Revelation by revelation the Fruit of the Spirit is shown in our life.
Maturity, allowing Holy Spirit to work in our life, shows up in our relationships and its influence is far reaching. Our prayers and petitions are heard. His will in those situations mirrors our faith in His promise to work things for our good, in our life, and the lives of those we pray for.
Romans 15:30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
God is ever aware of every difficulty or potential danger we encounter. He promises to protect us not only physically but also spiritually. Psalm 121:7 says, The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life," and another rendering of the word "life" here would be "soul." The psalm ends with the grand crescendo of God's care: "The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore" (Psalm 121:8).
When we desperately need God's protection, courage for the journey, and a reminder of His care, Psalm 121 provides the words of prayer that our souls crave. Whatever steps of faith we need to take, whenever we sense threats or danger, however we feel in the moment, we can boldly ask our God to guard us. He refuses to leave our side. He will not take His eyes off us.
While I don't always know which way to go, I know the One who always goes with me, and He will guard me. First5
“This state of grace is. Always. It isn’t here or there or limited to a certain day and time: It just is. Always. My attention to it is what waxes and wanes.
It is my prayer that I might dwell, wholly and fully, in myself, in the grace of God.” SabbathMoments
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Colossians 1:3-8
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 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, 6 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; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. The New King James Version
Agapē The Greek word agapē, often translated “love,” is a general word for affection and warm regard. The new testament uses the word to describe compassion for other people, love for God or Christ, and the love God and Christ have for humanity and for each other. The gospel message makes the love denoted by agapē more of a mindset than a feeling. It involves putting the needs and interests of others before your own—even enduring suffering and hardship for the sake of others.
The Greek word used here, pistis, refers to trust and reliance. Paul is thankful that the Colossians—under the threat of false teaching—have anchored their faith in Christ. Love is the greatest of the three Christian virtues (1 Cor 13:13), the others being faith and hope. The natural result of faith in Christ is love (agapē in Greek) for God and others.
The Greek word used in this phrase, elpis, often rendered as “hope,” refers to confident expectation, not wishful thinking.
The Colossians have hope because of their union with Christ.
This means they are free from corruption and death and are qualified to participate in Christ’s life, resurrection and glory. Paul reminds them that their hope of a glorious future does not come from a religious philosophy, but from God. Therefore, they do not need to accept the demands of false teachers.
Paul wants the Colossians to know that the gospel message they received is God’s true revelation.
A believer who shared the gospel message with the Colossians Paul later describes as a servant-hearted leader who works hard on behalf of Christians in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. This description of Epaphras does not mean that he was literally a servant or slave. Rather, Paul is using figurative language to characterize Epaphras as a humble servant of God. Faithlife Study Bible
The apostle indicates the tender concern that he has for these Christians; he is praying always for them. This common phrase of Paul’s, which combines intercessory prayer and thanksgiving, means that each time Paul prayed, he interceded for the Colossians and offered praise for God’s work among them.
Jesus Christ (Gk. Iēsous Christos) (1:1; Matt. 1:1, 18; Mark 1:1; John 1:17; 17:3; 1 Cor. 1:2–10) Strong’s #2424; 5547: “Jesus Christ” is not the first and last names of Jesus, as people are commonly named today. Jesus is His human name, whose meaning relates to His mission to save us (see Matt. 1:18). Christ is a description of His office: He is “the Anointed One,” anointed by God to be our King, Prophet, and High Priest. The combination of name and title is rare in the Gospels (occurring only five times) because Jesus was still in the process of revealing Himself as the Christ. Once this was recognized by His followers, the combination was used prolifically throughout the Book of Acts and the Epistles to express the belief that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah. Paul uses the combined form at the start of Colossians to indicate the theme of his letter, the supremacy of Jesus Christ.
faith … love … hope: Paul often uses these three terms together. Faith is in Christ. This is the thrust of the passage. The Colossians’ faith was grounded in the nature and work of Jesus Christ. Love flows from faith and proves the genuineness of one’s faith. The Colossians’ sacrificial love for all the saints proved their true belief in Christ. Hope refers to the result of faith, the treasure laid up … in heaven where our faith will find its fulfillment in the presence of Christ. The NKJV Study Bible
All true Christians are brethren one to another. Faithfulness runs through every character and relation of the Christian life. Faith, hope, and love, are the three principal graces in the Christian life, and proper matter for prayer and thanksgiving. The more we fix our hopes on the reward in the other world, the more free shall we be in doing good with our earthly treasure. It was treasured up for them, no enemy could deprive them of it. The gospel is the word of truth, and we may safely venture our souls upon it. And all who hear the word of the gospel, ought to bring forth the fruit of the gospel, obey it, and have their principles and lives formed according to it. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
No comments:
Post a Comment