Rescued
Pondering Colossians Chapter One
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.—Colossians 1:11-14
Paul continues a prayer from his heart for the Colossian believers. He has prayed for their knowledge and wisdom, but he is not content with that. He wants them to know God because they are going to need the strength He provides in the troubling days ahead.
Joy is always in the mix of Paul’s prayers. Even when he is writing about hardship and struggles, he reminds Christians to be thankful and joyful. The joy of the Christian life is always rooted in the promised eternal life ahead. That is the reason that giving thanks is never tied to material possessions, power, fulfillment, or brilliance. It is always the promise that this life cannot come close to giving us the ultimate joy that is coming in our inheritance.
Inheritance is an interesting word. In Chapter 3, he will remind readers, “Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward…” An inheritance is received when someone dies and leaves their possessions to someone else. This reminds us that the promised inheritance is not earned, but gifted to us. It marks a certain time—a death. In one sense, it is the death of Christ that bestows upon us the promise of eternal life. In another sense, upon dying to self, being raised to new life in Christ, we receive promises that were never ours before. In Colossians 3, Paul reminds us, “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”
The truth about grace is that none of this is because of our own goodness. We are people of light in Christ, but remember what put us in that condition! A powerful word in these few sentences is rescued. Do you understand that a rescue operation was enacted at the cross, planned long before? In this successful rescue mission, Jesus releases believers from the kingdom of darkness. At this moment, it is not hard to see the kingdom of darkness all around us. On our own, we could never have escaped. Yet, One entered into the hellish domain and released captives to be free to live in a Kingdom of light.
In the Kingdom of his dear Son, we find promise, inheritance, joy, thanksgiving, freedom, and by the bloody sacrifice of our Rescuer, forgiveness. What looked like defeat to everyone at Golgotha was ultimate victory. And that victory has become the victory of every believer who gives their life to Christ.
In every dark valley of trouble and heartache, never forget that you have been rescued by One who gave all to save you. The inheritance is promised. Let this bring you hope, thanksgiving, and inner joy.
Next, we will visit the amazing praise that breaks out in the following verses. See you Friday.
Speaking of Rescue Missions, I was saved after receiving a Gospel track from a faithful ambassador of a rescue mission as I was walking down a street in Omaha, NE.
Can't get enough of Paul's prayers--as you said, so much joy revealed! I especially like the common themes in prayer, including those for being "strengthened with might!"