3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. (Colossians 1)
One of the most outstanding truths of this little letter is Paul's picture of Christ as the Head of the Body, Who gives every part it's directives. Here, Pual gives thanks for the faith and love we have and exercise BECAUSE OF the hope we have in Christ. It is our hope in Him that makes the difference. That emphasis on hope is seen elsewhere in this chapter: 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister, and then in verse 27 he talks about "Christ in you, the hope of Glory." So questions abound: Am I connected to the Head? Am I exercising faith and love in my life? Am I accepting the hope I have in Christ? Have a hopeful day!
No comments:
Post a Comment