DON'T MOVE
COLOSSIANS 1:23
COLOSSIANS 1:23 NKJ
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Often when someone says don't move, it means you are in a precarious position. Don't move; I'll be there to help. Or don't move; there is danger ahead.
Paul is communicating a similar warning to the Colossian church. As in the books of Galatians and Ephesians, the first part of Colossians is a focus on positional truth. Who we are and what we are in Christ. That is what Jesus has done for us in His life, death, and resurrection. But right in the middle of his expounding on these great truths in Christ is a warning. Don't move out of your faith in Christ. Don't move away from the hope of the gospel.
Paul says if you continue in the faith. A better translation would be if you continue in faith. To continue means to remain, to stay. We must make the choice to continue, to stay, in faith. Our faith in God and His word. Our faith in Jesus and what He has done. Our faith in the Holy Spirit, and His active help. And by staying in a position of faith, we are not moved away from the hope of the gospel. Hope is a positive favorable expectation. The gospel contains the positive expectation of good. The positive expectation we have of heaven, of help, of strength, of purpose. The gospel really is the best news going. Don't move.
APPLICATION
There are many things that have the potential to move us away from the hope of the gospel. Conflicts, bad news, despair, and the pressures of life are just a few of the things we all face. That's the not so good news. The better news is that we don't have to move. When challenging times come our way, we can choose not to move. We can choose to give God praise. To thank Him for the help we may not see. To speak words of life and not negative doubt-filled words. We can choose to not move.
PRAYER
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your love and mercy and help and strength. By Your grace, I will not move away from the hope of the gospel.