He prayed for his church. Not the church’s programs, but the church’s people.

And he didn’t just pray for them, he “struggled” in pray on their behalf. He “labored fervently”, he prayed “tirelessly”, he “wrestled” incessantly, he “contended” earnestly. And what did he pray for? Full assurance.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

(Colossians 4:12 ESV)

What are the things we aspire to for our church (not our programs, but our people)? What’s “success” look like to us? What’s the thing that if we were to labor in prayer for anything we would certainly labor in prayer for this thing, or things? Is spiritual maturity and full assurance the first things that come to mind? Would it even make the list? Thinking it should . . .

Asked differently, what’s a “thriving” church look like? Is it to be measured, as some cynically put it, by butts, bucks, and buildings? Is it about how many attend, how much is given, and how big we can become? Is that what we should be praying for? Thinking not . . .

Standing mature. Fully assured in all the will of God. How’s that for top billing on our pray-for-one-another prayer list? If these would mark our churches, wouldn’t everything else flow from them?

If we were grown up in what we believed, then we’d be grown up in how we behaved. Right doctrine would, by the Spirit, be sourcing right decisions. We’d walk in “a manner worthy” because we would know — like really know — in Whom we have believed. Paul was all about wanting those he led to Jesus growing up in Jesus (Eph. 4:15). And growing up would seem to be integrally tied to being “fully assured.”

“Brought to the place of full assurance in everything willed by God.” That’s how Wuest renders it in his literal translation of the New Testament. Not just knowing stuff in the bible, but really believing that stuff. More than just being familiar with biblical truth, staking our lives — both now and forever more — on that truth. More than just being saved by the gospel, wanting to be totally sold on the gospel.

Fully persuaded that when Jesus said, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30) that it was finished indeed. The price for my sin — all my sin — paid in full. Period. Full stop. No work able to add to the saving work of the cross.

Fully convinced that if the Son has set us free, then we are free indeed (Jn. 8:36). The penalty of sin not only paid, but the bondage of sin also broken (Rom. 6:6). Period. Full stop. We really are new creations in Christ, old things really have passed away and all things, really, really, really, are new (2Cor. 5:17).

Fully aware that we wake up every morning with the remnant of the old man at war with the work-in-progress new man, the desires of the flesh in opposition to the transforming work of the Spirit (Gal. 5:17). Period. Full stop. Humbled by knowing that we are still far more sinful than we care to admit.

Fully believing that where sin abounds, grace does more abound (Rom. 5:20) and that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1) Period. Full stop. That God’s steadfast love towards us is far greater than we can imagine.

Fully anticipating that what began as a work of the Spirit in our lives by faith, will be brought to perfect completion through the work of the Spirit in our lives by faith (Gal. 3:2-3). Period. Full stop. That this is the way of sanctification, and that the work which God begun in us He will ” bring to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Php. 1:6). Period. Full stop.

Absolutely confident that there will, in fact, be a “day of Jesus Christ.” Unwavering in our contention that when Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming soon” (Rev. 22:7, 12) then, behold, He is coming soon. Period. Full stop.

Fully assured. Standing mature.

O Lord, bring us to the place of full assurance.

Only by Your grace. To You be the glory.