Specific Purpose

"In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to make the Word of God fully known [among you]"

Colossians 1:25 (AMP)

A minister in accordance with the divine stewardship. 

A servant appointed by God. Col 1:25 (VOICE)

"Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God’s master plan." Colossians 1:1 (MSG).

In accordance with divine stewardship.

God's plan with a specific purpose. 

I went to college with the idea that I was going to teach on a "mission field". I "proudly" told God that I'd go ANYWHERE He wanted me to go—as a missionary. 

During my Senior year, God finally got though my thick-skull and worked in my heart. I then was willing to submit to God and "Be ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, God wanted." 

There's a big difference in submitting to God's will with pre-concieved ideas and ideals, and submitting to God 100% allowing Him to decide what is best.

Looking back over the past 29 years (since college graduation), I can honestly say that I would not have personally chosen all the special assignments God designed for me. But I can say, that through each assignment, God has been faithful and has taught me much about Himself and His amazing love. 

Divine stewardship. 

I have a responsibility to share God's grace and mercy. I also have a responsibility to make sure that each and every day, I am obeying my "divine orders" and living in accordance with His Word. 

In order to carry out my special assignment from God, I must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).

Rejoice

[Even] now I rejoice in the midst of my sufferings on your behalf. And in my own person I am making up whatever is still lacking and remains to be completed [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church. Colossians 1:24 (AMP)

Rejoice in the midst of my sufferings.

As we read the Apostle Paul's writings, we know that he suffered much. Paul is writing Colossians from prison. We know from Acts 16:25 that even while in Prison, Paul was rejoicing:

"But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them" (AMP). 

Rejoice. 

Lately, God has been blessing me abundantly, so it's been easy to rejoice. When things are going well, we have no problem being happy and singing. 

But when things don't go as we had planned, or it gets hard, or "bad things" happen—then it is MUCH harder to rejoice. 

But rejoicing isn't to be based on circumstances

or how we feel, or if we are happy.

Rejoicing is to be based on

WHO we know—God Almighty! 

God—does not change. God loves us. We may not "feel loved" or understand why we must go through situations or endure pain, but that DOES NOT change the FACT that God is God. 

"Oh, you are just saying to rejoice because things are going well for you." 

Even though God is blessing me, I still live in chronic pain and have a chronic headache. Life is "not easy" for me. But in the midst of my suffering, I know that God in His grace and mercy has a plan to accomplish His purpose. I may not understand the 'whys', but I know that I can trust God. 

Rejoice. 

How do I rejoice during the good times and bad times? It begins with being permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG). For when I know that God is working, and He is in control and He loves me—then I can rejoice because of HIM! 

Grounded and Settled

And this He will do] provided that you continue to stay with andin the faith [in Christ], well-grounded and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which has been preached [as being designed for and offered without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:23 (AMP)

Grounded and settled not in me or what I have done, rather I am grounded and settled in the firm, steadfast, unmovable, unchangeable, rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ. 

Being grounded and settled in the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ

provides SECURITY.

Being grounded and settled in the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ

provides STABILITY.

Being grounded and settled in the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ

provides SAFETY.

Being grounded and settled in the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ

provides SANCTUARY.

Being grounded and settled in the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ

provides all the SUPPLIES for needs.

Being grounded and settled in the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ

provides STEADFASTNESS.

"not shifting or moving away from the hope"

Not only am I to be grounded and settled... but set in stone, or cemented so that I will not shift or bend as the winds of inciting ungodly whims blow my way. 

Satan makes sin look enjoyable and fun, however, it's a short-lived and empty fun. Sin has consequences. And the biggest is that it hinders and destroys a personal relationship with God. 

Being grounded and settled in the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ begins with faith and trust in Him for salvation, and continues as I am permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).

What a Contrast

"And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence."

Colossians 1:21, 22 (AMP)

Alienated and enemies—actively against God.

But because of Christ's redemptive work

on the Cross at Calvary

—His death and resurrection—

He presents us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in God's sight. Positively consecrated, separated unto God.

What a contrast.

Do I live my life as one who has been presented holy and positively consecrated separated unto God? Do my words, actions, thoughts, choices, reflect that I've been redeemed by Jesus Christ? 

Or do I still live as an enemy—actively against God? 

The only way for me to live a life in accordance with God's Word, is to be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).

Peace

"And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross." Colossians 1:20 (AMP) 

".....this peace he has made by his "blood", that is, by the shedding of it, by his death as a sacrifice, which he underwent on the cross; partly to denote the shame, and chiefly to signify the curse he endured in the room of his people: all which shows the malignant nature of sin, the strictness of justice, and that peace is made in a way of full satisfaction, is upon honourable terms, will be lasting, as it is joyful, being attended with a train of blessings:" John Gill's Exposition of the Bible 

Peace. 

"Peace is the infiltrating, life-giving presence of a very real God." Michel Cushatt

Peace. True peace. Real peace. God-given peace. Peace that is lasting, joyful, and accompanied with blessings. 

Peace because Jesus Christ died for my sin, and rose again, and is sitting on the Throne interceding for me. 

Peace. 

As I strive to be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG), I will have a deeper understanding of God's true peace. 

Peace of Christ is a legacy. The Peace of Christ is a treasure. Because true peace comes from God.

Promises of Grace

For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently. Colossians 1:19 (AMP) 

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Though all the perfections of God are in Christ, as eternity, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability, independence, and necessary existence, and every other, or he would not be equal with God;" 

"There is a fulness of grace in him, out of which saints receive, and grace for grace, or a large abundance of it; the fulness of the spirit of grace, and of all the graces and gifts of the Spirit is in him; and of all the blessings of grace, as a justifying righteousness, pardon of sin, adoption, sanctification, even of all that grace that is implanted in regeneration, that is necessary to carry on and finish the good work upon the soul; there is a fulness of all light and life, of wisdom, and strength, of peace, joy, and comfort, and of all the promises of grace, both with respect to this world and that which is to come;"

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible; Colossians 1:19.

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"There is a fulness of all light and life, of wisdom, and strength, of peace, joy, and comfort, and of all the promises of grace.." 

Because Jesus Christ is God, I have the promise of wisdom, strength, peace, joy and comfort—all because of God's grace given to me through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

To fully enjoy all that God and His Son has to offer me, I must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG) 

Unmatchable. Unsurpassable.

"He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]." Colossians 1:18 (AMP)

First and be preeminent. 

Number One. Incomparable. Supreme. Superior. Unequalled. Ultimate. Matchless. Unmatchable. Unsurpassable. 

Occupy. 

Be active with. Immerse. Involve. Engage. Monopolize. Residence.

In EVERY respect. 

Without exception. Consideration. Practice. Regard.

Fact: Jesus Christ is the first and unequalled. 

Because of that FACT, He is to have unmatchable and unsurpassable residence in my heart and life, without exception. There is to be NO competition.

Does Jesus Christ have the ultimate, unmatchable, preeminent place in every aspect of my life? 

In order for me to say "yes" to that question, I must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).