PAUL’S PRAYER FOR THE COLOSSIANS
BY C.M.W.
Colossians
i:9-14.
Happy were ye, O Christians of
Colosse, that ye had among your number an Epaphras, a servant of Christ, and
one who labored fervently for you in prayer, that you might stand perfect and
complete-fully assured in all the will of God! It was well for you that he
could confer with Paul and tell im all the story of your love in the Spirit!
It was well for you: for it
united the two “fellow-servants” as they were, in the one desire; and they two
agreed in asking. And the promise was then written as it now stands: “If two of
you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be
done for them of my Father which is in Heaven.”
Shall it be well for us, this
prayer of Paul? Shall we by faith take this prayer for our own, and look for
its fulfillment as did the Colossian Christians who saw the very words written
by Paul’s own hand?
After all desires have been met
and all gifts tried and found wanting, there remaineth these three, “Faith,
Hope, and Charity, but the greatest of these is Charity” (Love). Paul heard
from the lips of Epapharas of their faith
in Christ Jesus, and of the love they
had towards all saints. He knew from better testimony, that of the Lord, of the
hope laid up for them.
The seed of life was in them,
for there was increasing and fruit-bearing; and there had been since the day
they heard the Truth. The Word had met hearing ears and faith had come. These
Colossians heard and knew the grace of God. With ears attuned to God’s speech
the man was swayed by God’s Spirit and reformed, until Love had entered the
inner being, and, filling all space there, had moved out in action, till all
the saints knew they had a place in the hearts of these men and these women of
Colosse.
God, who is Love, had entered,
had found place. How shall Paul the prisoner form a further request for them?
What is the special need to be met by the Power which stands ready to hear and
answer when the children cry for bread? Since the hour when Epapharus, from the
fullness of his heart, had narrated the story of the good report he brought,
Paul had not ceased to pray, and always in this direction. This prayer was his
burden; so he voiced their need.
Great gifts bring increased
responsibilities. It is for a purpose that Temperance has a place in that scale
of living attainment, which Peter raised step over step, “from Faith to Charity.”
Divine power gives unto us all things; yet, he says “Giving all diligence, add
to faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly
kindness, charity.” In the fullness of live, exhilarated with the atmosphere of
mountain-top dwelling, under open heavens, in the society of Moses and Elias,
walk carefully with bated breath, listening for God’s voice, that you may be
filled with the knowledge of His will, in all spiritual wisdom and
understanding.
The knowledge of His will can
only make each step the right step, and the whole walk a walk worthy of the
Lord our Leader. Abiding in the Vine the fruit is good and limited only by the
bearing possibilities of the branch. The husbandman rejoices in the clusters,
full, rich and abundant.
Having found, through the Son,
the way to God, the stranger becomes a friend, the alien a loving subject, the
servant son. And finally the son, increasing in the knowledge of God, enters
into His counsels and becomes one in interest, and one in purpose.
But is all trial over when Love
has entered in? The prayer goes on, suggesting the possibilities of need.
“Strengthened with all might.” What power is that? How can it be measured or
defined? “According to His power.” This is the measure of his power given, and
given as it is needed to meet that which will require “patience and
long-suffering,” and that will perfect them, too. And as in the trying the
patience and long suffering grow and strengthen, about their maturity will be a
halo of “joyfulness” even while pressed to the front by the trying of the faith
which is so precious.
Hallelujahs now have place!
Light from the throne burst upon the soul, and thanksgiving and praise belong
to the Father:
…”Who hath made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the stains in light.”
…”Who hath delivered us from the
power of darkness:”
…”Who hath translated us into
the kingdom of His son;”
“Blessing and honor and glory
and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever!”
The Lamb-the Lamb slain is still
our song! Wonder of wonders that this should have been His way! That God, so to
speak, should have expended Himself in giving the last best gift for us.
