9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Colossians 1:9
Paul, when he heard of the Colossians’ “love in the spirit,” (v. 8) the truest sign of authenticity as Christians, was moved to pray for them unceasingly, that, in contrast to the gnostics, they’d not be filled with ordinary knowledge, but the knowledge of God’s will. Taking it a step further, that this knowledge (epignosis or “possessed information”) be “in all spiritual wisdom (sophia or “insight”) and understanding (synesis or “intelligence”)” real.
To know God’s will is the epitome of knowledge. If we pray for anything, it is to know God’s will in all aspects of our lives. It is not a mystery most of the times when one looks at what the Bible clearly indicates is his will.
10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Colossians 1:10
To start, His will for us is to embark on a worthy walk, which has been modeled by Jesus, by Paul, by Timothy, and by the Colossians’ founder Epaphras, to name a few. It’s a walk that is worthy in “all respects,” not most of the time, or with the exception of one or two shortcomings that we justify as forgivable. Such a walk pleases God only when it complies with His will. We’re reminded in the Old Testament about not veering to the left or right. “So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (Deuteronomy 5:32) Thus a worthy walk is straight ahead.
It’s also a purposeful walk. There’s always an objective in mind. When Paul wrote the Romans, he was looking forward to being with them, not so much recreationally, but purposefully, that he might “obtain some fruit” from them. (Romans 1:3) Imagine if everything we did was thought of as an opportunity to reap a higher purpose! All my life, I’ve heard the counsel when contemplating (or complaining about) some particular experience, “do it, you might learn something,” or “it might do you some good.” Every work we do should be a good work capable of increasing our “knowledge of God.”
11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; Colossians 1:11
This sentence is loaded with key Christian terms. The power that is talked about is dynamis, the Greek word from which we get dynamite. It’s “power in action.” When the woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, he was aware of power leaving his body. In a sense, we should be aware of his power in our actions, to the point it is unquestionably not by our might something has been done, but by “His glorious might.” Exertion of this power always glorifies God. Thus, we are always engaged in a powerful walk. We have spring in our steps, as they say. It should always be at a tempo that taps our spiritual energy!
In this case, Paul is aiming for those elusive Christian attributes of steadfastness and patience, the ability to keep our powder dry in situations where we’d normally lash out or take matters into our own hands.
Steadfastness is hupomone in the Greek, meaning to “remain under,” and is akin to patience, or makrothymia in the Greek, with the prefix makros meaning “long.” It’s ironic that we walk worthily, purposefully, and powerfully towards the objective of “steadfastness and patience!” The aim is to hurry up and wait, the essence of the Christian life! Paul had resigned himself for the time being to writing letters, he being tethered to a Roman chain. Surely, some good came from it!
joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to “the kingdom of His beloved Son,” 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14
It is debatable whether “joyously” goes with patience, or is the start of another thought. It’s either possessing a “joyous patience” or an attitude of “joyous thanksgiving.” I can’t think there’s a wrong answer here. In these verses, we see that the Father has not only qualified us to share in the inheritance of the kingdom of light, as opposed to the “domain of darkness,” but rescued us from that frightening place, and transferred us into His presence, sparing no expense, that is, the blood of “His beloved Son,” meaning He has also redeemed us. This could also read the “Son of His love,” or as we might say, “the love of my life.”
There’s a lot in the Word about walking. Paul alludes to it many times in many ways. Perhaps the best quote to cap off this quick study is Ephesians 5:8, which says, “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”
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