Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints. Colossians 1:4
A man named Gerry went to visit his parents one time in the old home where he had grown up. While he was there, one of the old neighbours dropped in for a quick visit. Gerry was astonished at the change in the neighbour, who he had known from his earliest years. No longer a good natured and vibrant person, the neighbour had aged badly, and had become a bitter old man, full of complaints and unpleasantries. When he had gone, Gerry remarked to his parents how surprising it was to see such a nice person become so unpleasant. His mother replied that the neighbour had endured some hard times, and that, because he did not believe in any afterlife, he had no hope. We can understand how having no hope could destroy a person. Was it abundance of hope that made the Christians in Colosse such wonderful people?
Paul had never been in Colosse, and had never met most of the Christians there. But he had heard about them, as our text indicates, and he thanked God for them, as the previous verse tells us. Someone, we don’t know who, possibly Epaphras, had taken the Gospel to Colosse, and a nice number of Christians were there. They became known for their faith in Christ Jesus, and for the love with they displayed to each other and to all other Christians. It was a lovely testimony, and one that was possible only because they were Christians, and appreciated their salvation. Because of their hope of eternal life, these folks had the right attitude about their current lives. The evidence of their faith must have been remarkable, for Paul to mention it. These saints would have been a joy to be around. They were living in the good of their salvation. Their trust in God enabled them to happily endure the bad times along with the good, knowing that God was looking after them and was providing all that was for their temporal and eternal good. Paul was right to give thanks for such faith.
He was also right to give thanks for the love that these saints shared. Note that this love was to all the saints. They left no one out, not in their own company nor in any other company of Christians, nor among Christians who were not with any other Assembly. This love would be displayed in a caring for one another, a sharing of burdens and blessings, a delight in each others’ presence, and an active participation in their Christian activities.
The Colossians had two things that should mark the members of every assembly: faith in Christ Jesus, and love to all the saints. -Jim MacIntosh