Daily Bible Reading 17th June 2025 // Colossians 1:24-29
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.
Paul makes it clear (v 25) that his ministerial office, his role as servant of the Gospel/Church is not something he has sought or chosen for himself. It is a result of the divine commission, given from on high. Surely, in the light of the suffering (v 24), the labour and the struggle (v 29), (the Greek word Paul uses gives us our English word 'agonise'!), it is only the one upon whom God lays his sovereign hand, calls out and empowers for service, who will be equal to the task. Is it this sense of divine commission that keeps the many faithful servants of the Gospel soldiering away in hard and fruitless parishes? Notice the place that preaching and the proclamation of the word of God has in the divine commission. Preaching is the priority. The commission is to present the word of God in all of its fullness. This is still the crying need of the Church today. The proclamation of Christ takes place by instruction and warning (v 28), by admonition and teaching. The word which Paul uses for 'admonish' has to do with setting the mind of someone in proper order; correcting him or putting him right. Sin blinds and clouds our minds and hearts. Sin deceives. It is the preaching of the word of God, the proclamation of Christ which straightens out our false and crooked thinking and undeceives. But O the cost for the preacher (v 29). Paul uses extremely vivid metaphors to explain the exertion involved. He pictures the task of preaching/ministry as a severe labour and toil. The words he uses imply a great weariness and physical tiredness from the immense effort expended in labouring for the congregation. This is front line battle, striving, agonising, labouring under a heavy burden to fulfil God's calling. At the same time (v 29), the apostle is very conscious that he is upheld and energised by the supernatural power of God: As Paul labours, so God works mightily through his weak and toiling servant.