The church happens when I discover that Jesus is really in me. As I abide, stay and enjoy His life in me His love -life fills my whole being. A longing rises up in me to gather with likeminded saints where His life overflows into our meeting. When the church is simply Christ, The church simply emerges. Amen.
Paul says “for this cause since we heard of it” (1:9). What is the it? Paul heard about their faith, their hope, and their love. According to revelation in I Corinthians 13 what is the greatest of these three? Love! "Now there abide faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) Specifically the “it” that Paul is referring to is the love in the Spirit we see in verse 8. This is huge, because this initiates in Paul a desire to pray for the Saints in Colossae without ceasing!
This love in the spirit is the foundational root and building block of the church. "That Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love," (Ephesians 3:17).
Paul is excited to hear that they are living out of their spirit and that love is its manifestation. Seeing and understanding this revelation means the saints in Colossae we’re getting to their spirit and Christ was making home in their hearts. His love was overflowing and this formed the church.
This is so significant for all the churches. Actually, if there is no love in the Spirit in the churches, the church becomes lifeless. There is no way to go forward in the church. We settle for something religious, social or commercial in the way we meet or operate. Genuine Salvation is present, Doctrine is spoken, the good works are there, there’s an eschewing of evil practices, Jesus is named, and even the gifts may be there. But Is there Love in the Spirit?
Now it is your turn: The church happens when you discover that Jesus is really in you. As you abide, stay and enjoy His life in you, His love -life fills your whole being. A longing rises up in you to gather with likeminded saints where His life overflows into your meeting. When the church is simply Christ, The church simply emerges. Amen
