“Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus” Colossians 1:4
On the Thursday before Communion, we spend time in confession of sin. As we move into Friday, we begin to examine the fruits God has worked in us. This is an encouraging thought: God has been at work in us! He has not left us alone, and we can trace His redeeming, sanctifying hand in our lives. If on Thursday we are laid low by the Law, on Friday we can lift our heads and see that the Holy Spirit has written this Law on our hearts. What sort of fruits do I produce? In what ways have I grown as a Christian? Perhaps the best place for us to start is at the beginning—“your faith in Christ Jesus.” How would you describe “faith in Christ Jesus”? What must one believe about Christ Jesus? How did this faith become yours? The Colossians had “heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,” they had “heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,” and they had “learned it from Epaphras our beloved servant.” (See verses 5-7) Belief in Christ involves hearing the Word—was there a particular text or message that arrested your attention when you first believed? Belief involved understanding the truth—what Biblical truths did you understand when you trusted in Christ? Belief also involves a living ministry—just like the Colossians, we learn the truth from someone else. Who was your Ephaphras? Who introduced you to the Savior? Can you see how meditation on these types of questions could be so encouraging? God gave me faith by opening my understanding to believe in Christ, to rest on His finished work on the cross, and He sent an Ephaphras to teach me the words of life!
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