Colossians 1:9-12 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you… From the decalogue downwards. Scripture teaching has been poured impartially into two moulds — to know the truth and to do the right. I. THE NATURE OF EACH. 1. Fruitfulness in every good work. (1) Work. They who find Christ find rest, but not exemption from work; "peace in believing" only supplies a foothold whereon the labourer may stand more steadily and so work with more effect. (2). Good work, not energy of action merely. (a) The Master is good: God. (b) The motive: love. (c) The aim: the good of the world. (d) The standard: the law. (3) Every. (a) Not that man should go round the world and meddle with every thing, but that he should neglect no opportunity that comes in his way. Do not waste time and effort in trying to do all at once, but cultivate a universal willingness. (b) Act those virtues, too, that are not in your nature. When a man of might bears the infirmities of the weakest, and the timid display a martyr courage, there is more conspicuous evidence of grace. (c) Do not pick and choose but do whatever God has put in your way, whether the opening of a church or the digging of a well, the support of a missionary or the widening of a street. (4) Fruitful. This indicates — (a) Spontaneousness. The tree has first been made good, and then the fruit grows spontaneously. A partaker of Christ gives forth Christ-like actions. There is a good deal of artificial charity. People can tie oranges to a fir-tree; but true Christian beneficence is a fruit that grows and is not tied on. The water in the pipes connected with a reservoir must flow by reason of the pressure from above. "The love of Christ constraineth us." (b) Sweetness and profitableness. (c) Abundance. 2. Increase in the knowledge of God. (1) In obtaining reconciliation through Christ we have the beginning of this knowledge, and those who attain the beginning can never rest there. (2) Among other features of the Divine nature which the experienced disciple knows better now, the Fatherliness of God is perhaps that in which the greatest advances are attained. It is long ere perfect love casts out all fear; but much progress is made in its diminution by the inlet of confiding love. It is like the process of exhausting the air from a glass cup, and so making it adhere more and more firmly to the table. More and more fear is drawn off from the Christian's bosom; more and more firmly therefore does it cleave to the Almighty strength it leans upon. II. THE UNION AND RECIPROCAL RELATIONS OF THE TWO. 1. They grow together not only as two parallel boughs of one tree, one of which might live if the other were wrenched off. The union is like two sides of a human body: if one were wanting the other would die. 2. Contemplate the two sides alternately. (1) Active obedience is necessary to the increase of spiritual experience. Spiritual contemplation soon runs to seed when duty is neglected. The old monks desired to increase in the knowledge of God, and hid themselves in caves where good works were impossible. So they made themselves barren in that wherein God had commanded them to be fruitful. Simon on the top of his pillar with the world wondering at him as a saint, did not know God so well as he might if he had kept a shop all day and played with his children at night. In active life you will make most progress in this knowledge. The more work you do the more you will be wearied, which will lead you to lean oftener on the Father and thus increase your acquaintance. (2) Contemplative communion with God is necessary to successful activity. If you rush into work without prayer the work will wane like the flame of a lamp when the oil is exhausted. When our work increases in bulk we need more of experimental communion to animate the extended body. (W. Arnot, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; |
    |