
Colossians 1:3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.
When we received Jesus we received a holy confidence that is unparalleled when it comes to hope. And this confidence is established day one of our new life in Jesus. And this confidence is a problem for the evil one because we will be confident in telling others about what has happened in our life. So, he must stop us by killing our holy confidence. Thus doubt and heaviness is the way he gets us away from our holy confidence and thus he gets us away from growing in our newfound faith. Remember, we are in a battle and according to Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus in chapter 6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
So we need to guard our hearts where this confident hope lives and make sure to grow closer and closer to God in our daily walk and we will have the tools to fight his schemes. Paul goes on to say 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, This is an important reminder of the need for our witness to shine for the encouragement of other believers and that keeps their hope alive and growing as well. Misery loves company, but so does hope!! This guarding of our hearts is an important stand we must take as Paul wrote in Philippians 4:7 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Our hope comes from knowing what God has reserved for us in heaven and that expectation fuels our faith and gives our hope confidence. Paul really has it "going on" when it comes to strengthening our faith and his continued encouragment kept those churches "on task" in the area of faith. No turning back. No falling away. Just faithful, confident living that is contagious and lasting. Keep in mind from time to time our faith will be tested and us trusting God through it all will be a step up in establishing a faith-walking life.
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."
God is always watching and always here in the good and bad times, but it is up to us to turn to Him and trust His ways.
The Pilgrimage continues.....
David Warren
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