Spring is Here!

Colossians 1-Part 2
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.         Colossians 1:4-5


LET IT GLOW

Look around. One might think spring is here now. The redbud trees and jonquils are blooming. The grass is green and growing. The robins are back and singing. The temps are up. Yeah, spring is here. Of course there will be another freeze, since it is early. Spring means spring fever as opposed to cabin fever. Do we have a spring in our step yet? Is love in the air? I love spring, well I enjoy it is a better way to put it. How about you? Is it spring where you live?

Paul's thanksgiving embraces three growing aspects of the Colossian church-their faith, love, and hope.
Although Paul had never visited this church, he heard about their faith and the love they had for the brethren.
Do people hear about my faith? Do others talk about how great a faith I have? Do they talk about my love for others or do they talk about something else concerning me?

Agape love (God's kind) is sacrificial and indiscriminate. It represents Jesus to the world and perfects the body of Christ. Christian love is not simply an emotion that arises because of the character of the one loved. It is a relationship of self-giving that results from God's activity in Christ. The source of Christian love is God
(Rom. 5:8), and the believer's response of faith makes love a human possibility (Rom. 5:5).
Hope is in the heart as they anticipate future blessing-heaven.
[Resource: Shepherd's Notes]

Edgar Young Mullins wrote in Studies in Colossians:

Love springs up when faith is born in the heart. Love cannot be hermetically sealed up and disjoined from faith and hope. When hope grows bright, love gains an added intensity.


I am reminded of the verse, 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NAS), "But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

The faith of the Colossians was in Christ. Love is the evidence of faith. Love is the characteristic mark of Christianity; it is not superficial friendliness. These saints loved everyone of whatever position or disposition. They were not indifferent to the needs of others, nor disapproving of the deeds of others, not critical of the motives of others. Because of hope they had love. Their hope was stored up like a treasure in heaven. Knowledge of this truth came through hearing of the Word. Faith rests in the past; love lives in the present; hope looks toward the future (1John 3:1-3). Liberty Bible Commentary

Do I have faith, hope, and love? Is it centered around Jesus or money and things?


LET IT GROW

Let's look back at the last of verse 3, "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you."

Paul said he was praying always for the Colossian believers (Ephesians 6:18). Paul and his mission team do not cease to pray for them, according to verse 9 of Colossians 1.

How do they pray for these believers? They prayed that the Colossian Christians would be:
1. filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (God's plan for them)
2. walk (live their life) worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,
3. fruitful in every good work
4. increase in the knowledge of God (spiritual growth)
5. strengthened with all might (spiritual power from God)
6. given patience (forbearance, endurance), long-suffering (self-restraint), and joyfulness
7. always thanking the Father
8. made to share the inheritance (of grace and heaven).

What a prayer! I sure would like to have others praying for me in that manner. Wouldn't you?
I should pray for others in that same way- that they would find God's will for their life, do it, be pleasing to God with it, grow in faith, patience, self control, joy, and be thankful.  Lord, please bless my readers, my family, my church, my friends in this way.


LET IT GO

Grow more in faith, hope, and love with Jesus.

Pray more specific for others.