Colossians 1: 24-29
(24) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
The afflictions Christ feels in His body is thlipsis, "under pressure" to fill up, antanapleroo, "to supplement, to fill in," like filling in the spaces between the tiles when laying a floor, what is lacking, not quite finished yet.
Paul is saying that his sufferings, pathema, "emotional pain," for the sake of the church, is helping to fill in some of the spaces between the body parts, to grow up the church. He's rejoicing that God is using him for this.
(25) Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit,
Paul is a servant of Christ's body, the church, including this congregation in Colossae, and is aware that he will give an account to God as a steward, someone who is responsible for someone else's property. This is to benefit these believers in Colossae.
so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
(26) that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
He says that what he is preaching is something new, that no one had known before, but God is now revealing it to His saints who are Christ's body.
(27) to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
He says that what is new is that Gentiles are placed into the body, the same as the Jews; God is treating both the same, unlike before; both are being placed together into the same organism which is Christ's body. And that Christ is living in the bodies of His Gentile saints in the person of His Holy Spirit, the same as in His Jewish saints. This gives us all the great hope of the prospect that we will enjoy the same glory that Christ has with the Father, as His body! This is amazing!
(28) We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Paul does not leave anyone out. He will share with every person who will listen, that Christ will complete every man or woman who is willing to turn to Him. Christ wants for every person to be whole, not lacking in anything, but to grow up to maturity. (He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance II Peter 3: 9 KJV.)
(29) For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
This is why Paul works so hard, endures so much suffering, travels so far, so he can reach as many people as he can. He realizes that he is only one person, but when God is working in even one person, He can do mighty things through him. So God's power is working mightily in and through Paul.
O that I might be as sold out as Paul was, so that God would work on and in and through me, too. I want to be used of God, as Paul was willing to be.
O my Father, You used Paul to plant Your church all over the world, as it was known in his day. Father, You have chosen the human race of man to be Your children, and You are not willing that any of us would miss out on this opportunity. You know that many do not want You, but every person needs to hear how much You love them, and want to help and heal and grow them.
Send out Your children, Father; send us to all those who are still pre-born into Your family, that we may share with each one, and You will bring them to the birth. They only need to hear Your gospel, but they need a preacher, and the preachers need to be sent!
Father, please accomplish Your Plan of the Ages according to Your will and Your timetable. You are never late, even though we tend to get anxious in looking for your workings. Show us how You are patient, so that we also can be patient, waiting for our great hope in Your glory.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim the Lordship if Jesus, our Christ, Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
