Monthly Devotion - August 2025
BECOMING DISCIPLES WHO ARE FILLED CHRIST’S THE GLORY
“Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy” (Colossians 1:10-11 NLT)
Colossians 1:10-11 is part of the prayer of Paul and his companions
for the Colossians. They prayed, “…that you may be filled with
all wisdom and understanding, so that you may know God’s will fully…”
(verse 9). The Colossians were finally able to receive all wisdom and
understanding; they could live worthy and fully pleasing to God; they
could bear fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of God because
they were ready to be discipled and shepherded. The church in Colosse
was finally able to be strengthened with all strength by the power of
His glory to endure everything with perseverance and patience. At that
time they were facing difficult challenges from false teachers or heretical
teachers, but were grateful because in the end they were able to be strengthened
by the power of His glory. This actually applies not only to them, but
also to all His disciples in all ages. Not only can we be strengthened
by the power of His glory, but we also need to pray to be able to learn
and do God's will. And the Word of God in the letter 1 Peter 2:15-17 says,
"For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence
the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use
your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper
respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the
emperor."
Therefore, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Proclamation
of Indonesian Independence in August 2025, let us also continue to pray
for the Indonesian nation and state that is facing national struggles
(SARA = Tribe, Religion, Race and Inter-Group), the political and economic
situation in this generation, so that they can continue to do good and
to be able to silence the narrow-mindedness of those who do not fear God
and that they can continue to be strengthened by the power of His glory
to endure everything with perseverance and patience. Pray that they can
live as free people who do not abuse that freedom to cover up crimes that
could damage the unity of the nation. We must also pray that every disciple
of Christ in Indonesia and also in Europe can learn to respect everyone,
love others, fear God and respect the president/government who is carrying
out their responsibilities. We are called not only to be good and successful
disciples of God, but also called to be good citizens. And it is God's
will that we are also willing to be intercessors for our nation and state
and also to intercede for the nation and state where we are currently
located.
In their ministry of formation, the apostles Paul and Peter also learned
to accompany the people they discipled and shepherded through prayer.
When Paul wrote his letter and prayed for the Colossians, he was imprisoned
and living far from Colossae. Yet, Paul continued to pray for them. Likewise,
for those of us who are currently far from our homeland (in Germany and
the Netherlands), we can still pray for our families and fellow believers
who are far away. One of the duties of those who pray is to disciple those
who pray. This is what we need in our church. This is also what our nation,
Indonesia, needs, because many people in Indonesia and throughout the
nations are still blinded by the god of this age. May God use us as His
faithful disciples in prayer! Lord Jesus bless, Amen!
By Pastor Silwanus Obadja M.Th.
...Monthly
Devotion - July 2025
...Monthly
Devotion - September 2025