We have been studying God’s attributes since the summer and it has been great to concentrate on this over a longer period of time. Now the question is how to have this knowledge sink in and change our lives.
The church in Colossae was planted by Paul’s colleague Epaphras but was having trouble with false teachers claiming Jesus Christ and His work was not enough. They said more knowledge was out there that was needed.
Paul responds in his letter that actually the Colossians needed to further understand and know God and Jesus and His sacrifice for them. This would change their lives.
Knowing God has some similarities to wearing glasses. One sees through glasses and they bring clarity, correct wrong perspectives, and bring a correspondence to reality.
Seeing our world through our knowledge of God also brings this clarity and alignment with reality.
In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul prays for this new church regarding knowing God.
How to deepen our knowledge of God
The results of this knowledge
The basis for this knowledge
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
How to deepen our knowledge of God
First, we notice Paul prays for the church. He did it right away when he heard about them and did it constantly. He had a priority and urgency about prayer and did it because he knew it would be effective.
Knowing God, like knowing a person, requires insight into the other's life.
There is a revealing that must take place. We need God’s help to know Him, which He is more than willing to give if we desire it.
Paul prays that the knowledge of God’s will would fill them and influence every area of their lives.
It is a true knowledge of all God desires for us based on His word and He wants to drive this into our very being. This comes from His Spirit who gives wisdom, rightly applying knowledge to our lives, and understanding, rightly applying knowledge to our thinking.
We can and should pray this for ourselves but also for one another as Paul did. We will help one another grow as we pray for each other.
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
John 17:9
The results of this knowledge
Knowledge of God’s will that is not applied into our lives is not real knowledge.
But our life with the Lord is characterized by walking, a constant progression. It makes our lives be on par with what God wants from us. This is the case even when we are imperfect.
God is pleased with our sincere but still faulty lives just like a loving Father coaches and helps His children.
Four other results happen. Our lives bear fruit that enrich others and ourselves too and gives meaning.
We actually know God better as we see Him work in us and others. We are made strong to be steadfast and patient, having a tenacity to do and think what is right despite opposition and provocation.
This strength comes from God and changes us. Lastly, we have an attitude of joyful thanksgiving to the Father because we know Him and trust Him.
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
John 17:3
The basis for this knowledge
We can know God because of what He has done for us. The Father has qualified us and given us authority and the rights to share in the inheritance of His children. He transferred us from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His Beloved Son. The Father rescued us because we were helpless.
Darkness and Light have many connotations.
Darkness signifies ignorance, shame, danger, dreariness, and death.
Light is knowledge, significance, peace, confident expectation and life.
All this comes through Jesus Christ and His work for us. It is applied to our lives by faith. He redeemed us and took on our darkness so we could be raised with Him to life and light. He paid the price for our sins and so we are forgiven and our sins have been sent away to Him instead of remaining with us.
Are we willing to trust all that Christ has done for us and rest in it?
He offers us not only right perspective, like glasses, but actually Himself. Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus (John 17:3), which is not only length but quality of life. Knowing Christ is all we really need and with Him we have everything else.
Assignment: Read Colossians as it brings out more of what Paul prayed for.
Also, pray this prayer for yourself and the church this week, especially before you have time reading God’s word. See how God shows Himself to you as a result.
How has knowing God’s will change your life? What clarity and perspective does it give?
