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LOVE’S STRUGGLE (COLOSSIANS 2:1-7)

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is Love’s struggle. Love is an intense feeling of deep affection. Struggle, on the other hand, means striving to achieve or attain something in the face of difficulty or resistance. Love’s struggle means showing deep affection irrespective of the challenges or obstacles. In other words, going through challenges to show care and affection to others. We shall reflect on the fact that our love for other people must include enduring hardship to ensure that they are saved.

Beloved in the Lord, Love’s struggle involves enduring hardship or challenges to one’s detriment to bring other people to the saving knowledge of Christ. In the first place, Paul was in prison on account of the Gospel, yet, while in prison he continued to show love to believers outside the prison walls by teaching or enlightening them on Christ. To demonstrate passion for the salvation and spiritual growth of Christians while in prison, he wrote “I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. (Colossians 2:1-5) In other words, although Paul is confined within the prison walls, his love for the church and the spiritual growth of the believer at Laodicea and Colossae is profound. This a great example to church leaders and for that matter Christians. We must never abandon or give up the people we have been called to lead. Whether in good or bad times we must continue to encourage other believers to focus on Christ as the source and power of our faith. Paul did not allow his condition as a prisoner to demoralise or deter him from continuing to preach the Gospel.

We need to note that Jesus is our main example when it comes to love’s struggle. He loved us to the point of death, even on the cross he showed love and mercy to one of the criminals who said ““Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43) Certainly, Paul and the other Apostles can not love less but follow the perfect example of Jesus Christ in loving people irrespective of their precarious situation. We were greatly encouraged by Jesus when He said “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:12-13) Love is felt when it is demonstrated in challenging moments. Indeed we appreciate Jesus’ struggles and suffering which has reconciled us to God. This is the love that brought about the conversion and great transformation in Paul who irrespective of his hardship continues to preach the Gospel for the salvation of many. We are called upon to demonstrate love and zeal for the lost and perishing by preaching the Gospel to bring them to the saving knowledge of Christ. It means the Church must demonstrate love in its financial struggles by allocating enough funds for Evangelism and Missionary activities. It means no matter how busy we are as Christians, we must make time to preach the Gospel to those around us. Again, the church irrespective of its financial challenges must have a ministry towards the poor.

In summary, we have discovered that our love for other people must include enduring hardship to ensure that they are saved. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to demonstrate love despite our struggles and challenges. Amen.