3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people — (Colossians 1:3,4)
Thoughts: Paul and Timothy thank God for their faith. Faith and love are not human creations in a vacuum. God the Father is a frequent image of the first person of the trinity in Colossians.
What were the two things to be commended here? Their faith was commended. But not just any kind of faith. Their faith had an object- Jesus Christ. They relied not simply on positive thinking, but on Christ Jesus who proves He is trustworthy of our faith. In a skeptical world- faith is not only a tool of encouragement and strength-- but it is also a key that unlocks the door into the presence of God the Father. Faith in Christ calls us beyond our intellect and our pride to something- rather someone more. The temptation the Colossians faced was a protognosticism that emphasized philosophy and asceticism as a means to get to God. Faith in Christ makes the philosophical niceties of human wisdom look small. The Revelation of God is much more powerful, certain, and moving than the intellectual skepticism that doubts everything and believes nothing.
The love for the saints ("all God's people" NIV) is also to be commended. Jesus says that the world will know we are His disciples by His love (Jn. 13:33,34). So Colossae was a friendly church- that looked after each other. Faith and love are two wonderful gifts that fight skepticism and selfish apathy. In our day we also need faith to fight the joyless and meaningless secular skepticism and we need love to fight the drug-loving, comfort seeking funk of our society.
Prayer: Lord thank you that you give me faith and love that I might glorify you.
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