Colossians 2

Verses 2-3 ".. that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ."

Paul says that this is his "struggle", his efforts are focused on this goal for all those in the church.  I need to unpack this, to grasp all that he is saying.  Holy Spirit, help me to comprehend the truth written here.

In the previous verse ( 1:29)  Paul talked about the "Purpose" for which he labors, "striving according to His power which mightily works within me".   His purpose is to "present every man complete in Christ".  

His efforts begin with encouragement of the heart. This work "encouragement" includes the idea of comfort, exhortation, intercession, to come along side another, to console, to pray for, and to implore.  Philippians 2:1 tells us that there is encouragement in Christ.  If we are to be "complete" or perfect in Christ, we must receive His encouragement.  We also encourage one another, " having been knit together in love".  Verse 19 gives another picture of this, " ... holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God."  It is unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.. all holding onto the Head - Christ, in His love, that we will be encouraged and move towards being made complete.

"attaining all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding."   Ok, so being knit together in love, we are encouraged, AND we receive something more, "wealth". Riches, abundance, fulness are ours, the:
Riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience ( Romans 2:4)
Riches of His glory ( Romans 9:23)
Riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ( Romans 11:33)
Riches of His grace ( Eph. 1:7)
Riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints ( Eph. 1:18)
Riches of His grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. ( Eph. 2:7)
".. The unfathomable riches of Christ" ( Eph. 3:8)

All these riches, we are told, come from "the full assurance of understanding" - completely convinced and entirely confident in what we have intellectually "put together"  or mentally comprehended.  What have we come to know?  " a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is Christ Himself."

So, the more I come to know Christ, to recognize and acknowledge Him, being completely convinced of the Truth and entirely confident in Him, intellectually or mentally comprehending Who He is,  the more I will grasp the riches He has bestowed - His kindness, His grace, His glory, His wisdom, His everything...and I will be encouraged. As we do this in unity with our fellow Christians, we are knit together in Love, holding on to Jesus, Who is our Head.  For He holds "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge".

whew... need to think on this a while.

Lord, I want to be complete in Christ.  I want to understand and know and receive all that You have revealed here. Fill me with Yourself I pray. Amen.