The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 34

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 3-8.-The apostle's thanksgiving for the spiritual progress of the Oolos,ia,ns. Notwithstanding the dangerous speculations of a Judreo-Gnostic philosophy which had sprung up at Colossre, threatening the integrity of their faith, the apostle is yet able to express his thankfulness for the faith and love which animated the Christian brother- hood in the valley of Lycus. He is thankful for their continned allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the one satisfaction of all their yearnings, the one solution both of their speculative questionings and of their religious wants. J. THANKSGIVING I8 A CONSTANT EXERCISE OF THE CHRISTIAN HEART, AS IT IS ALSO A TRUE PART.OF PRAYER. "We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you." 1. It ought to mingle with e:uery prayer. We never pray but we have cause ior thankfulness, and we never give thanks but we have cause to pray. And whatever may, be the subject of our rejoicing ought to be matter for thanksgiving. Prayer with thanksgiving was the apostle's constant recommenda- tion (Phil. iv. 6). 2. It is to be addressed to God the Father in Ohrist. (1) Because we are commanded to "enter his gates with thanksgiving," "to be thankful to him and to bless his Name" (Ps. c. 4). (2) Because it is only from him that we have all good (Ja.s. i. 17). (3) Because it is only by him we are preserved from all sin (Ps. cxxi. 7). (4) Because he only is good in himself (Luke xviii. 19). 3. Reasons for thanksgiving. (1) It is the only requital God expects or we can make for bis mercies (Ps. 1. 10, 14; lxix. 30, 31). (2) We cannot expect a blessing nnless we are thankful for it. (3) The more thankful we are for mercies received, the more ground we have for expecting more of them. 4. We ought to be thank/ul as well as prayerful for others as well as ourselves. (Eph. vi. 18; 1 Tim. ii~l.) What a treasury of prayers belongs to the saints! II. THE SUBJECTS OF TIIE APOSTLE'S THANKSGIVING-THE FAITH AND LOVE OF THE CoLOSSIANB. "Having beard of your faith in Christ Jesus o.ndof the love which ye have toward all the saints." It is interesting to remark that the apostle, in the two Epistles written at the same time as this to Colossre, expresses thankfulness for similar blessings (Eph. i. 15; Philem. 5). 1. Their faith in Ghrist Jesus. (1) It was not merely faith resting npon him and finding its nurture and support in him. (2) But it centred in him as the sphere in which it had its due exercise. In this sense, Christ "dwells in the heart by faith" (Eph. iii. 17), and believers "rejoice in him" (Phil. iii. 3, 7). Such a faith is n. mercifui preservative against doctrinal errors. 2. Their love to all the saint.s. (1) The nature of this love. It includes: (a)" Doing good to all, especially to those of the household of faith" (Gal. vi. 10), and" distributing to the necessity of saints" (Rom. xii. 13). (b) Loving fellowship (Acts ii. 42). "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Heb. x. 25). ( c) Dearing with their infirmities. "Love coveroth  28 'l'B:E EPISTLE TO TB:E COLOSSIANS. [cu. I. l ..._29.