1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
Paul emphasises knowing what is going on with someone on their behalf – this is not to take credit to himself for it, (though it does sound like that to us and sometimes makes us feel uncomfortable) but the knowing and acknowledgement always has a direction – it takes us to somewhere.
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
Coming to know and appreciate a person’s work and care for me might be a small thing, but it will inevitably lead to the fuller knowledge of understanding God who drives the person and his way of working.
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
If you come to know the trouble and care the person near you is taking for you, you begin to know Christ and his work; if you come to know Christ, you begin to know God and his working. God intended this humble and humbling process.
4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.
All gospel teachings and teachers therefore should point to Christ, not the teaching or the teacher it/himself.
5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
This kind of deep and pure knowledge about someone without debris, misunderstanding, or remorse is described as you are in someone. As our understanding of God grows our being in him becomes more and more evident – this is also described as having faith.
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
This state of having faith and being in him is not something we have looked for and found by ourselves. It was given. As much as it is a state, it is also an ongoing action. ‘Being in him’ or ‘having faith’ does not stay and go stale – it has a nature of growing, multiplying, spreading (as hinted in many of Jesus’ parables).
7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
One seen form of that faith being lived out would be being thankful. It is even the world’s trend to look for things to be grateful for. But believers’ small thanks have a direction. It has a goal of giving thanks that God sent Christ that he does not lose anyone of those God had given him and that he let this known to us – the thanksgiving of Christ (John 17:12, Luke 10:21).
Lord, thank you that we are in this chain of one small thing/person leading to another, and inevitably to Christ and therefore to you. It looks on the surface like trouble taken in vain, ineffective, too time and effort consuming, especially in this present age where things are so instant, fast moving, done in a click or a drag on a screen. Lord if we believe in your purpose, let us painfully but gladly slowdown to see and appreciate your working right now, around me. Let me give thanks for it so that I may come to see you, your marvellous thoughts and love for me, and be driven by it.