_RISEN LIFE_ ‘If ye then he risen with Christ.’ Colossians 3:1 Do not let Easter-time pass without the rolling away of some stone, the unloosing of some bar, the standing out into some light, the date of some new life in the old heart. But how can it be? I. THERE IS A SPRING WITHIN YOU, A HIDD... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘RISEN WITH CHRIST’_ ‘If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.’ Colossians 3:1 The resurrection of Christ stands not alone as a great and glorious reality. St. Paul avers that others participated in it. Strictly rendered,... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE DISCIPLINE OF THE AFFECTIONS_ ‘Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.’ Colossians 3:2 The affections have been defined as the faculty or power which regulates or determines all our likes or dislikes for persons or things, our tastes, our friendships, our loves. This... [ Continue Reading ]
_HIDDEN LIFE_ ‘Your life is hid with Christ in God.’ Colossians 3:3 Spiritual union between the believer and his Lord is a truth abundantly set forth in the Word of God, and eminently suggestive of exalted privileges. I. THE REALITY OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE.—The presence of Christ in the heavenly... [ Continue Reading ]
_ALL AND IN ALL_ ‘Christ is all, and in all.’ Colossians 3:11 How little can we see of Christ but a bare and faint outline! Why, it will take all eternity to exhaust that subject; it will take all eternity to learn how good, how wise, how great, how holy, how merciful is Christ. The Apostle seems... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHRISTIAN’S VESTURE_ ‘Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering.’ Colossians 3:12 But notice, to start with, how St. Paul, even before he says what we should be, reminds us of what we are. ‘Put on,’ he b... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE OUTER GARMENT_ ‘And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.’ Colossians 3:14 (R.V.) The Apostle shows that love is the outer garment which holds the others in their places—that which gives a finish to the whole Christian dress. All Christian graces are held toge... [ Continue Reading ]
_PEACE, PERFECT PEACE_ ‘And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called.’ Colossians 3:15 (R.V.) If we speak negatively of the peace that men desire we get a better understanding of what is meant—no strife, no bitterness, no fret, no fear, no folly. Is not that t... [ Continue Reading ]
_OUR EUCHARIST_ ‘Be ye thankful.’ Colossians 3:15 The service of Holy Communion is a Thanksgiving, so named in the Prayer Book, which calls it ‘our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,’ and from this it takes one of its names, the Holy Eucharist. It has other names and other characters; but now... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE WORD OF CHRIST_ ‘Let the Word of Christ dwell in you.’ Colossians 3:16 Note those words ‘dwell in you.’ They mean more than that the Bible should have a place in your library or on your table. ‘Dwell in you’ means make its home in your innermost being. And thus will it be treasured in your m... [ Continue Reading ]
_RULES OF SERVICE_ ‘Servants, obey in all things your masters … not with eye-service … but in singleness of heart … do it heartily, as to the Lord … for ye serve the Lord Christ.’ Colossians 3:22 St. Paul has been giving some plain instructions about the family life, showing how husbands and wive... [ Continue Reading ]