Christians have both a privilege and a responsibility to pray for others. Of course we pray for our friends, family, and others when we know they have a specific need. Perhaps they are ill, just lost their job, or have some other pressing concern. We pray for them then. What about when someone has no specific need? What can you pray for then? Here in our Scripture passage today Paul lists some things that he was praying for the believers in the church in Colossae. These are things we can pray for our fellow Christian friends and family, for our pastors, missionaries, and for ourselves, as well. In this passage of Colossians, Paul lists some of the things that he is praying for the believers there. Though I’m sure that if he knew someone there, or in any of the other churches he helped to establish, who was sick or needed a job, or some other specific need, he would have prayed for that. However, we’ll see what Paul felt was of primary importance.
Paul’s focus in praying for other believers was primarily for their spiritual growth. He hated to see any believer remain spiritually immature, a baby Christian in their faith or knowledge of God. As we look at this passage we’ll see several specific things he listed in his prayer to God for them. First, Paul prayed that the believers be filled with knowledge, specifically knowledge of God’s will (vs. 9). Where do we find a knowledge of God’s will? We find that in His Word, the Bible. God reveals His will to us primarily through the Scriptures, so if we want to gain more knowledge of His will, we need to be studying the Bible. We need to study it with wisdom and spiritual understanding, which was the next thing Paul prayed for the Colossians. Wisdom is the ability to accumulate and organize principles from the Scriptures, and understanding is the application of those principles to one’s daily life. God doesn’t want us to just read the Bible, a chapter a day, and check it off our “to-do list”. God wants us to learn from His Word, and to apply what we read to our lives, thus gaining spiritual discernment. We need to walk in His ways and obey Him if we want to know His plan for our life.
Paul prayed that the Colossians would walk worthy of the Lord (vs. 10). Believers should live in a way that is consistent with their identification with the Lord who saved them. Our conversations, our conduct, and our character should be consistent with that of Jesus, living in a manner that represents Him with honor. Paul prays that we walk in a manner worthy of Jesus, pursuing a blameless life like the Savior.
We should be bearing fruit, and spiritual fruit is a product of a righteous life (vs. 10). Our fruit should have an eternal impact, and influence those around us for God’s kingdom. There should be spiritual growth in our life. There is something wrong when a newborn baby doesn’t grow, and the same is true of a newly saved Christian. There should be growth. Paul prayed we would grow, and increase in our knowledge of God. We are to increase in our love for God, His Word, and others, developing a more perfect obedience to Him, a strong spiritual foundation, and a growing faith.
As we grow as Christians, Paul prays that we will then be strengthened with His power for patience and longsuffering during the trials we will face (vs. 11). We should be giving God thanks for qualifying us to be partakers of His inheritance (vs. 12). We are only qualified through the finished work of our Savior. Our inheritance is everything we have and will receive through Jesus. We should also primarily thank Him for delivering us from the power of darkness and into His Kingdom (vs. 13). Jesus has freed every believer from slavery to sin by His sacrifice of shedding His Blood on the cross (vs. 14).
When we pray for others and for ourselves, of course we want to remember any specific needs they have, such as illness, family problems, etc. We also can pray these prayers like Paul did, for knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. For fruitfulness, strength, and joy, with thanksgiving for the inheritance we have through Christ.
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