Back when I used to pray more frequently than I do now--a sad statement--I would read through the prayers of Paul and direct them as my own prayers toward individuals I know. Paul's prayer is Colossians 1 was one of those, and it seems a good place to begin blogging through Colossians.
Paul's prayer emanates from his thankfulness to God for the work already begun in his audience. In fact, he says "We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you." The content of his prayer that follows several verses later, then, is inspired by his recognition that those for whom he prays are the projects of God. (The "word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, . . . is constantly bearing fruit and increasing.") In essence, Paul is praying that God direct and bring to completion the project he has begun. That this is indeed God's project is indicated by the God-like behavior, exemplified in Christ, that has become characteristic of the believers as well: "love in the Spirit."
Here's a question for contemplation:
How does our recognition that we, our believing friends, and perhaps those we are mentoring are God's projects influence how we pray? How we give advice? How we encourage and build up?
"And those who were standing watched, and walked carefully near him, not knowing what he'd do--they'd all seen wonders, but nothing like this. And some said he was witchcraft, a phantom, and were afraid to answer him . . ."--Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
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2 comments:
Can you restate your discussion question. Maybe it is just too late but I wasn't tracking with it. Can you clarify?
PS - I can relate to the lack of prayer. Why is it that I continually struggle in this area?
Another way of stating the question would be: How does our knowledge or God's investment in the lives of our fellow pilgrims affect how we interact directly with them as well with God for them? How do such interactions in the community of faith look different than those outside?
Note: I'm not just referring to interactions that revolve around "spiritual issues," but even regarding those things that are the stuff of ordinary life. God is not somehow unconcerned with the ordinary life. But neither does he view our ordinary circumstances in the ordinary way we typically do. He has an investment; we are his project, as I mentioned.
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