Lesson 9 – Struggling for the Right Goal, part 1 (2:1-5)
Read Colossians 2 - www.bible.com/bible/59/col.2
In the first chapter of Colossians we studied how we become stable in our relationship with Jesus Christ through relationships with others, thanksgiving to Him, prayer, knowing Him, and serving Him. Beginning with chapter 2 through the rest of the book, we will see our stable relationship with Him in action through every part of our life.
As we open this chapter, we read that Paul is struggling. Let’s stop right there because we often think that Christians shouldn’t need to struggle. After all, doesn’t God meet all our needs? The answer is yes, He does, but he never promised us a life here on earth free of struggle and trials and temptations. In fact, He promised us the exact opposite.
*What does John 16:33 say we will have in this world? ____
*According to 1 Peter 4:12, what should we never be by trials? ____
If we look back at the previous chapter, we see that Paul’s struggle was in prayer. And if we continue in this first verse, we discover he was struggling for people he’d never even met.
In the next few verses, we find out the real things we need to be struggling for. Many Christians limit their prayer time to those who are ill or in financial difficulty or need a job. These things are not unimportant to God, but He does want us to focus our attention on the higher things. Let’s list the things Paul was praying for:
- Hearts to be encouraged
- Bonded together in love
- Assurance of understanding
- Knowledge of God’s mystery in Christ and His treasures of wisdom and knowledge
Then, in verses 4 and 5, we find out why he was praying this – 1) he didn’t want them to be vulnerable to those who would lie to them, and 2) he wanted them to grow strong in their faith in Jesus Christ.
When we struggle in prayer for someone, do we spend our time doing so for momentary things or for eternal things?