Colossians 1:24-29 - Paul's Suffering And Stewardship

²⁴ Now I rejoice in [spite of] my sufferings for your sake, and I am filling up [i.e., completing] in my physical body what was lacking in the afflictions Christ endured for His body's sake, the church. ²⁵ I was made a minister of the church according to the task given to me by God to fully present His message to you. ²⁶ [This message is] the secret which has been kept hidden throughout the ages and generations, but has now been revealed to God's saints [i.e., His holy people]. ²⁷ He was pleased to make known to these people the wealth of His splendor among the Gentiles; this hidden secret, which is Christ among you, [is] the hope of being honored [i.e., in heaven]. ²⁸ We proclaim Him, warning and teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person [to God] complete in [their fellowship with] Christ. ²⁹ This is the reason that I work hard and struggle also, using God's mighty power which is at work in me.