Colossians 1:3-14
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:3-14 (NKJV)
Brief Background: Paul wrote Colossians likely while in prison in Rome about 60 CE. He wrote at the request of Epaphras, a disciple of Paul, who was converted during Paul’s time in Ephesus and planted the church on Colossae. Our verses are the typical beginning of most Pauline letters with a Prayer of Thanksgiving for their faith and love for each other in the face of local Pagan and Jewish pressures. Much of Colossians starting at v15 deals with issues arising from the local Jewish leaders insisting that Christians must follow Jewish laws, food restrictions and rituals, and circumcision. Paul will reinforce that Jesus came to fulfill the Laws with emphasis on faith and love of God/Christ and loving our neighbors, not through ritual actions.
In our verse today, Paul celebrates our belief that the church is rooted in Faith in Christ, Love for believers, and Hope for everlasting life. Faith, Love, Hope. Common themes on Paul’s letters.
Paul begins his message by giving thanks to God for our faith. Paul celebrates that God has given the Colossians through their faith in Christ a love of each other. He prays that the words of Jesus will fill them with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. A great prayer for us today.
Paul reminds the Colossians that they are not alone in their new faith but are part of a rapidly growing and expanding congregation throughout the whole world. Today we also are not alone in our faith. There are many who share our love of God and Jesus. Through our activities at Southwood, mission projects, worship, and servanthood we experience God’s love through the love and service to others. Paul emphasizes the importance of studying and sharing the Gospel to further our knowledge and understanding of Christ’s teachings. Just as important for us today.
In v12-14 Paul gives thanks to Jesus for bringing us from a fear of darkness and death through His sacrifice into an inheritance of everlasting life (Light) in His kingdom. Since our sins are no longer a barrier to God, Jesus brings us out of our own darkness so we can celebrate our redemption.
Questions for Reflection:
- How can we not want to celebrate Jesus’ words with others?
- Paul reminds us that the more we understand and learn about God’s love for us, the more we want to grow in the Love of God and by extension sharing the love with others. What can you do today or this week to Grow your Faith?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, The more I read the Gospels, I am in awe of how much Jesus broke down barriers to You and simplified the complexity of our lives into the core of Loving You and Others. Help me when my life gets messy by remembering Paul’s words to focus on Faith, Love, and Hope. All else is simply noise. In Your name, Amen.
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