Colossians 1:9 That is why we keep on talking to God about you since the day we heard about you. We ask him that you may know everything he wants you to do. We ask him that you may be very wise and that the Spirit will help you to understand.
10 We ask him that you will live the way the Lord wants you to live, so that you will please him in everything you do. We ask that you will do everything that is good. We ask that you will see the fruit from what you do. We ask that you will know more and more about God.
11 God has wonderful power. And we ask him to give you all the strength you need to go through all your troubles,to be very patient in them, and to be happy.
12 Thank the Father who has made us ready to be with the people of God who live in his light.
Day 9—Now, we begin to learn how the Government of Christ will work in us. |
There is something so powerful and vital in the passage that belongs to next month, that we can well spread some of it out for this month. Colossians 1:11 is loaded with the light and power of God’s Kingdom as it moves on into our lives.
Just remember, what we quote here needs what comes before and after it to make the statement complete. We’re drawing the verse out alone because some of the words in it can use our special attention. See this verse 11 by itself:
...Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness... There’s a lot of God’s “government” in this verse!
The Greek word dúnamis relates strongly to the words strengthened and might. When they are used together it very literally means, “enabled with all enabling power.” This is the kind of power Jesus promised the disciples in Acts 1:8. He said they would receive this power when the Holy Spirit came upon them from the eternal Throne of God in Heaven. It is the power by which His Kingdom operates on earth.
Then, we have the string of words according to His glorious power. This should read, “according to the dominion of His glory.” The word power is from the Greek krátos, which means, “force, sway, dominion.” The might with which we are to be strengthened is according to the dominion of God’s glory. The word translated “glory” is from the Greek dóxa meaning, the high dignity of God’s Kingly rule. Through us He will give expression to the dominion of His glory as it spreads throughout the earth.
FATHER, what I see from Your Word tells of a movement of Your Kingdom’s power in the earth. Oh! this calls for a greater movement of Your grace than I ever imagined. But, here I am ready for that grace to bring its rule into my life. Won’t You please extend the protection and power of that grace over these that I now name before Your Throne.
The Spread of God’s Glory.—Habakkuk 2:14; Haggai 2:6-9
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