filled with the full knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understand so that we will walk worthily in a way that pleases Him.  What pleases God is bound up in three phrases, the second of which is, in all might strengthened according to His glorious power.  We cannot please God in the strength of our flesh, by doing the best we can.  But God is glorified when, by faith, we are strong in His strength.  The Davidic king needed to live in the same way.

·       Next, I read Psalm 111 which is totally about the works of the LORD.  They are studied by all who have pleasure in them (111:2).  Paul says that the life that pleases God is characterized by good works that are fruitful and increasing in the knowledge of God.  A work is good, in God’s estimation, that bears fruit to holiness (Rom. 6:22) and to God (Rom. 7:4).  As we do this, our relationship with God deepens.  As Eph. 3:14-19 explains, we become more acquainted with the love of God in all its dimensions, so that we become filled with the fullness of God.  Read Psalm 111.  In describing the works of God it describes works that produce righteousness that endures forever (111:3).  As we study them, we learn the character of God, that He is gracious and full of compassion (111:4).  In other words, we are filled with the full knowledge of His will.  As we see God’s work we learn God’s character.  We learn His love in all its dimensions.

·       But if you continue to Psalm 112, you see something else.  Ps. 111 ends with, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.  Remember: Paul prays that we know God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Ps. 112 begins, Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments. So again, as we are filled with the full knowledge of His will we become characterized by good works that please Him, works that are fruitful.  112:2-10 describe that man and his fruitful works.  And behold, in 112:4, that man is characterized as being gracious, and full of compassion, and righteousness.  These are exactly the same words used in 111:3-4 of God.  In other words, the man becomes God-like as he does the works of God.

I repeat.  Time spent in the word of God blesses me beyond measure.  But why not.  It is the same for you, is it not?

No comments: