Colossians 1:9,10 - Increasing in the knowledge of God

1:9

Paul had heard good things about the Colossians, but his reaction was not to be complacent, thinking they were doing alright and so he didn’t need to worry about them. Instead this encouraged him to pray all the more for them. Paul prayed that God would fill them with knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. If God is clearly doing a work in someone then there are two other things that should happen. One is that the person, or group of people, should “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Tim 1:6) and the other is that others need to pray for them. Then there will be much fruitfulness. It is so easy for someone who is initially doing well to get sidetracked, to start going down a road that is ultimately ungodly. We have probably seen this with individuals that we know, and with Christian groups or organisations that have gone astray.

1:10

We now see the goal of Paul’s prayers, we see why he wants them to be filled with the knowledge of God, and it is not for academic reasons. It is so that we live life worthy of the Lord. Everything is God centred. If you observe liberal theologians or prosperity gospellers, or any other deviant teachings, things become man-centred. A question we should always ask is “what’s the focus?”. We should also use this test on ourselves, for we will subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) turn the focus on to ourselves and we will start living by the flesh instead of by the Spirit. We are to live lives pleasing to the Lord, it is relational. And what will such a life look like? It will bear fruit in good works, and grow in the knowledge of God. The knowledge of God produces good works and fruitfulness, but good works and fruitfulness also increase our knowledge of God. we have a virtuous circle. The knowledge of God is not an academic entity, but a life entity.