Colossians
Monday, June 14, 2004
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, there are all kinds of “wisdom” in our world. There is the wisdom of science. There is the wisdom of the world. There is the wisdom of “old wives tales.” I pray this day for You to fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may have YOUR wisdom! I pray that You will make me wise in eternal ways, that I may live effectively in Jesus’ name, and may make an impact for His Kingdom. Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Colossians 1:7-14
7Epaphras, our much loved co-worker, was the one who brought you the Good News. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us in your place. 8He is the one who told us about the great love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.
9So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. 10Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.
11We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, 12always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light. 13For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son. 14God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.
Reflecting on God’s Word
What is the difference between “worldly” wisdom and God’s wisdom?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
How long had Paul and Timothy been praying for the Colossian Christians? (1:9)
What two things did Paul pray for the Colossians to receive? (1:9-10)
What does this Scripture teach you specifically about prayer? (1:9-10)
Understanding God’s Word
What role does prayer play in our gaining God’s wisdom?
What are the other sources of God’s wisdom for our lives?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
What one thing does today’s Scripture call you to do?
Thoughts...Wise with Spiritual Wisdom...
Paul’s constant prayer for the Colossian Christians included prayer for them to be “wise with spiritual wisdom.” Spiritual wisdom is supernatural wisdom. It goes beyond human reason and logic. God is never “illogical,” but sometimes God’s wisdom goes beyond our human reason and logic. Since God knows everything, sometimes He wants us to know and do things that don’t “make sense” from a human or worldly perspective. For example, Jesus told us that in order to “save” our lives we must “lose” them. This doesn’t make sense from a worldly wisdom perspective. Worldly wisdom tells us to save ourselves by preserving, conserving and protecting our best interests. How can we save ourselves by losing anything? Jesus may ask us to give up worldly security in order to trust Him to provide what we need. This doesn’t “make sense,” unless, of course, we think and live from His perspective. One of the surest signs that our lives are devoted to Jesus is that we no longer think from a worldly wisdom perspective, but rather that spiritual wisdom is our source of thinking and living!