“我们…为你们不住地祷告祈求…” - 西 1:9
在我居住的地区，通常会在8月下旬经历丰收。收获的日子近了，春天播种的和夏天照料的农作物马上就要装满篮子和筐子了。
保罗知道歌罗西人的信心、爱心和盼望都扎根于基督。这意味着教会的丰收即将到来。保罗说，他和其他同工不住地祈求神，让歌罗西人在一切属灵的智慧悟性上，满心地知道神的旨意。这种知识不是单纯的头脑的知识，而是带有智慧和悟性的心灵的知识。这涉及到明辨神旨意的过程，而这个过程需要我们放下自己，被神的旨意和圣灵来充满。
要做到这一点并不容易。这需要自律，属灵的自律。耶稣花时间与天父独处，以保持专注，我们也需要这样做，降服于天父的旨意，而不是我们自己的意志。
我们也需要像耶稣一样，养成寻求神的习惯，并等待神的旨意向我们显明。神愿意让我们明白祂的旨意——而且，请放心，它总是符合圣经的教导。
祷告
赐予我们丰盛恩典的神，请帮助我们放慢脚步，更好地寻求认识你和明白你的旨意，使我们可以忠心地为你而活。阿们。
歌罗西书 1:3-14
3我们感谢神我们主耶稣基督的父，常常为你们祷告，
4因听见你们在基督耶稣里的信心并向众圣徒的爱心——
5是为那给你们存在天上的盼望。这盼望就是你们从前在福音真理的道上所听见的。
6这福音传到你们那里，也传到普天之下，并且结果、增长，如同在你们中间，自从你们听见福音真知道神恩惠的日子一样。
7正如你们从我们所亲爱、一同做仆人的以巴弗所学的。他为我们做了基督忠心的执事，
8也把你们因圣灵所存的爱心告诉了我们。
9因此，我们自从听见的日子，也就为你们不住地祷告祈求，愿你们在一切属灵的智慧悟性上，满心知道神的旨意，
10好叫你们行事为人对得起主，凡事蒙他喜悦，在一切善事上结果子，渐渐地多知道神；
11照他荣耀的权能，得以在各样的力上加力，好叫你们凡事欢欢喜喜地忍耐宽容。
12又感谢父，叫我们能与众圣徒在光明中同得基业。
13他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里；
14我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。
A Basket Overflowing
"We continually ask God to fill you. . . ." - Colossians 1:9
In late August in the area where I live, it's not unusual to hear about harvesting. Harvest time is near, and what was planted in spring and cared for in summer is almost ready to fill baskets and bins.
Paul knew that the Colossians' faith, love, and hope were rooted in Christ. And that meant a bountiful harvest would come for the church. Paul said that he and others continually asked God for the Colossians to be filled to overflowing with the knowledge of God's will through the wisdom and understanding of the Holy Spirit. This knowledge is not mere head knowledge; it is heart knowledge that comes with wisdom and understanding. This involves the process of discerning the will of God, which comes through putting oneself aside and becoming filled with Jesus and the Spirit.
It is not easy to put ourselves in that position. It requires discipline, spiritual discipline. Jesus took time to be alone with his Father in order to remain focused, and we need to do the same, offering ourselves to the Father's will, not our own.
Like Jesus, we need to develop the habit of seeking after and waiting for the will of God to be revealed to us. God wants us to know his will—and, rest assured, it will always conform to what the Bible teaches.
Prayer
God of bounteous grace, help us to slow down to know you and your will better, that we may live faithfully for you. Amen.
