Filled with knowledge

There is a battle taking place in Colosse for the minds and hearts of the church of Christ. Against the apostolic band ministering the word of the truth of the gospel stand a cadre of errorists offering enticing but empty deceit, a 'fullness' that is - in reality - found nowhere but in Christ.

In the face of the assault, Paul prays that every believer - without exception - might be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual discernment.

Like the Colossians, we live in a world of enticing but empty spiritual alternatives, and yet the knowledge we need to honour Christ is often viewed suspiciously or even antagonistically. Because of impatience, fear, laziness, confusion, or pride, the church often neglects the prayerful pursuit of true knowledge.

Paul puts us straight with his first and foundational petition, brief in scope, rich in content, wise in design. He prays for knowledge in specific measure, of a distinctive nature, of a particular quality, and of a heavenly origin.

Here we consider the specific measure of the knowledge requested: 'filled with knowledge' - a completeness, a pervasive filling. Do we know God at all? Do we wrongly presume that, if we are filled with knowledge, we cannot be filled with e.g. the Spirit? Do we really desire true knowledge? Do we earnestly and expectantly pray for it? Do we expect an answer from a gracious God, out of his boundless stores?