Paul’s GENERAL Calling and Suffering:

“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, 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, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 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. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:24-28) [ESV]

His Calling: “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:15-16) [ESV]

His Suffering: “… and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions …” (Colossians 1:24a) [ESV]

His Purpose: “… for the sake of his body, that is, the church of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you.” (Colossians 1:24b – 25) [ESV]

The Reason: “… the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 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.” (Colossians 1:26-27) [ESV]

The Result: “… that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
(Colossians 1:28) [ESV]

Paul’s SPECIFIC Calling To The Colossians:

“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” (Colossians 1:29-2:5)[ESV]

• Get up and do SOMETHING for the cause of Christ!

“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works in me.” (Colossians 1:29)

• Don’t focus on the struggle, focus on the purpose behind it!

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face …” (Colossians 2:1) [ESV]

• Think big, it’ll encourage you as you encourage others!

“… that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’” (Colossians 2:2-3) [ESV]

• Be united in the gospel.

“… being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full understanding and the knowledge of God’s mercy, which is Christ …” (Colossians 2:2b) [ESV]

The Expected Result … “ I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.” (Colossians 2:4) [ESV]