Prayers for You

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I wonder if Paul was writing to the church in America today if his letter wouldn't be similar to what he wrote to the church in Collosse. His concerns for the church centered around his concern for the false teachings that were occuring within the church. The false teachings were wide in variety - but each took away from the supremecy and adequacy of Christ and focused instead on human traditions and philosophies. The people in the church were being pulled away from God's truth - and Paul's heart was that they would remain steadfast in their knowledge of God and God alone. His heart is that the would know that Christ Jesus is more than adequate in all things.
I know, precious friends, that we struggle today against the same pull of false teachings, beliefs, and messages that the church in Colosse did. In fact, with the rise of technology and media, we are inundated with false messages today at a rate and quantity that is far beyond that of any other previous period in history.

And so as I read Colassians, I resonated with Paul's words for the church - for while I don't claim to be close to being anything like Paul or have any ministry at all that might be like his, I find my heart for those who read this blog is similar to his for the church of the Colossians. And so today, as we near the end of our journey together through God's word, I want to share with you my heart and prayers for you.

First, I know that I speak for all of us who have blogged this year when I say, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord jesus Christ, when we pray for you (and we do pray for you), because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints - the faith and love that springs from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the ord of truth, the gospel that has come to you." - Colossians 1:3-6

Please know that I have not and will not stop pryaing for you and "asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (vs.9). I pray strength, power, and endurance over you.

Like Paul, it is my hope that I have been able to present to you the word of God in it's fullness - that I have been able to admonsih and teach you with wisdom so that you are presented perfect in Christ. This certain is not done by any power in my as I write - or in Russ or Kelly or Joseph - but through the amazing power of the word of God and the Spirit. Please know that it is in absolute humility that we have shared with you.

I pray that you are encouraged in heart and united in love, so that you may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that you may now the mystery of god, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (2:2-3). There is no worldly knowledge or wisdom, no wise and persuasive words that can surpass the wisdom of God. Eve was fooled into believing that knowledge outside of God was desirable. I pray, friends, that the knowledge of God would be enough for you. I pray that you would continue to live in him, being rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (2:6)

Friends, press on in your study of God's word. Press on in your pursuit of God - seek his face, seek him first, being confident that in Christ you will find all things. Seek God's truth, walk in God's truth - not the world's. "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (2:8)

My precious ones - what I pray for you more than anything else is that you would know that in Christ all the fullness of God lives in bodily form. Because you are in Christ, you have been given this fullness. Oh how my heart yearns for you to live from the center of Christ who fills you. How I long for all of us to know that there is nothing - no man, no woman, no child, no money, no car, no house, no job, no drug, no drink, no food, no possession, no accomplishment, no recognition - that can fill us and make any one feel complete. Fullness is found ONLY in the in whom all the fullness of God dwells. Only Christ is your fullness. He is adequate. If you reach out to him each time you fill empty, he will fill those places.

There are so many other things that I desire and pray for you my friends. Press on in the word, press on in truth, press on in the perfect merciful love of Christ and let the world become only a place in which you dwell. Live in unity, teach and admonish one another, submit to one another, work with all you heart as if you are working for the Lord. Make the most of ever opportunity with outsiders. Be filled with grace and salt. Stand firm.

Grace be with you.