Author: David Short

Colossians 1:9-12

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Encouraging Words…

As Orthodox we believe that the saints who have gone before us are standing in the courts of our Lord petitioning on our behalf? I can see Paul there repeating this prayer over and over on our behalf that we too might be equipped to do the work of our God. Glory be to Him!

Philippians 4:11-13

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Personal Challenge…

Here we find the key to contentment, the pearl buried in the heart of the oyster of life. Whether life is dealing us a winning hand or pulling the rug out from under us we can choose to acknowledge that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. If we try to do it on our own, or to take all the credit for the good things that do come about, we are choosing to unplug from the only source of power that can support us. Jesus is our power! Jesus is our protection! Jesus is our provider! Jesus is our Lord! All glory goes to God!

Philippians 1:2

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Encouraging Words…

Paul’s salutation is a great reminder of the mindset that we should always be in with relationship to those in our lives. We should always be offering God’s grace and peace to everyone. We should be living our own lives under God’s grace and peace for we are truly blessed as we are also blessings to others. Glory be to God!

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Personal Challenge…

We have been given such a blessing…life eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is our responsibility as well as our privilege to share this blessing with those whom we come into contact with. We should always be ready to give out God’s word with grace and love for the other. Glory be to God!

Philippians 3:8-11

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Encouraging Words…

Paul reminds us so clearly here that what God provides for us who follow Him is greater than anything, even life itself. He is not talking about wealth or stuff here. This is not some kind of prosperity gospel. Our righteousness comes for Him. Our salvation comes from Him. Everything we have and everything we are come from Him. So why shouldn’t we count it all as loss for Him.

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Personal Challenge…

We see here again that our salvation is not a one time singular event or some special canned prayer that we say. This may have been what set us on our path of obedience to God, but our salvation is a lifelong process doing the work of God as He works within us to do His will and work. We are not on this journey alone. Glory be to God!