Colossians 1:2

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Colossians 1:2 .)

There are messages which can be delivered only to such men as are here described. Paul has written nothing to societies of wicked men. The Apostles have nothing to say to brotherhoods of evil or confederacies of malice; they can only deliver their gospel to those who are prepared to receive it. The sun indeed has nothing to say to plants that are dead, or to trees that are plucked up by the roots: but how much it has to say to plants that live, and to trees that stretch forth their branches, as if in eager expectancy, towards heaven! A benediction pronounced upon wickedness would be the completest irony. Paul does not proceed upon the principle that because grace was once given to the saints and faithful brethren that therefore they need no more. We need daily grace for daily need. We must, indeed, never permit the soul to be cut off from the fountains of heavenly grace, because the soul is only safe so long as it maintains vital and deep communion with God. Paul does not communicate any grace of his own: he does not stretch out his hand in papal or episcopal benediction, as if to say that he alone was the medium of communication between heaven and earth. He draws grace immediately from the fountain of grace, and thus brings the Colossian Church and saints everywhere and through all time into immediate contact with God himself. This circumstance is remarkable, especially when viewed in reference to teaching which would seem to shut out human priesthoods as necessary connectives between heaven and earth: Paul prayed for the Church, and that is all any priest or father can do: we ought to be indebted to those who represent our case to heaven, and mightily implore the blessing of God on our behalf. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Here is not a word about the priest; but here is a commendation, here is also an elevation, of the righteous man.