Colossians 2:2-3, “That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and of wisdom and knowledge of God’s mystery in Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Do you realize that when you are discouraged and downcast, you become open prey for spiritual warfare as a Christian? Paul purposefully encouraged the church at Colossae, against false doctrine being taught. They needed to stand firm and be mature in their faith, and to remain true in God’s plan of salvation in Christ. Today, the church has had many attacks this past year, and believers have had to stand firm in their faith and have unity just as these dear saints had to endure.
I think discouragement has been one of the lasting effects COVID has had on many. The waiting is depressing and discouraging, and contentment is a challenge. But Jesus promises to give us peace, love, and joy when he said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. So how do you put that into practice daily, within the bombarding, contentious issues and situations occurring? It has been said that every two to three people you interact with are going through a crisis and have no hope in their turmoil. Our Pastor Todd has said as well, “You are either going through a trial or coming out of one.” Encouragement is a gift we can freely give one another, especially now.
Paul used the Greek word paraklein for the word “encouraged.” “Sometimes that word means to comfort, sometimes to exhort, but always at the back of it, there is the idea of enabling a person to meet some difficult situation with confidence and gallantry.” (Barclay). Paul wanted these Christians to be heroes in standing firm in their faith, despite any deceptive teaching threatening the Colossian church experiencing spiritual conflict.
It all boils down to in Christ is found the wisdom of life – nowhere else and nothing else. Happiness is a fleeting feeling. Joy goes deeper into our soul. Paul is telling the Colossians that all the wisdom in life, all that you ever need is found in Jesus Christ, to get through life successfully. All the knowledge, understanding, learning to be done for our day is found in God’s Word. We have to search for it and then apply it. It says in Romans 11:33, “Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable [impossible to understand] his ways!” I realize I will not be able to figure out the “why’s” of my circumstances, but I can be encouraged that the Lord gives me hope from His promises found in His Word. That is where my assurance resides, in Jesus Christ alone.
A.W. Toser has said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” The Knowledge Of The Holy.
This is The MSG version of Colossians 2:2-3 in Paul’s encouraging letter to the church at Colossae, “I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we’ve been shown the mystery!”
Listen to King & Country (Lyrics) Shoulders.