Paul’s Labor for the Church

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Paul’s Labor for the Church

Date: Feb. 23, 2026

Passage

Colossians 1:24-2:5 (ESV)

24 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, 25 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, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 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. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

1 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, 2 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, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 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.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:1:28

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Paul endured many hardships, yet he found joy in them because they were for the sake of the church. Despite all he faced, he remained aware that his trials did not compare to what Christ endured in His body. Paul understood that his mission involved bearing these burdens for the church. Paul was called to suffer for the church (Acts 9:16). God commissioned Paul to spread the gospel to the Gentiles, and he presented the gospel to them just as God had told him. Paul called the gospel the mystery “kept hidden for ages but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.” (26) This mystery is Christ in us, our hope of glory. In Christ is all wisdom so that we may become fully mature. Paul worked very hard to make sure this gospel was spread to the ends of the earth.

Paul labored incessantly for God’s people in Colossae and Laodicea, even though he had never met them. His goal in his labor was that they may be encouraged in their hearts and united in love. In this way, they would come to know the mystery of God, who is Christ. While it may be tempting to some to seek out wisdom and knowledge from false teachers who promise many things, we have Christ which is the embodiment of all wisdom and knowledge.

Prayer: Father, help us to avoid all false teachings and cling to the wisdom found only in Christ.

One Word: Jesus is the one we proclaim

Paul’s Labor for the Church

Colossians 1:24-2:5

Key Verse: 1:1:28

Greeting

1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

Today's Question

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