A Walk Through Colossians 1:9-14
Learning to Walk His Way
Colossians 1:10a
We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Paul makes one petition
His petition is for these believers to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will.
In the original Greek, the word filled is pleroo, which means to make full, to fill so nothing is wanting, to flood, to diffuse throughout one’s soul and to take possession of one’s heart.
What is Paul asking they be filled with?
He is asking God to fill them with the knowledge of His will. This knowledge is a precise and accurate knowledge, a true knowledge of Christ’s nature and character. This knowledge consists of spiritual wisdom and understanding. In other words, Paul is asking that they learn the truths of Scripture and understand how to apply these truths to everyday life.
God’s will is the word thelema, which means what one wishes or has determined shall be done. It is God’s purpose, desires, commands and precepts.
This will is not an inner feeling or impression but a deep, thorough knowledge of God’s will as revealed in Scripture. We all seek God’s will in many areas of our lives. At times His will is outlined very clearly in Scripture and at other times it is not as black and white. However, Scripture does give us instruction on God’s will that can be applied to our lives at any time and in any circumstance.
- 1 Timothy 2:4 – we would all come to a saving knowledge of the truth of the gospel
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – that we would be sanctified or become like Christ in our conduct
- 1 Peter 4:19 – we would understand we have been called to suffer for God’s kingdom
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – be joyful always, pray continually and gives thanks in ALL circumstances
- Romans 12:2 – that we would no longer be conformed to the world but transformed in our thinking by the renewing of our mind, which enables us to test and approve His good, perfect and pleasing will
What have you asked God to reveal to you lately?
Is there an area of your life where you need direction?
What circumstance are you just not sure about?
Remember that regardless of our circumstances, we can know God’s will. When we don’t have the answers to the specifics, we can know we have come to a knowledge of truth…
- Truth that God desires we be conformed to Christ’s character
- Truth that we are to renew our minds in the truth of Scripture
- Truth that we are to pray continually and give thanks to God in all circumstances.
As we walk in the knowledge of the truths we do know, God will reveal deeper truths one step at a time.
In this short verse, Paul prays a tremendous prayer.
He prays that God would so infuse their hearts and souls with an accurate knowledge of Christ and of His purposes and desires, that they would walk out who they are in Christ Jesus – that they would learn to walk His way.
Join us next week as we look at what walking His way looks like in our everyday life.
Susan Cady
This post first appeared on the blog, susancady.com, ©2012