1 For I want you to knowhow great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,
Paul is, in this epistle, is writing to a church, a group of people which consisted of many people he had never personally met.
He's also writing from Roman custody. He is -- literally -- in chains. He is isolated from the Church, physically.
We are in chains of our own. Each of us is experiencing this bondage in some capacity. Maybe you are socially isolated. Maybe you have lost a job. Maybe you are sick. Maybe you have lost a loved one.
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,
And yet, despite His custody, despite the chains, Paul's desire is that the Church would know and feel the great love and compassion that he has for them.
It is a love and compassion that extends from the very heart of Christ. It is founded in true Christian fellowship.
It is a "knitting together" of all believers, a weaving of unity founded on the great mystery and revelation of the Son of God.
We are united in that mystery, who spared nothing to reach us. No power in all of creation can separate us from Christ.
God truly does work in mysterious ways. There's no better example than Jesus! Fully God, fully man. God takes on our burdens; he takes on our broken form. He lives among us, suffers, and dies, and rises again, so that through that death we find life.
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Yet, despite how mind-blowing Jesus really is, God made it exceedingly simple for us. Trust Jesus.
We don't rationalize, or philosophize our way to God.
The heresy that the Church at Colossae dealt with was putting words in God's mouth. They added human philosophy and reasoning to God's Word. They did not trust and accept what God has already said about Himself, so they added to it.
Trust Jesus at His word. Believe in who He is, and what He says about Himself. Walk with him. When we humble ourselves in faith, the Spirit reveals the truth to us.
Wherever you are, know that we bind ourselves to you in the great mystery of God's love for us. We love you. We pray for you. We struggle with you. Even if we do not know you, we care for you.
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