Overflowing

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” Colossians 2:6-7.

Epaphras was a much loved co-worker of Paul and Timothy. He was a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. Epaphras told people in Colosse about Jesus. As he told the Colossians about Jesus he had no idea how they would respond to the Good News. I’m sure Epaphras had seen some people embrace Jesus and others reject Him. Epaphras must have been overjoyed when these Colossians received Christ Jesus as Lord. Before long Epaphras was telling Paul and Timothy about the Holy Spirit working in the lives of the Colossians, bearing the fruit of a deep love for other people (see Colossians 1:7-8).

Jesus warned His followers about the dangers threatening new believers. Some will believe for a while but having no root will fall away in the time of testing. Others will have their faith choked out short of maturity by life’s worries, riches and pleasures (see Luke 8:11 -15). Epaphras, Paul, and Timothy may or may not have heard people quoting this teaching of Jesus, but surely they had seen in new Christians examples of the dangers about which Jesus warned.

The last thing they wanted was to see it happen again in Colosse — some believer getting so wrapped up in trying to revive his textile business that he never puts down roots or getting so caught up in the problems of life that he abandons the faith. Paul urges them to continue. Continue believing. Continue obeying. Continue living for Jesus. The roots need to run deep down into Jesus. New lives need to be arising from the solid foundation of Jesus. Faith needs to be growing stonger and stronger from the very basics of the Good News Epaphras shared with them.

Paul is laying out exactly what the Colossians need to prevent the crashing and burning of their faith. The roots are important. The foundation is essential. The teaching is vital. And if they are going to keep growing and keep living for Jesus, they will do it with hearts overflowing with thanksgiving for all God has done.

Like the Colossians, our faith is strengthened when we remember those who have taught us about Jesus. A grandmother who prayed with us. A friend who risked offending us when he told us the truth about life without Jesus. A teacher or preacher who could not keep from talking about Jesus. Our lives continue to live in obedience when we remember what God has done for us through Jesus — peace, reconciliation, redemption, and forgiveness. Forgetting what God has done for us is the fast track to faith disaster. Thankful remembrance is the path to spiritual stability and growth.

So we remember, we overflow with thankfulness, and we continue to live in obedience to God.
— Bob Clark

8/15/2001