Col 2:1-3 “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Paul’s earnest love and concern for his brothers and sisters in Christ is clearly seen in these verses. At a casual glance, we might be tempted to think that Paul is looking for a little glory for himself: look at all I am enduring for you. However, if we read closely, we will see that the message is look at the great love God has given me for you.
It should be our desire for our brothers and sisters to know how deeply we love them. We should be willing for them to see the fight we are in for their sakes and for the love of God. This is not so that they might think more highly of us, but rather that they might know that they are not alone in their struggles. Like Paul, we should desire a reputation for standing firmly in the grace of God so that we might be a witness even to those who have not physically met us yet.
Again, our desire is not for them to marvel at what we might endure. In seeing our conflict, we hope that the hearts of our brothers and sisters might be comforted. Has someone ever endured something on your behalf that, when you became aware of it, caused you to think “They really do love me!”? Maybe that realization brought a smile to your face or tears to your eyes, but whatever the outward reaction, it brought consolation to your heart.
As the church, when we see those ministering servants who have great conflict for us it should comfort our hearts. When our hearts are consoled in this manner, the love of that servant calls to the love that is in us. This love knits us together. I am no tailor, but I can appreciate the difference between something that is sown together and something that is knitted.
If a garment is sewn, there are stitches that attach the front and back, the sleeves, the cuffs, etc. These seams can be easily removed and the garment taken apart in pieces. Sometimes the seams fail and the garment becomes unwearable or has to be repaired. Something that is knitted together is a unified whole. In watching friends and relatives who knit, I have seen them have to unravel (unmake) almost the whole garment they were knitting to fix some mistake they had made.
When our hearts are knitted together in love, there is a most desirable outcome. We are blessed with an abundance of confidence in our understanding of the love of God for us. Discernment of the mystery (Christ in us, the hope of glory – Col 1:27) of God is granted to us. We are able to receive the truth that God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. By the power of the Holy Ghost, we acknowledge that the Father and the Son dwell in us.
In acknowledging this wondrous mystery, we come to understand how securely the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are kept. Wisdom and knowledge are not deposited in men; they are not entrusted to servants; they are not held in some earthly institution. All the treasures (wealth) of wisdom and knowledge are hid (kept secret) in Jesus. Everything we understand about God and godliness and about His great love for us is kept in Jesus.
May God bless us with a desire for our brothers and sisters to be assured of our love and, having our hearts knit together in love, lift up praise to Christ, our Redeemer!
