1:1-2 With the books of Colossians, we begin the twelfth book of the New Testament to people in present day Asia Minor. Paul and Timothy greet the Colossians, who have established and maintained an honest and hardworking ministry.
1:3 Paul is grateful for their compassionate work. Paul was completely entrenched in establishing and maintaining this philosophy throughout many regions. While introducing, preaching and traveling, he encountered much opposition. Paul even wrote to the workers of budding churches (like the Colossians) from prison, commending their work, promoting growth and redirecting errors.
One of the many examples we can learn from Paul's life is persistence. Even with a myriad of excuses to stop, take breaks, feel sorry for himself, Paul never did any of that. He consistently lived and worked to ensure that he was constantly producing and defending the values he held.
1:4 We have become familiar with Paul's gratitude. Paul has a wholehearted appreciation for workers of justice and compassion. Assuredly, it is no small thing to have kind people in the world; nothing propels justice more than diligent human beings with compassionate objectives.
1:5 Paul is grateful that the fruit of God, the spiritual nutrition and guidance, the freedom and opportunity has reached God's children here on earth. Humanity is here on a sojourn; we are here only temporarily to learn and grow.
Creation, God (however you conceive of divinity) hoped to reach humanity. Although to us it may seem like there is a disconnect between Spirit and Earth, their kinship is alive and well here to those who work to perceive it.
1:6 The fruit of God produces, inspiring: kindness, justice, wisdom, discernment, opportunity, serenity, peace of mind, courage and endless more. We are given to in order that we may give. God's gifts reverberate around the world. His intention is for kindness and all gifts to proliferate, reach more than only the first beneficiary.
1:7-8 Paul became familiar with the Colossians work through apostle Epaphras' account of them. We've spent a lot of valuable and blessed time with Paul but remember that God has many workers... it's not an elusive club. We are each fellow workers with God when we determine ourselves to be, accomplishing purposeful work and edification within and around ourselves.
1:9 Paul has learned that the Colossians are faithful and productive in the philosophy of justice and compassion and actively hopes for (prays for) three things for the continuance of their work:
1. Filled with Knowledge of His Will: God's children know His plan (for both the individual and the collective), trust His plan, and can perceive His plan extended throughout the world.
2. Filled with His Wisdom: God's children know the origin and destination, intricate detail and reason for His plan. We are given the tools, materials and opportunity to grow in wisdom and each of its branches: patience, natural justice, logic.
3. Filled with Spiritual Understanding: God's children understand their soul. We understand the difference, rather than the disconnect, between flesh and soul. We understand life on earth as a classroom, a temporary stay, and life in Spirit as eternal, edified.
1:10 This is the objective of the faithful human-being: "...being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." A non-religious person can fulfill this objective without even realizing. We do the compassionate work, we inevitable arrive at our spiritual home (whether we believed in such a thing or not). What is essential is that one believes in compassion and justice and purposes toward compassion and justice in their thoughts, words, motivations and actions.
The knowledge of God is deeper than simply believing in God. The knowledge of God is an active and purposeful understanding and agreement with His objective for humanity and all life.
1:11 Paul continues to pray for the materials God's children need to be successful in their purpose:
1. Strength: To draw courage and health and life from our Spiritual niche
2. Patience: To have serenity and stoicism in an erratic world
3. Perseverance: To remain in strength and patience, motivation and production
4. Joy: To receive and give compassion, to laugh and smile and believe and hope and dream
The aforementioned are the recipe for a figuratively nutritious life; an adequately balanced and thriving soul. These things are learned and exemplified in scripture but also in nature. Observe the natural world's strength, patience, perseverance and joy. We learn these things, grow deeper in our understanding and ability to utilize them when we actively work to do so. Life requires our focused participation.
1:12 Finally Paul wishes for them (us) to have gratitude. Not because God requires it but because our ability to be grateful builds are ability to be humble, to perceive our miraculous earth and life for what it is: a beautiful, impossible gift. Humility is a clarified lens through which to accurately perceive the earth and the life within it, therefore breeding understanding inside of our minds and souls.
1:13 Spirit guides us out of darkness: darkness within ourselves and around ourselves. What is darkness? Darkness is hopelessness, confusion, purposelessness, apathy, lethargy, greed, waywardness... Darkness, the parts of our lives we may not even realize are there, but are hindering us from complete, unadulterated contentment and happiness, purpose and wisdom. He guides us away from selfish motivations, desires for wealth, power, fame, property... and directly into selfishness, gifts of expression and creativity, the true wealth of life, the inheritance of all land and space in the universe.
1:14 We are able to redeem ourselves, to give and earn forgiveness from ourselves to ourselves because we learn how to respect ourselves. God loves us; He has ensured that His philosophy is around us, available for us to reach out and grab it, place it directly into our hearts. Why? Because His objective is our happiness, not our reverence. He teaches us how to forgive ourselves for the dark acts, the dark desires, the dark lethargy and to become alive and motivated in works of Light.
1:15 Divinity manifested itself in a way that humans could more readily understand. The "soul" and "spirit" are difficult things to explain... for they are felt, rather than seen. So creation manifested a tangible presence, a life, through which to explain and exemplify core concepts and elements of spirit, soul and this philosophy of compassion.
1:16 These next few verses give us an inkling of divinity's sheer, inconceivable massiveness. No matter what happens on earth or in universe, all has come from the same origin of life force, life wisdom, creation. Every atom and element, voice, building, lung, car, country, star, planet, breath, bark, smile, laugh, hope, dream... has been made possible by this intelligent, wise, compassionate source of creation.
All things were created through Him (or whichever word you choose to describe divinity) and for Him. Meaning that all things are meant to fulfill his objective of compassion. What is pleasing to creation is justice, compassion, truth and wisdom and so all life is meant to produce those things... here's where it gets tricky: creation is generous with us, giving us freedom to contradict its intentions.
1:17 Humans have only been on earth for a minuscule amount of time. Time is irrelevant to creation, as creation has, does and will always exist and supersede that which has come from it (humanity... and all things).
1:18 The word "dead" is used figuratively here: those who are not enlightened to compassionate philosophy, faith and creation are, in darkness, akin to being dead. For the dead have no purpose, do no work, make no contributions, express no joy... God's children are alive. When we spiritual awaken, we begin to discover what that truly means.
1:19-20 The manifestation of the Messiah was an offering, an opportunity to discover and edify our souls. There are many ways through which God has worked to reach His children, Christianity not being the only method through which a person can discover their spirituality. And yet this that we study is one and is wise and encouraging in doing so.
1:21-22 We are saved from ourselves by this philosophy. Much of humanity is spiritual malnourished in that they have no or limited internal happiness, strength and wisdom. Creation provides and prods those things into our souls, giving us new life and motivated purpose.
1:23 Remain humble, and faithfully focused. Spiritual health, like all health, requires persistence and maintenance. Spiritual health requires spiritual contemplation, spiritual works. Never abandon the source which has given you life, never forget that it sustains you.
1:25 Paul explains to us: I have been given these abilities for your benefit. God is reaching out to us, purposefully with organization. We are loved by Him so deeply and therefore our spiritual health and joy is promoted, protected and inspired by Him when we accept His love. 1 Corinthians 12 explains God's gifts, how well designed and planted they are in each of us.
1:26-27 People have not always understood spirit. Even now, many do not understand. God reveals. Look deeper, perceive, He is within you, you are within Him. You are not your body, you are a soul. Reference: 1 Corinthians 6:19 for further study.
1:28 The apostles preached to warn people of the discontentment that comes from a life devoid of spirituality. Without compassionate purpose we have no productive contributions here, no internal rest or peace, no understanding of ourselves, humanity, earth, universe, life. We are encouraged to learn and grow in wisdom and character as exemplified to us by nature, by the Messiah, by these words and accounts of humans before us.
1:29 A beautiful quote and life objective in faith, gratitude, humility and purpose: To this end I also labor, STRIVING ACCORDING TO HIS WORKING WHICH WORKS IN ME MIGHTILY."
We are fellow workers with God. Our God, our creation is always working selflessly to promote our well-being. Work as persistently, humbly and generously as He freely, boldly, passionately does for us.
