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Colossians: Gold!
It was funny watching the Olympics. There were times when they set up cameras in the homes of the athlete’s families to catch their reactions during the event as they watch their children and brothers and sisters compete.
Maureen and Wayne Harris watched their 19-year-old granddaughter, Meg Harris, compete in the 4x100metre freestyle relay. She won. As they watched the event on their TV from their couch at home, they were on their feet. On their feet! Maureen says: "It was just unbelievable and my husband, he screamed. I've never heard him scream like he did,"
Here they were, watching from another country, but on their feet screaming for joy! Meg couldn’t hear them, or see them. But they were on their feet, screaming.
So far away. Yet so full of joy.
Paul is far away from the Colossian church when he writes this letter, but he is on his feet, screaming with joy. Why? Because they were going for gold! They were loving people in such an amazing way. Paul writes this from chapter 1 verse 3:
Colossians 1:3-6
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 God’s 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 message of the gospel that has come to you.
Paul is thankful for these Olympians of the faith. He is thankful because he has heard, at a distance, of their achievements. Well, not really their achievements, but what God has achieved through them. He is cheering them on because he has heard of their love for God’s people. He has heard of their faith in Jesus. He has heard how their faith and love has sprung into action, and Paul is jumping off his couch, cheering them on.
This is how the gospel bears fruit in our lives – as we put our faith and love into action. Paul continues:
Colossians 1:6-7
In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
They heard the gospel from Epaphras, and now they are moving this gospel on to others through their love and faith. Thank God for people like Epaphras. Thank God for the fruit of the gospel that brought God’s truth to each of US!
I was taught the gospel by so many people over the years as a child. My parents, my scout leaders, my youth group leaders, my church ministers, and even some Christian teachers and friends at school. Thank God for them bearing fruit. Thank God that they loved me enough to share the gospel faithfully. I’m sure every time those people shared the gospel with another person, God was jumping up, on his feet, cheering the work of the gospel in yet another life.
Even at a distance, like Paul, we can give thanks for those who are bearing the fruit of the gospel in their lives. And just as someone once brought the gospel into our lives, let’s pray that even in these days, we will not be prevented from bringing the gospel into the lives of others. This is the true Olympic sport worth cheering for!
Let’s pray we can do that.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for those who brought the gospel to us. Thank you for their faith and love. Help us to continue this work of bearing gospel fruit. Even in these times, help us to find opportunities and to pray for others as they look for opportunities, to share the great hope we have. May your gospel bear fruit in my life this week. Amen.