December 30

Twenty-fourth Monday after Trinity

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the Saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel; which is come upon you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth. Colossians 1:3-6.

How full of a heavenly mind is this prayer and thanksgiving! It is not for their outward increase or profession that he prays, but "for the hope laid up" for them "in heaven," for their faith and love and the fruits of the Spirit. He knew that their vocation required the best fruits. If there are the three great graces without which none can enter into heaven, so there are many others that must follow in their train. How dear these fruits of the Spirit are to our Saviour! how graciously He accepts them! In working for others you work for Him; and you never could do His work at all unless He, the very and eternal Sun of Righteousness, cheer and warm you. We need to ask the prayers of others to keep us in the way of everlasting life. "Brethren, pray for us." The prayers of the Saints make the ties to that heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, so much stronger, and the ties to this world so much weaker. You aiding your fellow-Christians and they assisting you, the God of strength, unto Whom all prayers come, will support and strengthen you now and for ever, that ye may stand complete in all the will of God. Paul and his friend earnestly contending in prayer for those Christians whom the Apostle had never seen! Here is the secret of the conversion of the world.

As gently rippling o'er the leafy shade Comes the soft sighing gale, and passes o'er, E'en so in heaven each prayer, in secret made, Ruffles a thousand wings prepared for instant aid.