KATIE POLSKI | CONTRIBUTOR
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Col. 1:24-29)
It’s easy to think gospel ministry is reserved for those on a stage or under a spotlight—pastors, missionaries, or the formally trained. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Gospel ministry is life. Every believer is called to gospel ministry, wherever God has placed us. Whether you’re raising children, serving in retirement, leading Bible study, or showing Christ’s love at your job, you are part of this glorious mission. Colossians 1:24–29 shows us just how glorious (and gritty) that calling can be.
If the preeminence of Christ in creation, the Church, and in reconciliation sets the stage for Paul’s ministry (Col. 1:15-23), then Colossians 1:24–29 reveals how that truth transforms everything about the way he serves. For Christian women seeking to live faithfully in their homes, churches, workplaces, and communities, Paul’s example is both a challenge and a comfort.
Rejoicing in the Burden: Paul’s Attitude in Ministry (v.24)
Some might believe the hardships we face are a detriment to ministry. How can God possibly use me to further His kingdom if I struggle with depression, have a rebellious child, or battle anxiety every day?
Paul knew suffering; beyond his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7), his life was marked by hardship. Yet, he tells the Colossians he rejoices in his suffering for their sake. In other words, he considers his personal distress as a way of carrying on Christ’s work, and the challenges he faces can and will be used by God to spread the gospel. For that reason, he rejoices in his suffering.
We have a choice when faced with hardship. We can either become bitter and pull away from the service God has called us to, or we can choose joy—a settled satisfaction in Christ and in His provisions—and be open to how God might use us amid our hardship or perhaps even because of it. Don’t wait until life feels “together” to serve. God uses us right in the middle of the mess to point others to Jesus.
Faithfully Proclaiming the Mystery: Paul’s Charge in Ministry (vv.25–27)
What is the mystery Paul was charged to proclaim? That Christ is in you. That the gospel, the salvation of sinners through Jesus Christ, is for all. Paul’s charge is to proclaim this foundational but simple message.
Sister, when you understand who you are in Christ, you’ll see through all the cheap imitations of spirituality and find they are inadequate. Nothing compares to the gospel’s transforming power. It’s a glorious mystery how God changes a heart! And we are to carry on in spreading the news of that glorious grace.
How do we do this when our words feel weak and our actions inconsistent? By knowing Jesus more—and that comes primarily through His Word. Open your Bible, even when you don’t feel like it. Allow Him to speak to you through it because the deeper you know Jesus, the more you realize it’s not ultimately about your words and your actions; it’s about His glory. And what a refreshing realization that is.
Christ works in you as you seek to know Him more, and as He does, others will see that you are a light in a dark and crooked world (Phil. 2:15-16). Don’t be bashful in talking about the ways you have experienced God’s love. Tell your children, your grandchildren, your neighbors, your parents—whoever it might be that God puts in your path—that Christ is in you and that this truth changes everything.
Presenting Every Believer Mature: Paul’s Purpose in Ministry (v.28)
Paul’s charge is to proclaim the gospel. His purpose? To present believers mature in Christ. And to be clear, that maturity is not about becoming an excellent orator or a prolific theological writer, but it is total dependence on Christ. And learning that is a lifelong process.
To mature in our faith is to grow in our understanding of who Jesus is. And we grow spiritually until the day we meet Jesus, the process of sanctification. Spiritual apathy creeps in when we’re satisfied with what we already know of God and see no need to go deeper.
Lean into this growth, believer. Don’t just attend your church—get involved to become connected with other believers. Prioritize worship, even saying no to other good things that seek to take its place. Don’t merely open your Bibles occasional—dig in. Get up earlier or move out of your comfort zone and attend a Bible study. Wherever the maturing needs to take place, pray that God will give you an insatiable desire for Him that you might grow in dependence on your Savior.
Striving with His Energy: Paul’s Power in Ministry (v.29)
Ministry is hard. Whether you’re teaching Sunday school, mentoring a teen, leading a small group, or praying faithfully for your family, you’ve probably felt weary. Paul did too.
He says he “toils,” even “struggles.” These are words that carry the weight of exhaustion. But his strength isn’t his own. It’s Christ’s energy working powerfully in Him.
We don’t do any of this by our own strength, and that’s good news. When our strength runs dry—and it will—we’re not left on our own. The same Christ who calls us to labor also supplies the power to keep going. Ministry is not burnout-proof, but it is Spirit-empowered. Our union with Christ is our source of energy, endurance, and eternal perspective.
As Calvin reminds us, “To be saved by Christ is to be included in the person of Christ.” And when you are united to Him, you are also united to His body, the church. The church is God’s gift to us, and as an extension of the hands and feet of Jesus, this body helps us endure.
Sisters, this is our privilege in gospel ministry:
Rejoicing in suffering—because Christ is using it.
Proclaiming the Word—because Christ is in us.
Laboring for maturity—in ourselves and others.
Striving in His strength—not our own.
Whatever your season of life, however hidden your ministry may feel, remember: Christ is in you, the hope of glory. And that changes everything.
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
