Colossians 1:11 ” Strengthen with all might, according to his glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”To coin a phrase “this is where the rubber meets the road.” When the road is easy and life is going our way, it is easy to make the claim that we believe in God. To proclaim that God is good, but what happens when following God is hard, when suffering set backs seem to be all we experience. Can we still make that claim, “I’m living for God, and that God is good?” Not so easy then. This verse speaks to this part of life. We are ” strengthen with all might,” speaks about an empowering that comes to the believer from the indwelling presents of the Holy Spirit. But this empowering is not like our morning coffee, where that extra jolt of caffeine gets you up and going. This empowering is more like you start the first step and He will help you to complete it, and then the second step and the third and so it goes. It’s nothing magical or mysterious, you’ve got to be committed, 100% in the game. But when the day is over, you look back an say, “that was amazing, there was no way I could have done all that without God’s help.”
Next, the following words are not welcomed by our instant gratification society.
Why are we strengthened? It is ” for all patience and long suffering with joyfulness.” Not exactly the reason for why we would want to be strengthened. But what is patience? “Patience,” the ability to persevere or bear up under, or demonstrate endurance in circumstances. “Long suffering,” speaks of self restraint against an adversary, or the ability to avenge oneself but restrains from doing so. These qualities represent an inner strength that is so needful in our interactions with one another. In the Batman movies, we hear Alfred ask Batman ” Sir, why do we fall,.. it is so we can get up again.” The implication is that we are taught by our failings. When we suffer setbacks requiring us to persevere, or when we chose the road less travelled and refrain from taking matters into our own hands, trusting in God to make it right, faith and character grow. However, in everyday life we live by another standard, the “you get in my face and I”ll get in yours.” Where is patience, where is the man or woman that has the means to avenge themselves, but instead chooses mercy overlooking the faults of another? If one makes the claim to be a Christian, by that statement alone one relinquishes his or her own rights to self governance coming under the authority of Christ, who demonstrated a life of obedience, faith and trust in the Father. Which for him, as the Ransom Redeemer for mankind, brought him to the cross. Are we so committed to God that we too are willing to crucify our will and passions if they contradict a Holy God, or His good will for our life?I will end with a saying that I have taped on the cover of my Bible ” I’m living this life for the life to come. I’m not living this life for today, but for tomorrow’s eternity. My setbacks, hardships, and trials that cause me to refocus or seek the Lord more earnestly are those events that will bring me blessings in tomorrow’s eternity.”
Next, the following words are not welcomed by our instant gratification society.
Why are we strengthened? It is ” for all patience and long suffering with joyfulness.” Not exactly the reason for why we would want to be strengthened. But what is patience? “Patience,” the ability to persevere or bear up under, or demonstrate endurance in circumstances. “Long suffering,” speaks of self restraint against an adversary, or the ability to avenge oneself but restrains from doing so. These qualities represent an inner strength that is so needful in our interactions with one another. In the Batman movies, we hear Alfred ask Batman ” Sir, why do we fall,.. it is so we can get up again.” The implication is that we are taught by our failings. When we suffer setbacks requiring us to persevere, or when we chose the road less travelled and refrain from taking matters into our own hands, trusting in God to make it right, faith and character grow. However, in everyday life we live by another standard, the “you get in my face and I”ll get in yours.” Where is patience, where is the man or woman that has the means to avenge themselves, but instead chooses mercy overlooking the faults of another? If one makes the claim to be a Christian, by that statement alone one relinquishes his or her own rights to self governance coming under the authority of Christ, who demonstrated a life of obedience, faith and trust in the Father. Which for him, as the Ransom Redeemer for mankind, brought him to the cross. Are we so committed to God that we too are willing to crucify our will and passions if they contradict a Holy God, or His good will for our life?I will end with a saying that I have taped on the cover of my Bible ” I’m living this life for the life to come. I’m not living this life for today, but for tomorrow’s eternity. My setbacks, hardships, and trials that cause me to refocus or seek the Lord more earnestly are those events that will bring me blessings in tomorrow’s eternity.”
Prayer: Father my life is so far from living for You. Yet within me, I know it is right. Help me to bend the direction of my life towards You. To find a church that teaches me to worship and pray, a church that explains the Bible to me. As well as to make time in my day to read the Bible and pray, knowing that you will help me to understand your purposes for me.
Thank you and Amen.