The Firmness of Your Faith
The firmness of your faith. (Col. 2:5b)
Col. 2:1-9; Mt. 28:16-20; Heb. 12:1-2; Acts 20:24; Isa. 29:14; I Cor. 3:19-20
What Is God Saying?
The Book of Colossians is, perhaps, is the greatest portion of Scripture for the undergirding of our faith in Jesus Christ. It affirms in no uncertain terms that Jesus was not a mere man, a good teacher, or even a noble martyr. He was and He is God. This letter intends to give a true portrait of the true Christ.
Colossae was a city in Phrygia, a country through which Paul passed on both his second and third missi0nary journeys. Epaphras, a resident of Colossae, had come to Rome, visited Paul in prison, and was himself imprisoned (Phil. 23). It was Epaphras who alerted Paul to a subtle heresy gaining a foothold among the Colossian Christians. It was a kind of intellectual elitism. Its adherents felt they could make Christ fit into their philosophic predilections. They fancied that the good life could be guaranteed by strict observance of Jewish requirements and not through a personal walk with the living Lord. The grace and the all-sufficient strength of Christ were missing. Paul wrote a powerful message on the deity of Jesus Christ. It was meant to bring the Colossian Christians firmness of faith in Christ. It has brought the same faith to millions of Christians across the intervening centuries.
How Does This Apply To Us?
We are confronted by this heresy today. Some philosophers consider faith in Christ naive and immature. To them, it is something we can outgrow with intellectual stimulation and philosophical reasoning. But our hope lies not in good works that we do nor in exalted thoughts that we entertain, but in what God has done. He brought salvation and He gives it. We don't earn it nor can we earn it.
Pray With Me
Lord Jesus, give me the blessed assurance today that the faith which was authored by Your love will go on to completion. Knowing this, my faith will grow firmer.
Firm is the faith which feeds upon Your promises. Firm is the faith which looks to Jesus, always seeing Him Who, though invisible, can save to the uttermost. Firm is the faith which is rooted and built up in Christ, drawing life and strength from His unfailing Presence as a tree which is planted by the rivers of water.
So fill my vision, Lord, with the beauty of Your holiness that my faith will never waver. So fill my vision with the splendor of Your love that my faith will not grow weary. I cannot lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely unless I look to You. I can run with patience this race. I can believe with firmness in this hostile world. I can do this because all the thoughts and desires of my heart are centered on Him Who rose in power from death and defeat. I can do this because I believe in You, Lord Jesus, Who even now and ever more by the grace of the Holy Spirit rules in every heart that offers You room.
In the name of Him Who once prayed and still prays that the faith of those very close to Him might not fail. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Sincere prayer is the seedbed of faith. Without prayer, faith grows weak as flowers droop and leaves wither without sun and water. Firm faith comes from abundant nourishment. Nourishment comes from believing God's Word and going God's way. For everything good, but especially for a firm and healthy faith, prayer is the answer.
