(This post was shared with the IAHE blog, too)
Ever had one of those days when you wonder if you're really up to the job of parenting? I have. Some days I think of other mothers I know, and I'm quite sure they're probably doing a much better job of it than I. Lord, how could you have entrusted me with these children?
Enter Colossians. I warn you; if you don't want to be changed, stay away from God's Word. If, on the other hand, you know your mind desperately needs renewing, then dive in. If you want the biggest impact, commit it to memory. You will never be the same. It's exhilarating. It gets inside your mind, deep into your heart, and even under your skin in a good sort of convicting way.
Okay, you've probably guessed; I've been memorizing Colossians. And I didn't get past the first verse before it changed my outlook. It just might change yours, too. The book (the letter) opens with this:
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the will of God. . ."
Stop right there. "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God. . ." His identity was wholly wrapped up in the will of God. Who he was, where he was, his calling, his mission, and his role were all by the will of God. And it came through in everything. He opens five of his letters that way, and implies it at the beginning of three more of them.
Do you ever wish you could be that certain? I mean in your particular role and calling. In my case, Carol, husband to Scott, by the will of God; mother to Vera, by the will of God; mother to. . . here in Indiana. You get the idea. Try putting your own name in. "____, ________, by the will of God."
Maybe that seems awkward, but if you are a believer in Jesus, you can be just as sure. He is working out His sovereign will in your life just as surely as He did in Paul's life, or Peter's, or any of those other famous guys' lives in the beginning days of His church. Very same God, you know. And Peter reassured us in his second letter (II Peter 1:1) that we have received the same kind of faith as theirs.
We can be sure of our calling as His children and in the roles in which He has placed us. Not only that, but as Paul explained to the people in Athens, God even determines when and where we will live, so we can rest assured in that, too. (Acts 17:24-27)
Listen in on Paul's prayer for the saints at Colossae,
Listen in on Paul's prayer for the saints at Colossae,
". . . 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, so that
you may 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;
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,
for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;
joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has
qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."
Colossians 1:9-12
(emphasis mine)
When His wise sovereign will slips out of our focus, when we are filled with something other than the knowledge of His will, we get discouraged and down, questioning our calling, doubting the success of our mission, and we are tempted to give up. All we can see are the challenges in front of us, which seem to mount by the minute and even gather strength against us.
But if, instead, we are filled with the knowledge of His will, then we understand that our circumstances are part of His elaborate plan for our good and His glory. And we understand what He desires of us--those good works He has planned for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Then our trust is in Him, we are strengthened by His power, we can be patient and steadfast, and we bear fruit, because we know it isn't all up to us. Even as we wait on His timing or an answer to prayer, we have a confidence that comes from knowing that He will accomplish His will in our lives. We can be "joyously giving thanks" because we have a living hope (I Peter I:3) that rests in His will.
This "being filled with the knowledge of His will" is so very crucial that Epaphras, who had brought the gospel to Colossae, was "always laboring earnestly in his prayers" for the Colossian believers that they would "stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God." Colossians 4:12 (emphasis mine)
I think we can be pretty sure that the answer to that prayer wouldn't be a discouraged person who says, "I just can't do this. . . Lord, this just isn't working!" When we begin to doubt the roles we have, or the callings we've been given, we must remember that our sovereign God makes no mistakes. Our identity--our calling, our role, who we are, where we are--is wholly wrapped up in His will.
Let us, too, earnestly ask the Lord that He would make us stand fully assured in all the will of God; that He would strengthen us with His power, according to His glorious might; and that we would steadfastly, patiently, and joyously give thanks, as we trust in His wisdom and His will.
"Now the God of peace,
who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep. . .
equip you in every good thing to do His will,
working in us that which is pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.
Amen."
Hebrews 13:20-21
(emphasis mine)
P.S. If you're looking for some especially encouraging Scriptures, I think you'll find Colossians 1, I Peter 1, and II Peter 1 are absolutely amazing.
