Weekly Recap

This week, Dan Navarra picked up where Pastor Chris left off in Colossians 1:24-29.  In these verses, we looked at what Dan called the paradox of suffering.  It is a profound principle that is completely counter cultural in our society.  We want convenience and comfort and the idea of joy in suffering is definitely an underrated principle.  Yet trials can actually be instruments of grace that push us closer to Christ.  As Charles Spurgeon said, “I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages.”  Although it goes against our human nature’s desire for comfort, in these verses Paul gives us four reasons to rejoice in suffering.

First, rejoicing in suffering fuels hope.  Most of us just want to get through our allotment of suffering and discard it, not realizing that we learn perseverance when we recycle rather than just discard.  By placing our hope in Jesus we can upcycle our hurts and pains into something beautiful.  Rejoicing in suffering also reveals God’s glory.  The Bible tells us not to be surprised by suffering but to rejoice because it points us to God.  Learning to rejoice in suffering also matures us.  The testing of our faith produces perseverance.  It is important to build up endurance as we go through smaller things in order to be prepared for the big things that are bound to happen at some point in our lives.  Finally, rejoicing in our suffering gives us an eternal perspective.  Paul reminds us that the eternal glory we are heading toward far outweighs our light and momentary afflictions.  We can face them with confidence because we have the assurance of an eternity with Jesus.

In verse 24, Paul says he rejoices in his suffering for the Colossians.  He is partnering in suffering with the church in the same way that Christ shares in our suffering with us.  In verses 25-26, Paul refers to himself as a steward of the Gospel; he has taken on the responsibility of spreading the Gospel. Being born as both a Jew and a Roman citizen uniquely positioned him to be a missionary to the Jews and the Gentiles and he wanted them all to know that Jesus Christ, the Word of God is sufficient for both groups.  It is sufficient for all people no matter how broken or how religious they are.  Then, as now, we do not clean ourselves up to come to Christ; the fact that it is impossible is the Gospel.  The power we receive as Christians is not in our performance but Christ in us.

Verses 26-27 refer to the truth that we are privileged to live on the other side of the cross.  The hidden mystery that was revealed is that we don’t have to go to a priest and make sacrifices because the Great High Priest lives inside us.  However, we do have to cultivate listening to the Holy Spirit.  We don’t have a clear list of rules and as living sacrifices, we have to make sure we do not crawl off the altar.  We have unlimited access to Christ but are we walking, talking billboards for him?  Do those in our immediate sphere of influence have any idea that we are Christians?  Our job is to show them the glorious riches of God.  We are recipients of generosity and need to live that way.  We should always be prepared to share the hope we have within us with gentleness and respect.

In verses 28-29, Paul warns the Colossians about remaining spiritual babies and not maturing in Christ.  Like them, we need to own our faith and commit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ in our lives.  We may allow him to be our Savior in the rescue boat, but not the Captain of our lives.  Paul lets them know that he is strenuously contending for the Gospel and that God is powerfully working within him.  Wherever we find ourselves on the spectrum of suffering, Dan challenged us to take one step toward rejoicing.  Finding a moment to rejoice and smile because God has us in such a place and time as this builds hope, resilience,and eternal perspective.  Maturity is like the Fruit of the Spirit; we never fully reach it because there is always more to do.  We need to stop lying to ourselves and get serious about maturing in our faith.  We need to stop tuning out the Holy Spirit’s promptings and move from milk to solid food.  The Holy Spirit will help us to learn how to distinguish good from evil.  We must not grow weary of doing good, but like Paul, work on strenuously contending for our faith.