What do they say about you ...

We move into the letter of Paul to the church in Colosse tonight and we learn what is said about them there:

Colossians 1:4 (New Living Translation)

4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ
Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,

I would be pretty happy if it got back to me that what people knew about me was one, my faith in Christ, and two, my love for all God's people. Think about it. It isn't about them having done some big deeds, or recognition for some works. It is not about some great elocution of the Word, some sermon preached or theory devised. These people, followers of Christ, are recognised for their stand and belief (faith) in Christ and for their display of love for all people.

And there is more. I love the fact that, even though these people are praised for this, Paul and his colleagues identify that, if they are not nurtured in this, they may not be able to continue in this practice:

Colossians 1:9-10 (New Living Translation)

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you.

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you

spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always

honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good

fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

The ability for these followers of Christ to continue in their faith and practice of love is assured by the wisdom and knowledge of God to know His will. In this way they will always be able to honour and please the Lord and produce every kind of good fruit. At the same time, growing and learning to know God better and better.

I love the image of life. I love the thought of growth. Not being stagnant or the same, but ever evolving into something better and better. It might seem strange, but I love the fact that, to some degree, we never arrive. We never fully attain. There is always something more to be gained, to be had, to be experienced in Jesus. There is no normality to life really. I hope there are people praying this prayer of Paul and his mates for me, because I want this experience too.

Here it is again from Eugene Peterson (The Message):

Colossians 1:9-10 (The Message)

9-12Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

"Here's to going the distance..."