The reason for thanking God the Father (7)

[Colossians 1:1-8]

Third, Apostle Paul and Timothy, when praying for the faithful saints in Colossae, always gave thanks to God the Father.  An interesting point is found in Paul's letter to Timothy, known as 2 Timothy.  In this letter, Paul mentions that he thanked God when thinking about Timothy, even amid constant supplication day and night.

Do you understand the generation of your children?  I came across an article titled ‘Six Things Christians Need to Know About Generation Z’ on a Christian website.  Here, "Generation Z" generally refers to those born from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s (Internet).  As I read this article about Generation Z, I found a few points I'd like to share and discuss with you: (1) Generation Z is considered somewhat irreligious.  According to research, Generation Z is less likely to read the Bible compared to previous generations.  They are seen as less religious than other generations, and there is a very low likelihood of them believing that everything they need to know for a meaningful life is found in the Bible.  Due to encountering fewer genuine Christians in their lives, their concept of religion is often shaped through the media. (2) Generation Z is excessively digitalized. Sometimes referred to as iGen, they are a generation constantly using mobile phones.  Their online presence shapes all their perspectives and standards.  When asked about fasting, their first thought is often social media fasting.  (3) Generation Z sees the world as wounded.  They are not afraid to tackle difficult questions about the meaning of life or the pursuit of justice.  They are seeking (a better) community.  (4) Generation Z passionately adheres to principles, and one of their favorite principles is aligning actions with words: ‘Show faith through actions, not just words.’  When considering these points, I started thinking about what we, as parents, should do for the salvation and spiritual lives of our children (the next generation).  For instance, given that our children (the next generation) encounter fewer genuine Christians in their lives, shaping their concept of religion through the media, and considering their favorite principle of aligning actions with words, the author of the article suggests that as parents (and grandparents), we should not just explain our faith through words but also demonstrate it through our actions.

In today's passage, Colossians 1:3, we see that when Apostle Paul and Timothy prayed for the faithful saints in Colossae, they always gave thanks to God the Father.  An interesting point is observed in Paul's letter to Timothy, specifically in 2 Timothy.  In this letter, Paul mentions that he thanked God when thinking about Timothy, even amid constant supplication day and night.  Look at 2 Timothy 1:3: ‘I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers’ (Modern Korean Bible).  Apostle Paul, in his unwavering prayers day and night, consistently expressed gratitude to God when thinking about his beloved spiritual son, Timothy (v. 2).  The reason for this gratitude, as seen in 2 Timothy 1:5, lies in Paul's consideration of Timothy's genuine faith: ‘I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also’ (Modern Korean Bible).  Here, "sincere faith" means genuine, faithful, without hypocrisy—a true and authentic faith.  Reflecting on Abraham's faith, as described in Romans 4:18-21, three thoughts emerge:

• Abraham's genuine faith was a faith that hoped against hope.

Look at Romans 4:18: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, 'So shall your offspring be'" (Modern Korean Bible).  False faith, unfaithful faith, hypocritical faith, and fake faith may hope within the realm of possibility, but they cannot hope against hope.  Instead, in seemingly impossible situations, such faith doubts and covers doubt with the term "faith."  It professes, "I believe," while internally crying, "This is impossible."  We should strive to become possessors of genuine faith, like Abraham and Timothy, even in situations that seem beyond hope.  We need a faith that can hope in God even when situations appear utterly hopeless.  Walking in faith without any visible evidence, especially in times when hope seems nonexistent, requires looking to our hopeful Lord.

• Abraham's genuine faith was one that remained strong and firm in seemingly impossible situations, not weakening but becoming robust, glorifying God in faith.

Look at Romans 4:19-20: “Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God" (Modern Korean Bible).  False faith, unfaithful faith, hypocritical faith, and fake faith tend to weaken when faced with impossible situations.  As circumstances progressively become more impossible, faith also gradually weakens.  Such false faith is swayed more by the situation than by the promises of God.  Therefore, instead of glorifying God, it becomes concealed in unbelief.  Hypocritical faith not only fails to glorify God but is also incapable of doing so.  Like Abraham and Timothy, we should become possessors of genuine faith, a faith that remains unwavering and becomes stronger and more robust even in seemingly impossible situations.  We need a ‘zero impossibility faith’ that does not weaken but grows stronger and more steadfast, advancing with conviction in situations that progressively become more challenging and impossible.

• Abraham's genuine faith was one that had confidence in God's ability to fulfill His promises.

Look at Romans 4:21 - "Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised" (Modern Korean Bible).  False faith, unfaithful faith, hypocritical faith, and fake faith trust more in their own abilities than in God's power.  Certainly, false and hypocritical faith not only fails to recognize its own incompetence and helplessness but remains entirely oblivious to it.  Consequently, it cannot fully trust and rely on God's power.  Therefore, even in situations that seem possible, it relies more on its own abilities than on God's power.  The more dangerous aspect is that by relying on one's own abilities to resolve possible issues, it tends to depend even more on self.  As a result, even in seemingly impossible situations, it leans on self rather than relying on God.  Nevertheless, it claims to believe in God.  This is hypocritical faith.  We must possess genuine faith without hypocrisy, recognizing our own inadequacy and acknowledging our inability.  We must cling to the promises of God and not only hold onto them but live according to those promises.  We should never live being led by circumstances that seem impossible.  Instead, the more seemingly impossible the situation, the more we should be led by the promises of God.  While thoroughly recognizing our own helplessness, we must rely entirely on the power of God and live persuaded by His ability.