Colossians 1:3

We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

'WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD' -Gratitude and thanksgiving is often. neglect aspect in our prayers. It is so easy to view prayer as simply "asking God" for things (1 Peter 4:6). Before Paul "asks" for anything in reference to these Christians, he first of all gives thanks to God.

'WE' -Paul as well as Timothy.. like-mindedness is to exist among Christians. We should rejoice in the same things, have the same values (Romans 12:15).

'THE FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST' -

Points to Note:

1. 'The Father of', doesn't suggest that Jesus is inferior to the Father. This same epistle argues that Jesus is "as much God" as the Father (Colossians 2:9). In addition, Colossians 1:16 makes it clear that Jesus wasn't created by the Father. But rather, He Himself was the active agent in the creation of all things visible and invisible. (See John 1:1)

2. Without Jesus, 'the Father' couldn't be called 'our Father'. It is only through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that we can have. relationship with God (John 14:6).

3. In the gospels we find the same sort of equality with God (John 5:18) in reference to Jesus (John 1:1); and yet at the same time He voluntarily assumed the role of. Son, and spoke of "my God and your God" (John 20:17). Thus all the statements in the gospels which place Jesus in. role of subjection to the Father; we already know that such statements were never meant to imply any inferiority in the Son or. less than Divine status (John 14:9).

'PRAYING ALWAYS FOR YOU' -'constantly praying' (Wey). (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Points to Note:

1. The good news is that many Christians constantly pray. The not so good news is that we often pray merely for ourselves. Be impressed that Paul is praying for Christians which he had never met.

2. We need to pray for Christians, wherever they might be, for Christians are very valuable people.. true believer in Jesus Christ isn't found on every street-corner. And Christians possess. knowledge that you just can't place. price-tag upon.

3.. like what Eadie says here, 'Paul and Timothy, on hearing of the spiritual progress of the Colossians, did not congratulate one another. but gave the glory to God. So much had Timothy of Paul's own spirit, that the apostle had no hesitation in saying, "We thank God".' (p. 5)

4. Paul prayed for other Christians besides those in this congregation (1 Thessalonians 1:2; Ephesians 1:16; Romans 1:8; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Corinthians 1:4).. wonder if our own lives would be richer and happier and our relationship with God and brethren deeper, if we prayed this much for others, instead of for ourselves?

THE REASONS FOR THIS GRATITUDE: