Larry Reynolds, Denton, TX

Colossians 2:1 - “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf...” Since Paul wrote these words while in prison, chained to a Roman guard, his ministry on behalf of the Colossians was limited to a ministry of prayer. It is interesting that Paul used the word “struggle” to describe this ministry of prayer. The word he used is “agon” from which our word agony comes. The word carries the idea of strenuous activity or difficult work. In effect Paul was saying, “I want you to know that I am so concerned about your spiritual welfare and I care for you so much that I agonize over you in prayer.” In the verses that follow, Paul makes three specific requests of God for his readers: 

• He prays that “…their hearts may be encouraged…” – The word translated “encouraged” is “parakaleo.” Literally it means “to come alongside to help or strengthen.”  The word heart means “mind.” So when Paul prays that their “hearts may be encouraged” he is saying “I pray that you minds be strengthened...” 
• He prays that they would be “…knit together in love…”  - “Knit was a medical term, used to describe the mending of broken bones. I’ve read that when a broken bone heals properly the place of fusion becomes stronger than the surrounding bone. And what Paul is saying here is that Christians should be so bound together, so close to each other, that nothing or no-one can drive a wedge between them. 
• He prays that they would have “...a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself...” - I like the way The Living Bible paraphrases the last part of v.2 and v.3...listen to what it says: “...that you will have the rich experience of knowing Christ with real certainty and clear understanding. For God’s secret plan, now at last made known, is Christ himself. In him lie hidden all the mighty, untapped treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [TLB] The secrets of God are hidden in Christ and are available to all who come to Him.