The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 239

VI. CoNCLUBION. "The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace 'be with you." The apostle has, from necessity of his position, employed an amanuensis. When the amanuensis bas done bis work, Paul takes the pen in hand, and adds," The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand." And feeling the difficulty of using the pen in consequence of bis bonds, he adds, very naturally and very affectingly, "Rcmem ber my bonds.'' This bore evidence to the depth of his interest in them and in the truth. He had not the paths of dalliance trod. He had gone the length of bonds. It is principally to be regarded as a powerful enforcement of all that he has said, including his request that they should pray for his liberation. There is added the briefest form of benediction: "Grace be with you." Never, however pressed for space or inconvenienced, can he leave out the thought of the Divine bestowal on us in. our unworthiness.-R. F. Vers. 2-4.-An exhO'f'tation to prayer. Paul bad been, as we have seen, describing noble and difficult duties of husbands, children, etc. He evidently felt they were so noble that they ought to be attained, and yet so difficult that he must at once suggest one way to their attainment. He has shown the goal,-now he shows th~ path. That path is prayer. Husbands, wives, all who would become what I have described, "con- tinue in prayer." In his exhortation to prayer we may notice- I. SoME ELEMENTS m ALL TRUE PRAYER. And of these elements there is in the very front: 1. Constancy. "Continue steadfastly," as the Revised Version has it. Not fitfully, occasionally, irregularly, but with stead.I" constancy, pray. (1) There ought to be constancy because of the need there is. The need is perpetual, for the duties to be discharged to which prayer alone can help, and the dangers to be avoided from which prayer alone can deliver, are ever with us. (2) There can be constancy, because the opportunity is always granted. There are avenues of religious help a man may close against his brother, but not 'this. Excommunicated, exiled, tortured, imprisoned, he can still pray. Wherever God is and a human soul is, there prayer can be.· So Daniel, Jonah, Stephen, found. 2. Wakefulness. "Watching." Not as a sleeper, but as a sentry, must the man be who prays. Understanding, emotion, will, must be awake, as he who guards the city is awake to hear the first footfall of a foe, to catch' the first shadow of a danger. Not in dreamy lethargy can men prny. "No arrow of prayer can reach the sky that does not fly from a heart strongly bent as some elastic bow." 3. Gratitude. " With thanksgiving." Thus the conception of prayer is widened, beyond that of mere petition, to that of intercourse. Prayer becOllles a Eucharist. Indeed, thanksgiving is the crown and goal of prayer. Elsewhere the apostle similarly exhorts," In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God." II. A SPECIAL SUBJECT FOR INTERCESSION. Paul thus bespeaks prayer for himself and his fellow-workers both, to link himself in humbleness of heart tp the Colossians. It is as though he said, "I need prayer as well as you." And don btless he also asks their prayers because he is conscious of necessity for such help as prayer can bring. For himself and his fellow-workers he asks: 1. Prayer that they may have opportunity for work. "That God may open unto us a door." 'l'o the mystery of the gospel tbrre is the great obstacle of minds closed by prejudice, hearts closed by antipathy. 'l'ho preacher, like bis Lord, has to stand at the door and knock. 2. Prayer that shall be sympathetic with their sorrows. For he reminds them that he is "in bonds.'' In every one of the Epistles of bis captivity the apostle mentions this coupling chain which be felt to be thwarting, galling, humiliating. And their prayers must seek either that the chain be broken or the prisoner strengthened to endure. 3. Prayer that they 'TIUl,y have fitness for their work. The one pressing want of their condition was "boldness." Sometimes the main want is wisdom, sometimes patience, sometime; gentleness. Here, because of all t~at was arou?d ~im and beforo him, he felt tho supreme want was courage. And mdeed, when 1s this not wanted by those _who havo to proclaim such a message as the gospel, to such souls as proud, selfish, self-willed men, for such a :Master as the Christ who travails till victory is won ?-U. H. 'l'. VerR. 5 6.-The Christian and the world. We have here some suggestions as to- 1. Tm/ CmnsT!AN 1B RELATIOXSIIIl' TO TJIE WORLD. Jt is implied: 1. That lie is lo 236 THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. [ou. 1v. 1-18