S) "5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ."
Colossians 2:5 (NASB)
O) As I mentioned in my entry about v.23 (SOAP 06/16/2016), Paul was writing this book, in part and especially this chapter, so that the church at Colossae would not be deceived with false teaching. Because of the serious dangers of false teaching, Paul didn't want anything to be misunderstood. Sometimes, when a person is speaking passionately, bluntly, and strictly about a very important topic, it is easy for their demeanor to sometimes be mistaken as anger. I think just about every parent can relate to that, if they are giving a stern talk to their child and the kid thinks the parent is angry. That seems to be the case with Paul sometimes (e.g., 2 Corinthians 2:1-4). In the verse above, he seems to be trying to disarm the Colossians, to reassure them that he is for them, not against them. He spent the first paragraph of this chapter, mostly assuring them of his affection for them. Just before the above verse, he sets a precedent for why he is about to go through this discourse, and with the verse above he sort of protracts that purpose out further. Paul knew that he couldn't remain with every church he planted, but he still felt very responsible for them (e.g., 2 Corinthians 11:28). False teachers were beginning to rise among the churches, and he felt responsible to protect them as best he could, even in his absence.
A) While reading the chapter with that context, and remembering how Paul sometimes referred to his churches and students as his spiritual or metaphorical kids (e.g., 1 Timothy 1:18, or 1 Corinthians 4:14), this verse jumped out at me as a dad. Even just two days ago, I was telling Ella that no teacher worth his salt, would ever feel bitter when his student passed him in knowledge and ability. That should be a teacher's greatest joy. In the same way, my kids could do nothing to make me more happy, than to be stronger, more knowledgeable, and better disciples of Christ than I am. In that way, the verse above becomes a prayer of mine, for my children. Every parent wishes their children would outlive them, and I am no exception. Because of that, or maybe, likely much before it (see Genesis 2:24), I will be absent from my kids. When that happens, I hope and pray, that even though I am absent in body, I would be with them in spirit, rejoicing to see their good discipline and the stability of their faith in Christ.
P) Father, it is purely by grace that I came to faith in You. The discipline I have is still Your grace at work in me, as I also place my faith and trust in You. Because of that, I know that all of my teaching, preparing, and example-setting will only bear fruit in the lives of my kids, when it is working in tandem with Your grace upon their hearts. So Father, I ask that You would work in them, that even though I might be absent from them in body, nevertheless I would be with them in spirit, rejoicing to see their good discipline and the stability of their faith in Christ. Give me the wisdom to teach and raise them well, and to trust that You will do the rest. May they be better disciples of Jesus Christ than I ever am. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
A) While reading the chapter with that context, and remembering how Paul sometimes referred to his churches and students as his spiritual or metaphorical kids (e.g., 1 Timothy 1:18, or 1 Corinthians 4:14), this verse jumped out at me as a dad. Even just two days ago, I was telling Ella that no teacher worth his salt, would ever feel bitter when his student passed him in knowledge and ability. That should be a teacher's greatest joy. In the same way, my kids could do nothing to make me more happy, than to be stronger, more knowledgeable, and better disciples of Christ than I am. In that way, the verse above becomes a prayer of mine, for my children. Every parent wishes their children would outlive them, and I am no exception. Because of that, or maybe, likely much before it (see Genesis 2:24), I will be absent from my kids. When that happens, I hope and pray, that even though I am absent in body, I would be with them in spirit, rejoicing to see their good discipline and the stability of their faith in Christ.
P) Father, it is purely by grace that I came to faith in You. The discipline I have is still Your grace at work in me, as I also place my faith and trust in You. Because of that, I know that all of my teaching, preparing, and example-setting will only bear fruit in the lives of my kids, when it is working in tandem with Your grace upon their hearts. So Father, I ask that You would work in them, that even though I might be absent from them in body, nevertheless I would be with them in spirit, rejoicing to see their good discipline and the stability of their faith in Christ. Give me the wisdom to teach and raise them well, and to trust that You will do the rest. May they be better disciples of Jesus Christ than I ever am. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment