Colossians 1:13- 23  Paul's desire for those reading this letter is that they will know God...  that they will filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding.  

Knowledge - in general was an issue in those early days.. (and in ours too)..  it had become a heresy.. a false religion.. an idol, if you will. Gnosticism had invaded the early church and caused conflicts and dissensions.   Think of it this way.. if someone has an advanced degree and another never finished high school..outside of the grace of God.. would they consider each other equals? Would the educated person submit himself to the teaching of the other? Would pride become an obstacle to unity? To truth?

Paul saw the problem.. and prayed that all of them would value the only knowledge that really matters.. the knowledge of God, our Father and  Christ Jesus the Son!  When we really know Him.. what else really matters? 

"For He delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son." (v13)   We need to know the wonderful, miraculous, amazing truth of this statement.  This is the gospel.. this is the hope we have.. this is our foundation.. our salvation... This is what it means to understand God's grace!  He is the One who delivers us. He is the One who changes our lives.. our past, present, and future!

".. in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (v14)  We look to the cross.. to our Lord Jesus, who paid the price for our sin.  We need to know that our God loves us so much that He gave His Son to save us from judgement.. from death.. from hell... that He forgives us and redeems us.. in Jesus!

We need to know Jesus.. this Savior who died for us and who now reigns forever:

We need to know that He is the "image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation." (v14)

We need to know that "by Him all things were created.."; the "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." That, "He is also head of the body, the church.. the beginning, the first-born from the dead;"  That He has "first place in everything."  (v15-18)

 We need to know that the Father was pleased to make "all the fulness to dwell in Him." (v19)

We need to know that it is through Jesus that "all things" are reconciled to Himself. (v20)

We need to know that He has "made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him.. whether things on earth or things in heaven." (v20)

And most of all, we need to know that even when we were "alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds... " that it was Jesus who came to reconcile us by His death on a cross.. "in order to present [us] before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach." (v22)

Paul encourages his readers to be firmly established in faith.. "steadfast and not moved away from the hope of the gospel." (v23)

Father in heaven, thank You for giving us such amazing grace.. Thank You for changing our lives.. redeeming us from the past.. living in us and sanctifying us in our present lives.. and preparing us fro a glorious future in Your eternal Kingdom.  Help us to know You more.. to know Christ and Christ only! Help us to be steadfast and immovable in Jesus.. our hope.. our Rock.. our everything . In His name we come before You... with praise and thanksgiving. Amen.