OCT 10

Colossians 1:11
Memorise Colossians 1:11
“…according to his glorious power...”

Paul’s intercession for the Colossians to pursue spiritual maturity ends in this manner: “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:11). Paul pointed out that this knowledge of God’s will and this Christian testimony in Colossians 1:9-10 could only be achieved by God giving the strength to the Colossians to do so. That is why this is not impossible for a Christian, who “…can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). The phrase “strengthened with all might” points to the same, that God will give all the strength we will need to face the trials He has appointed us to face. That we ourselves do not possess this strength is implied by the following phrase “according to his glorious power”, for in the display of this strength, God is glorified. The extent of this strength is that it is shown not only in how the Christian endures through both trials (“patience”) and difficult people (“longsuffering”), but is able to do so “with joyfulness”, knowing he is doing God’s will.

Thus the spiritually mature Christian not only knows God’s will and submits to it (v9), but also does it God’s way (v10), that the glory may go to God alone for enabling the Christian to do so (v11). David knew it was God’s will that the heathen giant Goliath be defeated for defying God and submitted to this will. Although young David had previously slain a lion and a bear, God’s way was not that David would wrestle with Goliath for that would cause David to rely on his own strength and be glorified in victory; instead the giant was felled by a stone from a sling, that the glory would go to God alone (1 Samuel 17:47).

Dear teen, I pray that you too will realise that you can only live this life by submitting to God. It is not His will that you live by your own strength. On the contrary it is a recipe for disaster if you do so. We face our own spiritual Goliaths in the trials that beset us, and it is tempting to wallow in despair or use our own wisdom to manage these burdens. Remember, God means it for us to face life by knowing His will and doing it, and relying on Him for strength, so that He may be glorified. May you be fully surrendered to Him.

Thought: David as a hero of faith won the battle by surrendering to God.
Prayer: May my submission to God be absolute, not partial.