The ‘we’ here is likely Paul and Timothy or it could be them plus others who were with them as Paul dictated this letter. Those others are mentioned in 4:7-14. Whoever the ‘we’ are, Paul was eager to inform the Colossians that they were being prayed for regularly. It is good when we can say that about Christians we are in contact with.
The particular aspect of prayer
that Paul mentions in these verses is thanksgiving. He and Timothy (and friends?)
never omitted thanksgiving whenever they prayed for the Colossian church. This
was an important aspect of their brotherly love and practice of Christian
unity. They were thankful that there was a community of believers in a small
location. Indeed, as one author says, Paul ‘rejoiced to see every sign of the
work of grace in the various communities of Christians, and had equal joy in
acknowledging this in thanksgiving to God.’ We know plenty churches that we can
pray for.
Paul’s prayer commitment
increased rather than decreased when he was informed about conversions
elsewhere. Since there were problems now in the church in Colosse we can see
why the burden would grow as he was informed about where they were spiritually by
Epaphrus. When I hear about another church, do they become part of my prayers?
Being updated means we cannot ignore the information, but instead we should pray for
them. But how?
Paul followed the teaching of Jesus
about praying to the Father, although here he describes him as the Father of
the Lord Jesus Christ rather than the Father of his people. Maybe he was
thinking about why his prayers for the Colossians would be heard. Always present
with the Father in heaven is the mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name
all acceptable prayer is made.
In his thanksgiving, Paul uses
the trilogy of faith, love and hope to describe the encouragements he had about
praying for the Colossians. Each of the attitudes were present in their
spiritual outlook. Their faith in Jesus had commenced when they responded initially
to the gospel and was still active. A Christian’s aim regarding Jesus is to
depend on him always. Doing so encourages other believers to pray for that
Christian. Love for all the saints is a normal consequence of trusting in Jesus,
even the grumpy ones. It is impossible to do one without the other. We know we
have passed from death to life when we love our fellow Christians. Lack of
brotherly love is an ominous sign.
It is not clear whether ‘because
of’ indicates a third reason for Paul’s gratitude or whether it suggests that
the Colossians’ faith and love were stimulated by the prospect held securely
for them in heaven. Perhaps Paul had both realities in mind. He does not mean
that getting to heaven is their hope, but rather heaven is the secure place where
what they are hoping for is safe in the meantime. Hope in its New Testament
form is connected to what will be known when Jesus returns from heaven and
provides his people with full salvation. Since all Christians have that hope,
it is a reason for praying for one another and is also a means of increasing
their dependence on Jesus and growing in love for those who will share glory with
them. As Calvin observed, ‘For the hope of eternal life will never be inactive
in us, so as not to produce love in us.’
Paul probably mentioned those
three graces of faith, love and hope because together they showed that the
Colossian believers were genuine Christians. When we examine ourselves or when
we consider individuals for church membership, what should we look for? Faith
in Christ, love for God’s people, and a longing for glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment