Fruit to Thanksgiving

Colossians 1:3-8    
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

Why did Pail commend the Colossians and thank God so much for them?  Their faith was demonstrated in their lives.  They showed genuine love for other believers in Christ (the saints).  Because of the certain and permanent hope of heaven which God gave them in Christ, the true good news words of life which they heard and witnessed to.  They bore fruit.  Because of God’s grace in the gospel and their participation in that message and life, these knew that grace as true and could not help but live it and bear fruit for eternity.  Even another Christ follower Paul and Timothy knew had invested in their lives and spoke highly of their genuine love of God’s Spirit in them as they worked out their salvation with trembling fear and joy, relying on God’s ability and desires He put in them to live this way.  He thanked God for His work and their joyful obedience in their lives and witness.