Col 1:27-29 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”
In verse twenty-six, Paul had just told us that God has made known to His saints a mystery that has been hidden from man’s wisdom through the ages. In verse twenty-seven, he tells us more about this mystery, and the wonder of God’s love and care for us. To those of us He has consecrated unto Himself, He purposes to make known the very apparent (see Strong’s definition of “glory”) abundance (riches) of this mystery.
The great power of this mystery should cause us to bow before Him in wonder: Christ is in us! He has fulfilled His promise that He and His Father would come and make their abode with us (Joh 14:23). Because He dwells in us, we have an expectation and a confidence (hope) that our worship and praise for Him is very apparent. We hold by faith, as being abundantly true, mysteries that man’s wisdom cannot grasp; a virgin gave birth to the Son of God; He is risen from the dead to die no more.
I am so thankful for God’s mercy that has allowed me to believe these truths for as long as I can remember. I thank Him that He has given me the grace to preach Jesus Christ for the past forty-eight years in many parts of the country. I am thankful that, like Paul, I have had the privilege to admonish (see Strong’s definition of “warn”) many concerning our faith in Jesus. I am thankful that He has allowed me to walk in a manner that has taught others about Him. I am thankful that I have the wisdom to know that I don’t deserve any honor or credit for this: it is according to His wisdom and only by His grace.
According to His purpose, the preaching of the riches of the glory of His holy mystery allows us to stand beside (present) those who have heard and obeyed the gospel. We are able to present them complete and mature in His grace and knowledge. As ministers, this is our desire and the reason for our labor; that others may be drawn to Him by His use of us to declare the truth in the power of the Holy Ghost.
While being a ministering servant is a labor, it is a labor of love. It is not something we undertake on our own, but we labor according to the working of God in us. Again, it is by His power: we are only vessels used according to His will. Thankfully, He is pleased to work in us mightily.
The word rendered as “mightily” means “with miraculous power.” To believe the mystery of Jesus in us, the hope of glory, requires God’s miraculous power. To preach His glorious truth requires miraculous power. To be a ministering servant to others requires miraculous power. This miraculous power resides in God and not man, and He works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:13).
May we be blessed to minister according to the might power of God for the glory of Jesus Christ and the edification of His saints!
