Colossians Chapter 2: Verses 1-5 (NIV)
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 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. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
Paul was in prison in very difficult conditions, yet he was striving in prayer for not only the Colossian church, but others who had never met him in person! His goal was to encourage them. No sign of him feeling sorry for himself. He told them that he was with them in spirit and commended them for their discipline and faith. He definitely wasn’t looking at his own situation, and the progress of others being reported to him was in its turn bringing joy and encouragement to him that his suffering for the Gospel wasn’t in vain. He had learned how to put into practice what he had told the Roman Church. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans Chapter 12 verse 15)
That’s a good lesson to learn for us, not to focus on our circumstances but to seek to encourage and pray for others. By doing so, we too will find ourselves uplifted in spite of our own situation. In order to do that, sometimes we need to be quite disciplined, an important quality which it seems the Colossian church had learned early in its faith, and something which I know I need to work harder at!
Dear Lord,
There’s always so much to learn from Paul’s example. Help me to rejoice with those who rejoice even when I am tempted to feel sorry for myself, and help me to exercise discipline, especially in worship and praise and seeking You when I am tempted to have a pity party. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.