Springing from Hope

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all his people -- the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true word of the gospel that has come to you." Colossians 1:3-5b TNIV

We ended our last post considering the thankfulness of Paul for these believers. In this section, we begin to discover the "why" he is so thankful for them.

His thankfulness springs from their action and inter-action with other believers. He has heard of their faith in Christ Jesus and the love they demonstrate to all believers. This is the first thing to notice. It is one thing to be acknowledged by others that we are believers, it is quite another matter for our faith to be mentioned as a reason for some to be thankful for us. Evidentially they were such a people of trust in Jesus that it was known. As we grow in trusting Him, the core of our being begins to expand in ways that are demonstratively different than they have ever been before. This is a marked difference in our actions. A person who trusts in Jesus, will not be known for manipulating others, taking undo advantage of others etc.... A person of faith - of trust in Jesus - will freely love without "hooks" or "strings" attached. This is vastly different from the way the world lives.

The next item Paul mentions is his thankfulness for the fact that they love all believers this way. Many in the church will love those they know this way, but for some reason it never manages to get beyond the four walls of their own fellowship and association. All believers, known or unknown, are to be loved in this trust in Jesus. These folk evidentially did this very well.

Then Paul tells us all the secret behind their faith and love, " -- the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true word of the gospel that has come to you." Their behavior was trained and empowered by the true word of the hope of the gospel.

Hope is a very important thing. Biblical "hope" is not what most of use think of when we use the word. It means "firm expectation." These believers were able to maintain notable faith and generosity in loving others because they expected what Jesus had promised them. In this passage, those items are stored up for them in heaven. WOW! In this passage, it is not the return they are expecting in the here and now - but what is being stored with Jesus Christ in heaven. This is why these believers are empowered in faith and in love - because they have such wonderful hope.

The gospel is such good news! It is not about rules and regulations and such. It is about righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. It is about trusting our Lord for all He is and all He has promised and for loving others in His holy love. It is the truth of being accepted in Jesus, forgiven, set free, and empowered for our lives here. These truths give hope to our hearts. Therefore we can trust Him and love others. Oh Jesus! What awesome truth you give us!