Hope That Is Certain - Colossians 1:9-10 (Part 1)
NEW 3 WEEK READING PLAN
Today we begin a three-week reading plan based on Colossians 1:9-10. In this reading plan, we are going to tear apart these two verses, looking closer at what they say about; where we place our hope, how we pray for the people in our lives, and what it looks like to live a life worthy of the Lord. With each devotion, we will zoom in on a few keywords, zoom out to better understand their context across the New Testament, and then ask God the all-important question - Now What?
Reading Plan: We Colossians 1:9-10 - Zoom In, Zoom Out, Now What?
Devotional: 1 of 3
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;” Colossians 1:9-10 ESV
Zoom In
Sometimes in life, we have to look back before we can move forward. Focusing in on the first two words of verse 9, “And so,” which translates in the Greek “dia touto” or alternatively “because of this.” The point is that these two seemingly meaningless words direct our focus back to the hopeful report Paul receives about the saints at Colossae in verses 3-8. “And so” is literally the bridge that connects these two parts of scripture, providing us with the necessary context to understand verses 9-14 fully. Similarly, Paul uses this same bridge, “dia touto,” in Ephesians 1:15 to connect his message of thanksgiving (vv3-14) to his prayer (vv15-23) for the saints in Ephesus.
Zoom Out
Now that we understand that Paul is directing us back to the prior verses with these two words, let’s look closer at the report Paul receives about the saints at Colossae (vv3-8). Paul begins his letter to the church at Colossae in a similar fashion to his other letters: expressing thanksgiving and gratitude for the faith of those who would likely read his letter. A key theme in verses 3-8 is the relationship between hope, faith, and love in the life of a follower of Jesus. The Colossian church’s faith and love are a byproduct or an outpouring of the hope they now have in Jesus and their eternal home in heaven. The hope that Paul is referring to here is not just worldly wishful thinking, but a hope that is certain, full of expectation and confidence. The Greek word used in verse five, Elpis, often translated as “hope,” appears 53 times in the New Testament, including two other times later in Colossians chapter one (1:23, 1:27). Paul uses this same word, Elpis or hope, when he writes to the church in Ephesus with a similar message of thanksgiving and prayer: “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” (Ephesians 1:18 ESV)
Now What?
God’s message to us today is no different than Paul’s message to the Colossian church. In unpredictable times, as followers of Jesus, we have a HOPE that is certain and unwavering. If we have willingly or unwillingly placed our hope in any temporary worldly pleasure: God is calling us to repentance. Real HOPE can only be found in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Like the saints at Colossae, our HOPE in Jesus should result in an outpouring of faith and love to a hurting world around us.
About the Author
Nathan Miller
You may know me as a husband, father, son, brother, friend, mentor, ultra marathoner runner, NBA basketball enthusiast, fan of all things tech, music lover and writer. However, the life blood that flows through everything that I strive to be comes from a desire for greater intimacy with Jesus Christ. He is my Savior, my Provider, my Lord and most of all my best friend.