Colossians 1:3 “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,”
Rising from the Pastoral attribute of his Apostolic Calling, Paul encourages the faithful Children of God at Colosse; telling them, “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you”. Paul and those with him, were prompted to offer this focused prayer because they had “heard of” their “faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which” they had “to all the saints”. This “faith” and “love” was not simply felt and hidden away in their hearts and minds. Their “faith” and “love” was clearly seen in the things they did, how they behaved, how they sincerely worshiped the Lord, how they lovingly cared for each other, and how they clearly shared the Truth of “Christ Jesus”. Furthermore, their practical “love” extended “to all the saints”; that is, if they learned of a great need among the Lord’s people, they sent encouragement and help to the best of their ability. Paul and those with him prayed for them as they went about living outwardly their “faith” and “love”, for behind the scenes of such active “faith” and “love”, there is a lot of personal sacrifice and commitment and “lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3). Let us, in like manner, pray for our Churches, that such “faith” and “love” would be openly seen and felt and bear much fruit in the strength and growth of our Lord’s Church.