Colossians 1:9, 10 - ‘And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

According to Colossians 1:7, it is believed that Epaphras had preached the gospel in Colossae for the church to be formed there. Paul, who had not met the Colossian Christians in person but heard about the various heresies they absorbed from other religions, wrote to them convincingly that Jesus Christ alone was sufficient for their spiritual lives. Since they added extras to Christianity, their faith involved beliefs in Greek philosophy, Jewish legalism, the worship of angels and river spirits, oriental religion and gnosticism. They strongly believed that they should borrow and learn from other religions apart from sticking to the Bible, which was actually a form of ‘syncretism’.

Paul wrote to convince the Colossian Christians that Jesus Christ is the mystery hidden for ages and the hope of glory among them – the gentiles (Colossians 1:27, 28). There was no other secret they needed to know, except that Christ is the key to all knowledge and wisdom, and not fall a prey to deceiving spirits and beguiling speech. Instead of running after the ‘secret knowledge’ which was rife in Gnosticism, Paul prayed that they may truly seek to know the ‘greatest secret’ required for their lives - to receive the knowledge of God’s will, in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life pleasing and worthy of the Lord.

Thought for the day: The greatest secret a Christian should long to unravel under the sun is the will of God in his life.