THE K I N G ’ S B U S I NE S S
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that knowledge. “ Filled” is a fav orite word with Paul, he believed in a brimful life (cf. Rom. 15:13, 14, 29; 2 Cor. 1:4; Eph. 3:19; 5:18; Phil. 1:1; 2:2; 4:19, R. V.; Col. 2)10; 2 Tim. 1: 4.) The word translated “ knowledge” is a word meaning real, clear and full knowledge. He prayed that they might be filled with this knowledge “ in all spiritual (Spirit taught cf. 1 Cor. 2: 13, 14, R. V.) wisdom and understand ing.” ' “Wisdom” is a more general word, “ understanding” is the result of wisdom applied to specific questions. Some men are very wise in general knowledge, but lack practical under standing. Paul prayed that they might have both wisdom and understanding. A somewhat similar and yet different prayer of Paul’s is found in Eph. 1:17. SUNDAY, Nov. 10th. Col. 1:10. Paul prayed that they might have this full knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding for a very practical end, viz., “ to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleas ing.” The way to show that we have spiritual wisdom and understanding is, not so much by our talk as by" our walk. The phrase that Paul uses is a most expressive one, “ walk worthily of the Lord.” Can we do that? Certainly we can, many do. Of course our walk is not perfectly worthy of the Lord, but it is worthy of Him and increas ingly so as we are filled more and more with the knowledge of His will. “ The Lord” in this verse refers to Jesus. In 1 Thess. 2:12 Paul speaks of walking “ worthily of God.” (R. V.) A compari son of these two passages shows, as do many other passages also, how God the Father and Christ the Son occupied in many respects the same place in the thought of Paul. Paul wished them to walk worthily of the Lord to the utmost limit, “ unto all pleasing.” He would have them please Jesus the Lord to the utmost extent in every detail of life, meeting and anticipating His will in everything (cf. 1 Thess. 4 :1). What a glorious walk! Along with this, or as part of this, they should be “ bearing fruit in qvery good work.” Some of us would limit Christian fruitfulness to very narrow lines. The “ everys” and the “ alls” in these three verses (vs. 9-11) are worthy of careful notice. Let them sink deep into our heart. As another feature of the walk worthy of the Lord, unto all pleasing, they should be ever “ increasing in the knowledge of God.” (cf. v. 6; Ch. 2:19; 1 Pet. 2:2;
ily shared Paul’s imprisonment in order to minister to him. According to tradi tion Epaphras was the first bishop of Colossae and suffered martyrdom there. In this place Paul calls him “ our beloved fellow-slave.” Paul rejoiced in being the bondservant of Christ and rejoiced in others who shared this glor ious position. Epaphras had preached the Gospel on Paul’s behalf, or in Paul’s place. So Paul speaks of him as “ a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf.” He had now come from Col ossae and reported to Paul and declared unto him the love of the Colossian saints “ in the Spirit” (i. e. the love which had been begotten in them by the Spirit’s power). The fruit of the Spirit is first of all love (cf. Gal. 5:22; Rom. 5:5; 2 Tim. l : 7 ) v SATURDAY, Nov. 9th. Col. 1:9. Because of the good report that Epaphras brought from Colossae of their “ love in the Spirit,” Paul began to pray unceasingly in their behalf. When one reads Paul’s assurances to different churches and individuals that he was praying unceasingly for them (cf. Rom. 1:9; Eph. 1:16; 1 Thess. 3: 10; 2 Tim. 1:4) one cannot hut feel that Paul must have spent much of his time in prayer, and doubtless that was the case; He prayed too while about his work and while keeping night vigils (cf. 2 Cor. 11:27). The present attainments of the Colossians were an encouragement to seek yet greater things for them. Paul’s prayer for them was not merely prayer in a gen eral way, but specific petition. This comes out in the words translated ' “ make request for you.” The Author ized Version translates this “ desire,” but “ make request” is a far more accu rate rendering. The definite thing that Paul asked was that they might “ be filled with the knowledge of His (God’s) will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” There is nothing more important than that we know God’s will, God’s own loving purpose regarding us (cf. Eph. 1:5) and His will as to what we should do (cf. Eph. 5:17). It has been well said, “ all per fection consists in doing the will of God . . . . the works which seem great est are nothing if they are not the will of God . . . the more the soul does the will of God in all things, the more it knows God.” (cf. John 7:17). Paul prayed that they might be “ filled” with the knowledge of God’s will: he would have their whole being pervaded with
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