What Great Conflict

Today's Verse:

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ~Colossians 2:1 

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The word "conflict" means to fight or contend with. Dictionary.com defines it as a fight, battle, or struggle, especially a prolonged struggle or strife. Paul had a “shepherd’s heart” for the spiritual lives of believers. The devil seeks to discredit or destroy the faith of every believer. Paul wanted his friends in the church at Colossae to know that he was in the spiritual battle with them. One of the indicators of our love for the brethren is “what great conflict” we have for them. 

He was burdened for their welfare. 

“And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.” Paul knew there were spiritual wolves seeking to take advantage of the faith of believers who were not grounded in the Word. The church at Colossae was under attack by a false teaching known as Gnosticism. This false teaching denied the deity of Jesus Christ. It attacked His sinless nature when He was on earth. So, Paul was concerned for the steadfastness of their faith. Like Paul, we should be moved in our soul for the lives of fellow believers. 

He was burdened for their walk. 

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” He encouraged them to keep going forward in Jesus. He encouraged them to get their roots deep in Christ and building upon their most holy faith. A fruitful walk with the Lord is one that gets stronger through daily devotion, through attendance under sound preaching of God’s Word, and being thankful in everything. Do you have great conflict in your soul for the spiritual walk of your spouse, children, and those you teach God’s Word to? 

He was burdened for their wisdom. 

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” The enemy seeks to manipulate and deceive immature and unsuspecting believers through two avenues: traditions of men and the rudiments of the world. Organized religion and bodies with hierarchal classifications exalt traditions over truth. They exalt the teachings of a man of charismatic personality or institutional creeds over Bible doctrine and duty. On the other extreme, the rudiments of the world seek to corrupt through the use of modernization, trends, and a contemporary lifestyle to move believers and fundamental churches away from being steadfast in Christ. Paul tells us, “Beware lest any man spoil you.” Don’t be gullible to every new fad or idea that circulates among believers. 

He was burdened in his wrestling. 

Paul was a man of prayer. He studied other prayer warriors. He referred to the prayer of Epaphras, who was the pastor of the church at Colossae. He described this man’s praying as laboring fervently in his prayers for them. Laboring fervently means to agonize or wrestle in one’s praying. We are wrestling against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness in this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. The battle for men’s souls is won in one room: the prayer room, where we wrestle in our praying for those whom we carry a great conflict for. Do you feel a great conflict for the spiritual welfare of others? 

Have a guarded God Morning! 

Reading Schedule: Jeremiah 26-29

#Colossians #Faith #FalseDoctrine #Steadfastness #Traditions #World