Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Colossians 1:1–12

When you open the book of Colossians, you’re stepping into a letter written by a man who had every earthly reason to give up—and yet he didn’t. Paul, the author of this letter, was sitting in prison. More specifically, he was likely under house arrest in Rome around 60–61 AD, guarded day and night by Roman soldiers. He wasn’t free to come and go as he pleased. He couldn’t travel to visit the churches he loved or stand before crowds to preach. His ministry had been dramatically limited—or so it seemed.

But here’s what amazes me: Paul didn’t waste his time in despair. Instead, he used those prison years to write letters that would outlast his own lifetime and change the course of history. Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon are all letters written during his imprisonment. Sometimes people call Colossians and Ephesians “twin letters” because they share so many similar themes. But each has its own distinct flavor, and Colossians especially lifts our eyes to the supremacy of Christ.

Paul writes with chains on his wrists, yet joy in his heart. He may have lost his freedom, but he never lost his purpose. That’s something worth thinking about in our own lives. How often do we let circumstances steal our joy? How often do we let hardships define us instead of allowing Christ to shape our perspective?

Setting the Stage in Colossae

Before we jump into Colossians 1:1–12, it helps to understand a little about Colossae. This wasn’t a huge, powerful city. It wasn’t Rome or Jerusalem or even Ephesus. Colossae was a smaller town in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), overshadowed by nearby cities like Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Paul likely never visited Colossae personally. The church there seems to have been planted by Epaphras, one of Paul’s co-workers (Col. 1:7–8). Epaphras had heard Paul’s teaching, embraced the gospel, and carried it back to his hometown. Isn’t that beautiful? Sometimes we think we have to be well-known, well-traveled, or well-educated to make a difference. But here’s Epaphras, just an ordinary believer, who became the one God used to bring the good news to his own community.

The Colossians were relatively new believers. They had faith in Christ, and they were growing in love, but they were also surrounded by competing ideas—false philosophies, spiritual mysticism, legalism, and pressure to mix other beliefs with the gospel. Paul wrote to remind them (and us!) that Jesus is enough. He is the center. He is the truth.

Faith Rooted in Truth, Not Fairy Tales

Colossians 1:1–12 begins like so many of Paul’s letters—with encouragement. He thanks God for their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for one another. He celebrates what God has already done in their lives. That’s something I think we can learn from Paul: he looks for the good work God is doing before he addresses the areas that need correction.

Paul is very clear: this isn’t a fairy tale. This isn’t a nice story made up to make people feel better. Biblical faith isn’t “believing against all odds” like we sometimes hear today. It’s not pretending something is true when you know deep down it isn’t.

Mark Twain once joked that faith is “believing what you know ain’t so.” But that’s not Christian faith. Christian faith is standing on what you know to be true. It’s not wishful thinking—it’s rooted in a historical reality. Jesus really lived. He really died on the cross. He really rose again. And because of that, our faith has substance.

Think about it this way: You can have strong faith in a chair that’s missing a leg. You might sit down confidently, but the chair will still collapse. Strong faith in the wrong object won’t hold you up. But if you put even a tiny bit of faith in a solid, sturdy chair, it will support you—even if you’re nervous and shaky when you sit down.

That’s how it is with Jesus. It’s not the strength of our faith that saves us—it’s the object of our faith. Jesus is the solid rock. Even the smallest mustard seed of faith in Him is enough to change everything.

The Things We Put Our Faith In

If we’re honest, we often put our faith in all kinds of things other than Jesus. Money. Jobs. Relationships. Health. Status. And sure, those things can carry us for a little while. They can make us feel secure—for a season. But none of them can carry the weight of eternity.

Money can vanish in a single economic downturn. Jobs can disappear overnight. Relationships, as precious as they are, can’t ultimately save us. Even the strongest, most loving human connection can only go so far.

I remember talking with a friend who had built her identity around her career. She climbed the ladder, poured in long hours, and finally landed her dream position. But then, the company downsized. Just like that, the thing she had trusted to give her life meaning was gone. She told me, “I feel like the ground just disappeared under my feet.”

That’s what happens when we build our faith on anything other than Christ. But when Jesus is our foundation, even if the ground shakes, even if everything else crumbles, we stand secure.

The Gospel Is Good News—Because It’s True

Paul reminds the Colossians that the gospel is “bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world” (Col. 1:6). The message isn’t just good—it’s effective. It changes lives.

The gospel is the good news of the finished work of Jesus Christ. He died for us. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He made a way for us to be reconciled to God. And because it’s rooted in truth, it’s not just wishful thinking—it’s life-changing reality.

Think of it like this: if someone handed you a check for a million dollars, but the account was empty, that check would be worthless no matter how much you believed in it. But if the account is real and the money is there, the check changes everything. The gospel isn’t an empty promise—it’s a guarantee backed by the power of God.

Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians (and for Us)

One of the most beautiful parts of Colossians 1:1–12 is Paul’s prayer. He doesn’t pray for the Colossians to have wealth, comfort, or worldly success. He doesn’t even pray for their circumstances to get easier.

Instead, he prays that they would be filled with “the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col. 1:9). He prays that they would walk in a way worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with power, and enduring hardships with joy.

That’s not the kind of prayer we usually pray for ourselves, is it? We’re quick to pray for solutions, for things to get easier, for struggles to go away. And there’s nothing wrong with asking God for help in hard times. But Paul points us to something deeper: the strength to live faithfully no matter the circumstances.

He’s not praying for comfort—he’s praying for character.

Knowing and Doing God’s Will

So what does it mean to know God’s will? We sometimes make it complicated. We think of God’s will as a hidden map we have to decipher—Should I take this job or that one? Should I move here or there? Should I marry this person or not?

But at its heart, God’s will isn’t about a secret map. It’s about a relationship. On the most basic level, God’s will is that we would know Him and make Him known. That we would live in obedience and surrender. That we would walk with Him in trust.

Paul prayed that the Colossians would understand and discern God’s will so they could live lives pleasing to Him. That’s the call for us too. God’s will isn’t just about making the “right decision” in life’s big choices. It’s about living daily in a way that reflects Christ.

When you’re at work, do your actions and words point people to Jesus? When you’re at home, does the way you love your family reflect God’s love? When you’re in your community, do people see a glimpse of Christ in you? That’s God’s will.

Ambassadors for Christ

Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors for Christ. An ambassador doesn’t represent themselves—they represent the one who sent them. In the same way, our lives are meant to reflect Jesus wherever we go.

This is both an honor and a responsibility. It means that when people interact with us, they should get a taste of what Jesus is like. Not perfection—we’ll never live up to that—but humility, grace, forgiveness, love, and truth.

I think about how powerful this is when lived out in small, everyday ways. A kind word to a coworker who’s struggling. Patience with a child when you’re exhausted. Forgiving someone who hurt you deeply. Choosing honesty when a lie would be easier.

These moments may seem small, but they add up. They’re the fruit of a life rooted in Christ.

Endurance with Joy

Finally, Paul prays that the Colossians would be strengthened with all power “according to His glorious might” so they could endure hardships with patience and joy. That line always gets me. Not just endure. Endure with joy.

Joy doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine when it isn’t. It doesn’t mean ignoring pain or plastering on a fake smile. Joy is deeper than happiness—it’s the settled assurance that God is with us, that He is in control, and that our future is secure in Him.

Paul knew what he was talking about. He was writing these words while imprisoned. He wasn’t speaking from comfort—he was speaking from chains. And yet, he radiated joy. Why? Because his joy wasn’t in his circumstances. It was in Christ.

Bringing It Home

So what does Colossians 1:1–12 mean for us today?

• It reminds us that faith isn’t a fairy tale. It’s rooted in truth.
• It teaches us that the strength of our faith doesn’t save us—the object of our faith does.
• It calls us to put our faith in Christ, not in money, relationships, or status.
• It encourages us to pray for wisdom and knowledge of God’s will, not just for comfort or ease.
• It challenges us to live as ambassadors for Christ in our everyday lives.
• It shows us that joy is possible even in hardship when our eyes are fixed on Jesus.

Maybe today you’re in a place where you feel trapped like Paul. Maybe you feel like your circumstances have closed every door. Take heart—God can use even the most limited seasons for His glory. Paul’s prison letters are proof of that.

Maybe you’re struggling to know God’s will. Start with the basics: know Him, love Him, walk with Him, and make Him known. The rest will unfold as you walk step by step with Him.

Maybe you’re clinging to something other than Christ for your security. Let this passage remind you that only Jesus can hold the weight of your faith.

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A Prayer for Today

Let’s close with a prayer modeled after Paul’s words:

“Lord, fill us with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and understanding. Help us to walk in a way that pleases You, bearing fruit in every good work. Strengthen us with Your power so that we may endure hardships with patience and joy. Teach us to put our faith in You alone, and help us to live as Your ambassadors wherever we go. Amen.”