The Shepherd’s Prayer for His Flock

Colossians 1:8-12

Col 1:8 who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light

In verse 9 of this text, Paul says to the church at Colosse, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it [i.e., of their love in the Spirit, verse 8], do not cease to pray for you”.” He then gives this list of five things that were his prayerful concern.

1. Spiritual Understanding

“To desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (verse 9). A key element in spiritual understanding is explained in Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

2. A Christian Walk (i.e., Lifestyle) Pleasing to the Lord

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (verse 10). That Christian walk is more fully described; from the positive and negative view in Colossians 3:1-15.

3. A Fruitful Life in Every Good Work

“Being fruitful in every good work” (verse 10). Jesus gave us a good lesson on this in John 10:1-8: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.”

4. Growth in Grace and the Knowledge of the Lord

“Increasing in the knowledge of the Lord” (verse 10). This is almost like the first point but is worth repeating. A similar statement is found in II Peter 3:18: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

5. Strength from the Lord

“Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (verse 11). Paul expresses the positive attitude of strength from the Lord in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”