Paul writes this letter to the Colossians while he was under house arrest. He has never visited this church and writes this letter to combat some heresies similar to Gnosticism. Gnostics believed that it took special knowledge to be accepted by God and that Jesus alone was not the way to salvation. Paul wrote the letter to clear up their confusion.

Paul’s Prayer for the Colossians
Here is a perfect pattern for intercessory prayer, even for those whom we don’t even know. After all, Paul didn’t know these people personally. The church was founded by one of Paul’s converts.
Pray:
For Knowledge of God’s will
For Spiritual wisdom and understanding
To Please and honor God
To Bear good fruit
For Endurance
To be Filled with God’s strength
For Patience
To Have great joy

Col 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Much false doctrine is taught that sounds attractive because it identifies with basic principles of this world. If we are grounded in God’s word through personal study and sound Bible teaching, we will know the truth. We will be able to recognize false doctrine and teaching. There are many human approaches to life’s problems that do not include God.

Paul writes that in the old law, circumcision was a symbol of God’s covenant with man. This was a literal physical act of circumcision. Under the new covenant, we are circumcised figuratively by the infusion of the Holy Spirit. It is a circumcision of the heart. It denotes a change in character.

Col 3:5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Greed would be a quest for power, prestige, position, and possessions, not necessarily just money.

If we put our mind on things above, we will put to death the old ways which may include this list. But Paul goes on to say that we used to walk in these ways, and now we have died to the old nature, we must put away other things as well: “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language”.

Col 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Clothe is an action word. We must do this daily. Just like we clothe our body every day, we must clothe ourselves in Christ and all the attributes of a Christian. We must consciously think about being all these things and start every day promising that we will be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Sometimes it may mean going out of our way to display these qualities.

Col 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Think about a necklace of jewels. The precious sparkling jewels are separated by a jewel of love so that we have a necklace that looks like this:
Compassion***love***kindness***love***humility***love***gentleness*** love***patience***love***

Paul writes about someone named Epaphras
Col 4:12b
He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
The Greek word for wrestling means to agonize, with an intense desire for their salvation.
How are all of us as Christians doing with this way of praying? Are we agonizing in our prayers for other’s salvation?