September 10 – Deeper Understanding

“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”  Colossians 1:9 (ESV)

These words are from the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the believer’s assembly in the city of Colosse.  We know Paul may not have visited this church in person* (Colossians 2:1), but we do know that he knew of it through Epaphras who likely planted that church. Paul was well acquainted with their progress and love in the Holy Spirit. Twice in  the first few verses of the first chapter, Paul mentions his acts of praying for them in Colossians 1:3 and in today’s verse. It is a regular practice for Paul to pray for this church and to petition for their fullness of knowledge – a work of the Holy Spirit.  This asking that they “be filled with the knowledge of His will,” is for us as well.  Paul’s request for their filling of knowledge is a filling that is complete, lacking nothing.  The ‘knowledge’ is a deep understanding of God’s will for and in our lives. We are promised a clear analysis and decision-making through applying this knowledge to the challenges we face in our Christian life.  The next verse informs us of Paul’s aim in praying this way (Colossians 1:10). 

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* The question of whether Paul the Apostle ever visited the city of Colosse or ever visited the church that Epaphras planted there is an ongoing debate.  Most believe that Paul passed through Colossae on his way to Laodicea but no church had been planted there yet. This was on his third missionary journey.