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APPRECIATION
COLOSSIANS 1:3-8

Pastor Stephen Muncherian
February 7, 1999

I invite you to turn with me to Colossians 1:3-8. This morning our focus is on genuine appreciation - what qualities do we genuinely appreciate in others and would like to see in our lives?

As you’re turning, I’d like to begin by sharing something very interesting I found out about Napoleon. Napoleon was a great natural leader. But even Napoleon was aware that his success would have impossible if men weren’t willing - eager - to follow him.

Since he couldn’t know and personally inspire every man in his army he developed a technique to help him. Before visiting a regiment he would call the colonel aside and ask for the name of a soldier who had served well. The colonel would name someone - and then Napoleon would learn everything about that man - where he was born - the names of his family members - what he had done in battle - and so on.

Later - while reviewing the troops - at a signal from the colonel - Napoleon would stop - single out the man - greet him warmly - ask about his family - compliment him on his bravery and loyalty - reminisce about old campaigns - express his appreciation - then pin a medal on the grateful soldier. The technique worked.

After the review, the other soldiers would talk among themselves, “You see, he really knows us - he remembers. He knows our families. He knows we’ve served. He appreciates us.”

Napoleon’s appreciation was contrived and self-serving. And its a very empty feeling to give or receive appreciation like that.

We’ve all been in situations where appreciation is given because it was the “right thing to do” or because of the personalities or politics involved. Have you ever gotten a compliment or been appreciated by people and it was really uncomfortable - or undeserved? What really is worthy of appreciation - what we should appreciate in others - and strive for ourselves?

Colossians 1:3-8 - the Apostle Paul writes:  We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you - that’s appreciation - whats been done is so valued that its a part of Paul’s prayers and thanks to God - We thank God.... because - here’s the reasons for the appreciation - because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing - so among yourselves, from the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf (8) and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

1. FAITH

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” To have faith means to act - to bet our life on things that are unseen. How we appreciate the example of people who live lives of faith.

We encounter faith when we see someone forgive an unfaithful spouse - or someone rejoice and trust God even when a loved one has died or fallen ill - parents who pray for their unbelieving children year after year.

Hebrews 11 gives a powerful description of men and women of faith in the Bible. Let me read just verses 32-34: “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight....” These acted in faith.

2. LOVE

Paul appreciates the love of the Colossian Christians. And he qualifies that love - "the love which you have for all the saints."

Everybody in the church was loved - not just the attractive people - or their friends or relatives - or the popular people that everybody liked to be around. All the saints were loved - the shy - the awkward - the backward people were loved. There were no outcasts. All the saints were welcomed and it became something that the Colossian church was known by and appreciated for.

One of the great stories in the New Testament is the story of how Philemon and Onesimus - two very different people - a master and a slave in this very community - the Lychus Valley - Colossae - Laodicea area - how Philemon and Onesimus became loving brothers in Christ.

3. HOPE

Jesus said - Matthew 28:20: “I am with you always - even to the end of the age.” In John 14, Jesus tells his disciples. “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”

Hope is all through the Bible. Hope is the good news that right now - whatever we might be facing - in a moment of weakness - danger - or hopelessness - if we’re feeling defeated - alone - betrayed - tempted to immorality and sin - Jesus makes Himself available to us. His strength - His wisdom - His grace and forgiveness - to strengthen us and to help us to go on. Its the hope - found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ - which sustains us today and for eternity.

4. LIFE LIVED BY THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL

Paul appreciates and mentions Epaphras. In Colossae Epaphras was the man who started it all. He was a native of Colossae who had been to Ephesus and had been taught by Paul himself. Paul in Ephesus - for two years - had been teaching in the school Tyrannus. And those who were taught by Paul - including Epaphras - went out from Ephesus and took the Gospel all over Asia. Epaphras came back to Colossae and began to instruct people in the Gospel.

In verses 7 and 8 Paul describes Epaphras as his beloved fellow-servant - a valued companion in the ministry. He served Jesus faithfully - and he represented Paul in Colossae - preaching and teaching in Paul’s place.

Epaphras simply told the people the truth about Jesus. And, he lived the truth of the Gospel.

This week is Vartanantz. Why do we appreciate Vartan? - the priest Ghevont? - 66,000 poorly equipped and poorly trained Armenians who went out into battle against 300,000 well trained and armed to the teeth Persian troops? - 1,035 martyred Armenians? Why appreciate and give thanks for these men?

We appreciate them because they lived the truth of the Gospel even if it cost them their lives.

Perhaps you may be thinking that you’re not a Epaphras - or a Vartan. Which of us is? But we’re already important people. You go out there during the week - day in and day out - rubbing shoulders with people who have no hope - hearing sad stories - meeting them in the streets and stores and work - having coffee with them. You’re the one’s who can spread the Gospel of Jesus.

What really counts in our homes and church and community - those people we genuinely appreciate and should strive to be like - are those who live by faith - in love - with hope - living the truth of the Gospel. We become tools in God’s hands to spread His Gospel and to be used by Him to transform the world one person at a time.