Colossians, Day 2
THANKSGIVING and PRAYER
COLOSSIANS 1:3 – 14
The apostle Paul opens this amazing epistle with very encouraging words. He is very consistent in including a thanksgiving message in his letters. Thanksgiving must be a consistent attitude for all Christians. Notice how he acknowledges the relationship between God and Jesus (Verse 3). Our praying must start with recognizing it is God that supplies our strength for each new day. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:9 to begin our praying with, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (ESV).
Paul is also praising the Colossians for their faith in Christ Jesus. By this example, we see the importance and value of praying, not only for believers, but also for our churches. How often are we praying for the pastors, elders, deacons, teachers, and business of our local churches? Prayer unites all believers, for without praying, nothing will happen. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 4:17, ESV).
Do these words sound familiar? “Faith…love…hope.” They should. Paul frequently wrote of the importance of these three Christian virtues, which were seen as foundational to the Christian life! — 1 Corinthians 13:13, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, and Galatians 5:5 – 6. Our “hope” is what’s in store for us in heaven, and Christians can anticipate that with confidence (See Colossians 3:4). Therefore, no earthly ruler or demonic power can rob believers of the reality of this hope.
Part of the praise Paul has for the Colossians is the word of truth, the gospel, they’ve heard. The “word of the truth” is, of course, “the Gospel.” And, “gospel” simply means, “good news” — the good news of Jesus Christ.
Paul, in Galatians, speaks of the “fruit of the spirit.” We can correlate praying and thanksgiving as certainly these “fruits” spoken of. They are the result of God’s grace (Greek: charis), or favor, the offer of goodness toward those who cannot earn or do not deserve such gain. Jesus’ mission to the world is seen as the appearance of “grace and truth.”
Our mission is no different. The world, especially now, needs to see Christians display “grace and truth.” We’re not to hammer our acquaintances with guilt trips or with rigid rules we can’t even follow. That was not the way Jesus dealt with those He encountered. We need to share the truth of the gospel; maybe\ using your own story, peppered along the way with grace. That’s what Paul was getting at in Verse 9. Simply speaking, we need to pray for each other so we can be filled with the knowledge of His will and in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. By offering intercessory prayers, Verse 10 will come alive: “[S]o as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
The end result of this is Verse 11a: “May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” I find these words both uplifting and encouraging, knowing I have the saints of God praying for me in all situations. May you be blessed and thankful!
Tom Dye