Friday, August 30, 2024
Paul’s Motto – Colossians 1:28-29
Paul was very single minded. I am sure we all know people who just get so focused on something that nothing distracts them, some of you may be that way. You get so engrossed in a project that the noise around you just don’t penetrate your mind, you just don’t hear it. Maybe ‘laser focused’ is a good description. I believe Paul may have had that characteristic. You remember him as Saul the persecutor of the Way. He was sure that those who followed the Way were wrong, Jesus wasn’t God’s Son, the promised Messiah. The best solution was to stop them from spreading the hearsay of this group of followers. He went after them with all his energy and resources. And now that he has been changed by and encounter with resurrected Jesus he has become just as devoted to spreading the gospel, increasing the number of Christ followers, and ensuring they knew and understood the truth.
One source labeled Colossians 1:28-29 as Paul’s Motto for his ministry.
28 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.
Proclaim HIM – Paul has only one message throughout all his letters. We find in Galatians 1:11-12 11
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. Paul was as well educated in the scripture as anyone could be. He is assuring those he wrote to that the message was not made up by him. The believers in Galatia had started listening to other teachers who were sharing false gospel. He admonished them for believing anything different from what he had taught. He wasn’t doing anything to get approval of man. In other words, Paul didn’t preach a sermon to ‘tickle their ears’. He stated, in vs 9, strongly If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Paul didn’t care who he upset as he only wanted to be true to the One who he served. Does that cause you to wonder, as I do, if I am that committed/steadfast, to my calling from God. Are we ever guilty of listening to, maybe believing in, false teachings?
He wrote to the church at Corinth and declared in 1 Corinthians 2:2 In fact, while I was with you, I made up my mind to speak only about Jesus Christ, who had been nailed to a cross. One message, one topic. Paul told them there is only One Christ who was crucified for them. Earlier in that chapter he confessed that he didn’t speak with brilliant speech or wisdom but only by the power of the Holy Spirit in him. He was teaching them not to follow any earthly leader but to make them understand there is only one Church, the Church that is the body of Jesus Christ the Lord. We should never become followers of man regardless how handsome, charismatic, or enticing he may look and sound. There is only One worthy to be our Master and Savior to whom we should give or allegiance. Paul was laser focused on only one message, only one truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Wisdom – Paul is teaching Jesus, admonishing us, teaching us with ALL wisdom. Wow, not just some or a little bit but all wisdom. When you hear someone speak of wisdom what comes to mind? Does a picture of your favorite grandparent pop into your mind. Have you somehow gotten the impression that one must be old to be wise? I’m here to tell you age doesn’t necessarily cause someone to be wise. So, what is wisdom? Paul is teaching with it. And we can all agree being a teacher doesn’t always equate to wisdom either. The Amplified version had this to say about Paul’s wisdom is with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God. Paul wishes to impart God’s wisdom to all, each of us, in his writings. Let’s take another look at 1 Corinthians 2, this time it’s verses 6-7 We do, however, speak a swho are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. I believe that verse 6 truly could have been written today and be true – The wisdom of the rulers of this age is coming to nothing! But, instead, it is God’s wisdom, the full understanding of the gospel and that it is for everyone, that is wisdom. Paul teaches everyone, that means all, the wisdom of God, His promises, His purpose, and His plan.
Mature or Perfect – Lastly in verse 28 Paul’s desire is to present everyone as mature in Christ. Some versions say perfect or complete. What does that mean? Again, from the Amplified Version I found that mature means fully trained and perfect in Him the Anointed. Ephesians 6:27 is found in the message Paul was teaching about husbands and wives. He first tells both to submit to one another in obedience to Christ. He addresses the submission of wives to their husbands in one verse. So, the hierarchy is first to Christ then wives to husbands, but Paul takes ten verses telling husbands how they should align their love for their wife with Christ’s love for the church. He makes these points to husbands; Christ loved her so much He gave Himself up for her making her holy and He washed her in living water from the Word, then verse 27 says and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. We can be without blemish, perfect or mature because Christ loved us, died for us, washed us in the living water of His Word. Then we can stand before Him mature in Christ. We cannot be mature or perfect in His sight without Christ in our lives. Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Jesus is teaching the sermon on the mount and had just told them how not to be, like the pagans or unbelievers. But instead, be like God our Father and love your enemies. We can be complete/mature/perfect by living aligned with the standards of our Father, by emulating Jesus in our day to day lives.
Paul confesses that he is striving for or those who hear to believe the gospel. He can only do anything by the power of Christ working through him. We must have one God, one gospel, and be fully trained in Him to have wisdom and be mature in Christ.
