Colossians 1:8

who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

'YOUR LOVE IN THE SPIRIT' -'who tells us of the love with which the Spirit has inspired you' (TCNT).

Points to Note:

1. The Spirit had produced such love in them, for they had been responsive to the Spirit's instruction concerning the why's and how's of true love (1 Corinthians 13:4; 1 John 4:11; John 13:34; Galatians 5:16; Galatians 6:1). It is very hard to listen to the gospel message without being impressed with the fact that God is easy to love. And since we have been recipients of such love, we need to share it with others.

2. Of course this involved. love for God. But it also appears that such love was directed towards Paul and Timothy. Besides being taught by the Spirit, it is also. "spiritual love", for it isn't based upon worldly considerations, i.e. physical attractiveness, social position, etc... Most of the brethren in Colossae had never seen either Paul nor Timothy, but they loved them. Like the Colossians, today we have. great fondness for men like Paul and Timothy, because we love what they stood for, we love the characteristics they demonstrated and we admire their devotion to God.

PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE COLOSSIANS:

'Paul's 218-word sentence starts here at verse. and reaches through verse 20. Beginning at verse 15, however, and continuing through verse 20, Christ's Pre-eminence is set forth. Hence, Colossians 1:9-14 can be considered. unit of thought all by itself..In the original this part of the sentence--six verses in all--has 106 words.' (Hendriksen p. 54)

Point to Note:

Unfortunately, the religious world and even the church contains people who have ceased to have any "use" for prayer. Some claim that "prayer" is simply. positive mental exercise to psych yourself up to do something. Is prayer nothing more than an "internal pep rally"? Let it be noted that the great heros of the Bible were men and women who prayed (Daniel 6:10; Matthew 14:23; James 5:17). To under-estimate the power of prayer is to under-estimate the power of God. The prayers of righteous men and women will always be effective, for the God they pray to, is the same God who holds the universe together (Colossians 1:17). The book of Esther should teach Christians that God can work great things in seemingly impossible circumstances, with very little resources, against great opposition, and with nothing more than "time and chance".

These recorded prayers also serve as good measuring-sticks for Christians today. Faithful congregations still exist, false doctrine still threatens many congregations. When we pray for Christians in other regions, we should make sure that we are touching upon the same needs and concerns that Paul mentioned.