Living the Purposeful Life

I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other friends who have never known me personally.  My goal is that  they will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love.  I want them to have full confidence because they have complete understanding of God's secret plan, which is Christ himself. 

In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I am telling you this so that no one will be able to deceive you with persuasive arguments.  For though I am away from you, my heart is with you. And I am very happy because you are living as you should and because of your strong faith in Christ.

The historic background of Paul's life is that he was probably born in 5 AD and became a believer at the age of about  28-30 years.  Here in 60 AD when he writes this letter he is around 60 years old and agonizing in prayer for people he had known only while living in Ephesus.

My question is then, how much more stronger must he have struggled in prayer for people he had known all his life?  Do I agonize in prayer for people I have known all my life? 

It is good to ask yourself questions when you study the Bible, it brings you into the deep of the 'ocean' of the word of God.

Now he had a goal in mind for these people.  Judging by his accomplishments in preaching the word, his prayer life must have also been clearly mapped out.  He knew what to pray for these people.  He was a purposeful man in his travels and his prayer life.  He didn't just float in the world purposelessly, he had a plan.  That is how Paul would have been as a person and God used those traits of character in him to accomplish that purpose.  You might not be, as I am that organized person setting goals all the time.  But whoever you are God can use you for his purpose.

1) He prayed for their encouragement

2) That they would be knit together with love

3) He wanted them to have 'full' confidence

He also had full confidence in them because they have 'complete', not some understanding of God's secret plan, which is Christ himself.

In him lie hidden all, (not some) the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Let me ask you a question.  This was around 2000 years ago, is the treasure exhausted of its wealth.  Most assuredly not.  Christ still has a lot of wisdom and knowledge to go around.  Just dig in then and don't be discouraged.  The best days of spiritual wealth are still to come.  Just dig in!  When I read my Bible I just relax my thoughts and let the text speak to me.  Try it, it works!  I am also mindful that it has to agree with the rest of the Bible.

                                   

The reason he told them all this is so they would not be swayed by different winds of doctrines.  He was mostly concerned for their spiritual health and he did all this as a ministry unto people he had just known while living in another town.

He was confident in his God and confident in people.  He believed people had the potential to do the best work for Christ.  He couldn't see them but he was always with them as a supporter in prayer.

We too have a cloud of supporters in heaven cheering us on.  Do you 'hear' their faith encouraging us? It is in the Bible, "Therefore since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress." (Hebrews 12:1)

We have supporters in prayer all around us as well and hoping the best for us all.

Please if this post has encouraged you in anyway share it with somebody and pass the Word around for God's glory.  Thank you all for your support

Have a great day!