Colossians 1:24-29: Not Leaving Me to the Consequences

Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. - Colossians 1:24-29

There is a strong temptation to leave people to the consequences of their own decisions. Who are we to tell them what is best? It is easier in these cases to simply be quiet and live our lives and be onlookers to the crises that are going on around us. 

But Paul didn't take that attitude. But Paul was willing to be outspoken-even to suffer-"admonish and teach with all wisdom" on the subject of Jesus dwelling within us and giving us hope. Why?  He had a "commission God gave" him.  He had adopted God's concern for the oppressors of the Jewish people-the Gentiles-as his own concern. He had realized that the similarities between Gentiles and his own people when it came to our relationship with God was far more compelling that the differences. As he said to Titus: "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us..." (Titus 3:3-5a) Titus was Greek (Gal. 2:3) but Paul, as a Jew, found common ground in the "we too"-the shared weakness, sinfulness and foolishness that afflicts us all. He could not stand by while people he cared about ruined their lives through their choices, so he introduced them to Jesus. "These things are excellent and profitable for everyone." (Titus 3:8) Christ (not Tim) is a Christ of hope for all of us. If Christ had left us to the consequences of our own choices and had not intervened, where would we be now?