Sometimes as Christians we may feel led to pray for another believer, however we don’t know what to pray about for them. Just praying “God bless Ed or Lillian” doesn’t seem enough. You want a stronger prayer. Our Scripture passage today from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossian church gives us some things that we can pray for when we pray for other believers. In this passage we see some things Paul prayed for these Colossian believers. Let’s see what these are.
The Book of Colossians is one of Paul’s “prison epistles”, one of several letters he wrote while imprisoned in Rome. This epistle was written to affirm the Christians in Colossae, along with all Christians, in their faith. It was written to encourage their spiritual growth and to combat false teachings by exalting the Lord Jesus.
Before Paul explained to the Colossian believers how he was praying for them, he briefly affirmed his apostleship (vs. 1-2). There were some people who opposed Paul and his ministry, and they traveled around to many of the churches he had either founded or ministered to, claiming that he was not a genuine apostle or had an approved ministry. However, Paul attested that he was not commissioned as an apostle by any human, but by Jesus Himself, by divine authority of the will of God. This happened when the Lord appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, calling him both to salvation and service in His Kingdom.
Paul then continued by telling the Colossian church that he kept each and every one of them in his prayers. All prayers should begin by giving thanks to the Lord, and this Paul did. He told the Colossians that he thanked the Lord for their faith, their love, and their hope (vs. 3-5). These folks had accepted Jesus as their Savior. Many had come from a Jewish background, while others from a pagan Gentile background, but now they had faith and trust in Jesus, for which Paul was thankful. He also was thankful for the love that they had for each other, and for their hope in all God had promised, especially eternal life. Faith, love, and hope should be a hallmark of genuine Christian life (I Corinthians 13:13).
Paul was also thankful that the Colossian believers were bearing fruit for the Lord, that the Gospel of Jesus was increasing in their area and then spreading further (vs. 6-8). When at a loss to know how to pray for other believers, we can begin by giving thanks for their faith, their salvation, and pray that they have love for others and are bearing fruit for the Kingdom.
As we continue further, we see several other things that Paul prayed for with the Colossian church. Paul did not cease to pray for them (vs 9). They were in his daily prayers. He first mentioned that they are filled with a knowledge of God’s will in their life, having wisdom and understanding. We need to know God’s plan for our life. This requires discernment to distinguish His Voice from our own notions. He also prayed that their Christian walk, their behavior, would be such as would please God (vs. 10). Our lives should be patterned after Jesus, with a goal of glorifying Him.
Again Paul prayed that they bear fruit in every good work (vs. 10). We should not be so wrapped up in our own life, but be contributing to others lives, and bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom. We were not saved to just keep a seat warm every Sunday morning. Paul prayed that they would increase in the knowledge of God. We do that by reading His Word, the Bible, and then applying what we read to our lives. He prayed that they were strengthened in their faith through God’s power, that they remain steadfast in their faith (vs. 11). This is only done through the power of the Holy Spirit. They also needed patience and long suffering as they faced the trials ahead. Believers need that today, as well. Finally, Paul prayed that they would be thankful to the Lord, joyously giving thanks for all that He has done, with gratitude (vs. 12).
As this passage of Scripture ends, Paul reminds the Colossians that God had delivered them from the power of darkness, and transferred them into the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus (vs 13-14). We’ve all seen in movies, and maybe have even heard of cases in real life, where someone who is being held captive by an enemy or criminal is rescued. Salvation is a divine rescue. Before we were saved we were held captive by Satan. However when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus, and personally accepted His Blood shed on the cross for our behalf, we have his redemption and forgiveness of sins. We are no longer under Satan’s dominion, but are citizens of God’s Kingdom, redeemed by His Blood.
When we pray for others, in addition to praying for some specific needs they may have, such as their health, job, or family, we can incorporate some of the things that Paul prayed here for the Colossians. Rather than just praying “God bless John or Maxine”, let’s follow Paul’s pattern of prayer for our friends.
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