The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:15-20 NIV
Through our Sit, Soak, and Saturate summer series over Colossians, we are taking each chapter in small bits through the lens of actionable steps. Our Monday night study is focusing on digesting each verse by allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal what God may be asking us to do. We are also working on humbling ourselves under the Lord’s authority, striving to become what He needs us to be.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been studying chapter one. It is another powerful letter written by Paul, where we can glean from his advice. The letter opens with deep gratitude and prayer, then changes into one of the most detailed declarations of who Jesus is.
I would like to share a bit of what we discovered in the first half of chapter one. In verses 1-14, we found many actionable steps for our daily walk with the Lord. If you are like me, some days my walk is worthy to be counted, but then there are days…!!! Paul gently tells us what God desires of us daily.
The first is to pray without ceasing for spiritual growth, not only for us but also for those we know. It is to be in tune with His will through spiritual wisdom and understanding. This is not a common prayer I pray. It is such a powerful request and life-changing action when we live for Him and not ourselves.
The second item in verse 10 is living a life fully pleasing to God. Again, I am a work in progress, aligning my daily choices and attitudes with the Father’s character. It does remind me of the importance of knowing God and His attributes through Scripture study, so I know what to model my life upon. What about you?
Verse 10 also reminds us that as we grow in intimacy and knowledge of God, action is a component. The more I know Him, the more I love Him, and the more I desire to grow and bear fruit. It seems to go hand in hand.
Next is hardship! Yes, your word for this might be life! However, God does not expect us to white-knuckle our way through these valleys. He promises to strengthen us with His glorious power so we can have great endurance and patience, accompanied by joy. Paul is a prime example of perseverance with great joy. I cannot imagine going through what He did and still claiming it all joy. What an actionable step for us to continue to work on. Several of us have challenged ourselves to rely on His power and not our own.
Finally, within this first set of verses, verses 12-14 prompt us to constantly thank the Father for delivering us from the domain of darkness and transferring us into the kingdom of His Son. This is the Savior aspect of Christ Jesus. However, let us not forget to embrace Him daily by allowing Him to be LORD over our lives.
Yes Lord, Yes Lord, YES-YES-LORD! It sounds so easy and simple to just say YES. As we all know, it is a battle between our flesh and spirit.
My best analogy for this action is a strong, sturdy tree versus bamboo. When the strong storms come, and the wind blows, the tree fights against the force. It refuses to allow the circumstances to change its direction, and many times it SNAPS! However, bamboo is flexible and can bend and sway with the wind. It can endure the storms and the winds because it goes with the flow and authority of nature. It embraces change and adjusts accordingly because it knows it is best to surrender to a higher authority than its own desires. Therefore, it builds endurance and knowledge in how to survive what comes its way.
Here are some takeaways for these first fourteen verses:
| The Action God Asks of Us | Verse Reference | What It Looks Like Today |
| Intentional Intercession | vv. 3, 9 | Praying for the spiritual wisdom and discernment of your friends and family. |
| Fruitful Living | v. 10 | Doing good works while actively studying to know God better. |
| Joyful Endurance | v. 11 | Relying on God’s strength to stay patient and positive during trials. |
How do you approach Scripture study? Have you ever thought about an actionable lens view? We are finding that God is speaking to each of us through His Word by giving Him margin to reveal what He desires. Sitting, soaking, and saturating. What a beautiful concept to truly digest Scripture and allow it to transform our lives.
Every lady has been walking away each week with one actionable step to carry out. I love the accountability and the full reliance on God’s Word to guide daily life. He truly does hold all things together for His glory if only I will humble myself under His authority second by second.
We encourage you to give it a try. Give yourself a week to study and reflect on Colossians 1:15-29. Read it, study it, listen to sermons, and find other translations. Find an actionable step and try carrying it out for a week. It is a rewarding challenge.
Here is a jumpstart view for you:
Christ-First Focus vv. 15–18 Evaluating your life to ensure Jesus holds the #1 priority, not your own ambitions.
Spiritual Steadfastness v. 23 Anchoring yourself in the truth of the Gospel so you aren’t easily swayed by changing cultural tides.
Active Discipleship vv. 28–29 Investing time to mentor, teach, or encourage someone else toward spiritual maturity.
Let us know what you think and how it went. We would love to hear from you!
Refining [Spiritual Growth] 
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