Encouragement in Suffering (Col. 1)

Encouragement From the Ones Who Suffer

I wonder how many of us have written a letter of encouragement to a fellow brother or sister in Christ that we do not really know.  As I read afresh this morning the letter to the Colossian church, this is what strikes me as a practice void in my own experience.  It is apparent that neither Paul or Timothy, the authors (1:1), personally know to whom they are writing.  They have merely “heard” of their faith and good report from Epaphras, the evangelist.  Paul was in prison at the time he wrote this (4:1), and it would seem that Paul was not planning on visiting Colosse, and this I assume because of his chains and the appointment future correspondents such as Tychicus (4:7),  Onesimus (4:9), and perhaps Mark (4:10).

Astonishingly more is this letter of encouragement is coming from one who is suffering in prison, though Paul seems to have had the pleasure of receiving visitors.  Still, Paul’s example of faith the Lord and love for the saints supersedes his own case of being victimized by the world, that he leaves no excuse for modern day victimization of our own culture who would cry foul to bring others into their debt.   On the contrary it would seem that Paul’s confidence in the sovereignty of God feeds his understand of how God uses suffering in an individual’s life to not only strengthen the individual, but strengthen the entire body as one submits to the divine will in the midsts of suffering.  Such is Paul, writing to believers he’s never met, using his chains to encourage others who (materially) fair better than himself. All this can be observed by the mere context by which this letter has come into existence, even before we have the chance to expound on its content, which is a precious treasure for all, not just the Colossians.

What Are We Thankful For?

I would say to any Christian the litmus test of the vitality of the Holy Spirit in ones life is to discover what sort of thing makes you the most grateful.  What I mean is, does the work of the Holy Spirit fill you up with thankfulness and gratefulness? I think we can rightly assume that Paul’s daily bread and only true reason for living was to encourage believers towards Christ.  Therefore when he sees the faithfulness of believers, even ones he does not know, he is filled with thankfulness towards God (3-4).

I think guilt is a poor motivator, but I hope that when we find our motivations are not bound up with the work of the Holy Spirit we will take notice and prayerfully move our hearts in that direction.  Let us find our greatest sense of fulfillment and joy in the faithfulness of saints and not in material things.  Oh how I have failed in this!

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