The Place to Be #67

 

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

When Paul wrote letters to churches, after speaking works of encouragement and then prayer and praise, he would usually step back at some point to share an overview of how he saw God using him in His plan. After all, Paul wanted them to see the big plan of God and how they fit in, so he saw it necessary to use himself as an example.  At first glance verse 24 might sound like Paul saw Christ's suffering for our sin as insufficient in some way and that Paul thought He needed to do something to add to the work of Christ. Rather, Paul saw himself as a vessel to point and draw people - especially the Gentiles - to Christ and what He had done.  This statement is actually focusing everything on Christ. He is God's plan. He is the One in whom we find salvation, hope, and all we need for godliness.  Paul wanted them (and us) to find what he had: Christ within - in fellowship and at work to make us a part of God's plan.