INTERCESSION. Colossians 1:9-14 Much of our prayer life tends to focus on ourselves and our desires rather than on expressing gratitude for what we have. Even more so are our intercessory prayers on behalf of others. The believers in Colossae would not have had trouble understanding what Paul was praying for on their behalf. It would have given them a new perspective on who they were, especially in contrast to those promoting heresy among them. The heresy centered on ritual practices and what to avoid. Angels were exalted, and Christ was devalued. Secret knowledge was contrasted with divine wisdom, and tradition and human wisdom were exalted. In this prayer, those believers are guided to the higher ground on which believers stand and to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has forgiven us our sins.
We deeply value hearing about fruit in the Gospel and recognize how crucial it is for us to become intercessors on their behalf. They often do not understand what has happened to them and are easy targets for unscrupulous deceivers seeking followers for their false teachings. It is our duty to pray earnestly for new believers from the very beginning. While general prayers have some value, as we learn more about what God is doing, where, and who the new saints are, we must commit to more specific intercession for them and their needs.