Well, I was reading the first chapter of Colossians (Colossians 1) and I was surprised by how much it covered. It is a pretty extensive start for one of Paul's letters. One of my favorite parts is verse 9-10, where Paul gives a great example of something we should ask God for - an understanding of what he wants to do in your life, and spiritual wisdom.
So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we will ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better. - Colossians 1:9-10
Boy I want that first thing!
I would love to have someone like Paul ask God to give me an understanding of what he wants to do in my life! I don't want to waste time, I only have so long down here, so I want to be involved in God's work whenever I can. The last thing I want is to find out that I wasted 10 years doing my own thing - instead of doing what God had called me to do. Because let me tell you what, seeing how God is the Omnipotent, Almighty creator of the universe - he should have a pretty good idea of what I should be doing. And as powerful as I am, always making new worlds and such, I might not know what is best for me - I might make wrong plans. (lol) Therefore, this is one thing that I've added to my prayer list - God, help me understand [b[your[/b] plan for me.The second thing that Paul asks for is just as important; to become wise with spiritual wisdom. You know, I've learned that all wisdom is not the same. There is earthly wisdom, and there is God's wisdom. Earthly wisdom tells you that it's up to you - you need to do whatever it takes to make a lot of money in life so that you will be set financially. God's wisdom says, "But my God shall supply all of your need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19) so don't worry about it, take up your cross and follow Christ. Here are some other verses that show the difference between God's wisdom and earthly wisdom
roverb 2:6Proverbs 3:13
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. - Psalm 111:10 Stop fooling yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world standards, you will have to become a fool so that you can become wise by God standards. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, " God catches those who think they are wise in their own cleverness" and again, " the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, and they are worthless". - 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 "We have depended on God's grace, not on our own earthly wisdom." - 2 Corinthians 1:12 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. - Matthew 11:18-19
The reason that we want these two gifts is so that "the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better." I love helping other people; I think it's a lot of fun to do things for others. So I want to, "continually do good, kind things for others".
Now, that last part is one thing that I'm afraid of - apathy. I want to continue to know God better and better, I want to become a closer part of his family. He's my God and Father, and I want to be his son. I don't ever want to reach a point where I say, "OK God - this is good, I don't need to know you anymore". Just like I would want to spend more time with my best friends, my family, or with a girlfriend - I want to spend more time with a God who loved me enough to send his son to die on the cross for me.I encourage you to ask God for spiritual wisdom and understanding, because he will give it to you! (James 1:5) :bible:
So we have continued praying for you ever since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we will ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better. - Colossians 1:9-10
Boy I want that first thing!
roverb 2:6Proverbs 3:13The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. - Psalm 111:10 Stop fooling yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world standards, you will have to become a fool so that you can become wise by God standards. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, " God catches those who think they are wise in their own cleverness" and again, " the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, and they are worthless". - 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 "We have depended on God's grace, not on our own earthly wisdom." - 2 Corinthians 1:12 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. - Matthew 11:18-19
The reason that we want these two gifts is so that "the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better." I love helping other people; I think it's a lot of fun to do things for others. So I want to, "continually do good, kind things for others".
