Tuesday, October 31st, 2023

Scripture: Col. 1:28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Col.1:29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Teaching: After explaining what he has been called to do – preach to the Gentiles – Paul explains why and how he does it in verses 28-29. First, Paul is sure to say that it is Christ whom He proclaims – not any sort of impressive worldly knowledge, powerful storytelling, or anything other than, as he says in 1 Cor. 2:2, “...Christ and him crucified.”

In preaching Christ, Paul says he is “warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom” – why? So “that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” It is in preaching and teaching the truth of God’s Word that Paul, and we, have any power in shaping the lives of those who hear and listen. In our preaching and teaching, God gets the glory because it is His Word, not ours, and His truth, not ours, that has the power to shape our lives in a way that is holy and pleasing to the Him. To do this, the Lord enables any who would preach and teach His truth with His Spirit to first, illuminate and understand God’s Word and secondly, strengthen them to preach and teach it, as Paul says in verse 29.

Why is it important to be mature in Christ? Because when we are mature in Christ, the wisdom we follow is Christ’s.

Takeaway: Paul labored his entire life after coming to faith so that others would receive the Gospel in faith and be built up in Christian maturity. By reading his letters, we can hear his passion in expressing the life changing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But, while Paul certainly taught on how to live as a Christian in this life, Paul always kept his eyes on what was most important: eternity. In verse 28, Paul says he is not simply teaching but also warning. Jesus Christ is coming back to reign and we look forward to that day expectantly. In the meantime, we are called to live in maturity, understanding that eternity with Christ is worth more than any present circumstances, and whatever tribulations this world can bring, Christ has already overcome them. In Him, so do we.