It is His presence by His Spirit in the hearts of His people which is the motive power of their holy life. Macgregor, D. D.This is one of the bold sweeping statements of Scripture. (5) There are certain solemn times when this great motive is and must be expressly recognized; but when the whole man is possessed with the love of Christ, the whole ordinary being follows the direction of the central impulse. Christian families, founded on the holy bond of marriage, are appointed, in the divine order of things, to be the nurseries of the future generation. Remember These Things . Very many of those prayers are like letters with no name and address upon them, which never reach their destination. Ulysses said, "What's that?" First, in verses 1-4 readers are admonished to seek heavenly ways because they have been raised with Christ. Nothing seemed to be able to draw Ephraim's heart away from the idols. Others have a mighty Saviour, because they make Him to be great and mighty. The faithful neither rejoice, nor speak, nor act, but in the name of God but here it is required that our whole life be referred to the name of Christ. Artizan, labourer, soldier, slave, would learn the truth that God cared for him, and designed him for a glorious destiny. It is sufficient that we frequently and ordinarily make this application of mind. The impiety of those who invoke Christ's name on their wicked courses.3. Take any life, in any condition or time, and there is help and hope for it in Jesus. Neale.Those old saints of the Middle Ages, how dearly they loved to set the name of Jesus forth everywhere, by all means, in every curious work of art not merely of Church art, mind you, but of household and domestic furniture. B. SimpsonDays of Heaven Upon Earth, Fifth Sunday after EpiphanyText: Colossians 3, 12-17. 21. Mallock. Again Jehovah said: "Ephraim is like a cake not turned." Oh, if they would just put themselves at Jesus' feet, and Rev. It is not in our power to act as we please, or for our own ends (Romans 14:7-8). One offers it in his own name, he is sacrificing to selfishness; another offers it in the name of fashion, another in the name of respectability, but there can be no reality in our services unless offered in the name of Christ.(H. The reason is simply this, that their services are being offered in the wrong name. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. That is what the priest will invoke for you all, when you leave this abbey. As to ordinary matters men, e.g., think it unlikely they will die to-day because they have lived safely through so many dangers, and take it for granted that their food will nourish them because it has always done so. The reason is simply this, that their services are being offered in the wrong name. All divine truths may be reduced to these two heads,--faith and love; what we ought to believe, and what we ought to do. (a) As to their inward influence on the man himself. The aims of an ambitious man and of a true believer have no external difference, yet if you examine the inward springs of both, you will find one a piece of vanity, the other a fruit of charity.2. IIEaster Wednesday Also Suited to Easter Tuesday. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Begin with him, and end with him; invoke his name, and pray for his direction and support, in all that ye do; and thus every work will be crowned with all requisite success. This is the only religious view of life. Some men make Him to be "a root out of a dry ground," "without form or comeliness." Or is not their influence for the most part rather a constraining power of which he is unconscious, rather than a stimulus carried on by conscious effort? When He had done that upon earth, He went to heaven, that He might do more than show us, might give us, and live in us that life of trust. 4. "Ephraim is joined to idols, let him alone." Another spirit came and took the body of a poet and did his work. If the Christian law is just another name for the law of truth, love, and holiness, it is quite clear that we shall never get out of the range of that law, neither in this world nor the next. There are of course many visionaries, men pursuing objects which have no real existence, but to them they are not unreal. THIS DISTINCTION IS BAD, BECAUSE IT VANISHES ON NEARER OBSERVATION. (1) There is a wide difference between persons who pursue objects which only appear real to them, and those whose objects are absolutely real. J. W. Buxton, M. A.As a petition to the Queen can only reach her through the hands of a minister, so we can only approach God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. This is all the Scriptures teach, and this is all we have to learn. A beginning indeed, I find, but no end of thy miseries. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. There has been nothing sinful, on the contrary the work, it may be, has been sacred, undertaken with prayer, and been for the good of man and the glory of God, and yet there is no satisfaction.I. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. He would be a bad workman and a bad Christian if he were. It is His presence by His Spirit in the hearts of His people which is the motive power of their holy life. He exhorts to holiness;10. to put off the old self, and put on Christ;12. exhorting to charity, humility, 18. and other duties.Dictionary of Bible ThemesColossians 3:171512Trinity, equality of2224Christ, the Lord5629work, ordained by God5636work, and rest5909motives, importance8223dedication8409decision-making, and providence8676thanksgiving8809richesColossians 3:1-173254Holy Spirit, fruit ofColossians 3:12-177125elect, theColossians 3:15-176746sanctification, means and results8352thankfulnessColossians 3:16-173218Holy Spirit, and praise5549speech, positive8666praise, manner and methodsLibraryThe Peace of GodBaltimore, U.S., 1874. (2) The facts implied in the name, "The Lord Jesus," rest upon evidence as strong as can possibly be alleged for anything. There has been nothing sinful, on the contrary the work, it may be, has been sacred, undertaken with prayer, and been for the good of man and the glory of God, and yet there is no satisfaction.I. How, then, can they be done? )Christian ends lend grandeur to human lifeT. Have Him before thee as the pattern whom thou art to copy; the Redeemer in whom is thy strength, the Master and Friend whom thou art to serve and please, thy Creator and thy heaven.1. gladness to alms-giving to give to Jesus? De Witt Talmage, D. D.)The essence of fieryD. A. (a) As to their inward influence on the man himself. Thus, from what they look at and come in contact with, common things acquire uncommon glory.(T. "Your life is hid" (Col. iii. It is to them a mere night of stars to wonder and gaze at, not a sun to light them to their daily work, and warm their hearts with love. "Ephraim is like a silly dove without heart." 2 Tim. act what we know in our souls, that we can do nothing good without God. [1923] Surely it was a wholesome alarm that believers might not think that they could be saved on account of their faith alone, even although they should live in these evils: the Apostle James with most clear speech crying out against that notion, and saying, "If any say that he have faith, and have not works, shall his faith be able to save him?" While there are many falsehoods, Charles Haddon SpurgeonSpurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915Some General Uses. How intensely secular they may become I How mean and perfunctory the spirit in which they may be performed! (Admonition 5.) If they indeed have risen with him, he argues that they should leave the grave of iniquity and the graveclothes of their sins behind, and act as those who are endowed with that superior life, which accounts sin to be death and corruption. If it could be shown that its requirements were unreal, its statements exaggerated, its views of attainment unreason. Colossians. There are of course many visionaries, men pursuing objects which have no real existence, but to them they are not unreal. We thank him. 16 Let the Word Martin LutherEpistle Sermons, Vol. TEXT: COL. iii. Stewart.I begin to see that religion consists not so much in joyous feelings as in a constant exercise of devotedness to God, and in laying ourselves out for the good of others.(D. Are they evermore in his view and present to his thoughts? It must therefore be concluded that He is not a creature, but very God. The faithful neither rejoice, nor speak, nor act, but in the name of God but here it is required that our whole life be referred to the name of Christ. 3). 3). Such an object is consciously present when he chooses to reflect on it, but day by day in the toil and struggle he is not ever thinking of it, but he is pursuing it. He is nothing to them; they do not want Him. Then was it a sacred or a secular work to write "Paradise Lost," Wordsworth's "Excursion," or Cowper's "Task"? Sunday, but not other six days. Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness, Suffering. Such an object is consciously present when he chooses to reflect on it, but day by day in the toil and struggle he is not ever thinking of it, but he is pursuing it. Have Him before thee as the pattern whom thou art to copy; the Redeemer in whom is thy strength, the Master and Friend whom thou art to serve and please, thy Creator and thy heaven.1. But whatever it be, reality is its necessary condition. "For Ye are Dead" (Col. Iii. "If Ye Then be Risen" (Col. Iii. Here, as in nature, the deepest is the stillest; but by this very stillness all who are observant know its depth. After a while Ulysses came, and he said, "Why, all the fine bodies are taken, and all the grand work is taken. He eats and drinks to the glory of God, who does so not for pleasure, but for strength for God's service; He sleeps to God's glory, who rests in Christ, hoping to rise to do Him honour; he does his daily task to the glory of God who plies it under the eye of God, and does it or not as and how he thinks God would have it done or not.3. (2) Is it not an outrage to require that saints should share this honour with Christ as Rome does? Yes, silver and gold and gems conspired together to mark out this name on the paten, or the chalice, or the shrine; the manufacturer of Limoges worked it out in his enamel; in the monastery potteries they burnt it in on their tiles; in convents they embroidered it on chasuble and cope; in the glorious windows of churches the light came in, sanctified, as it were, and hallowed by the name of the True Light; the poor peasant was encouraged, with his clasp knife, to consecrate his house by carving the same name on the hutch of his door or the barge-boards of his roof; the name of salvation could not be out of place among the dwellings of those who looked to be saved; the name which to adore will be the work of eternity, could never be out of place for the meditation and the worship of earth.(Dr. But, after that he had made mention of these evils, he added and said, "On account of which cometh the wrath of God on the sons of unbelief." 13.--"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." A. Jacob, D. D.)Doing all in the name of ChristI. Neale. IIEaster Wednesday Also Suited to Easter Tuesday. Does it not give strength to self-denial to take up our cross after Jesus? II. Not more cer tainly does the law of gravity reach from world to world than does this law prevail wherever intelligence exists. 1 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. It is a privilege to have peace, but it would appear, Observe in this chapter that he begins by reminding the saints of their having risen with Christ. WHAT THIS IS.1. 8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom withstand stedfast Martin LutherEpistle Sermons, Vol. The stress lies on "the name of the Lord Jesus."1. (2) The facts implied in the name, "The Lord Jesus," rest upon evidence as strong as can possibly be alleged for anything. Such an object is consciously present when he chooses to reflect on it, but day by day in the toil and struggle he is not ever thinking of it, but he is pursuing it. If we would know what Christ wants to be to us, we Dwight L. MoodyThe Way to God and How to Find ItBut, after that He had Made Mention of These Evils30. As to ordinary matters men, e.g., think it unlikely they will die to-day because they have lived safely through so many dangers, and take it for granted that their food will nourish them because it has always done so. Easter Wednesday Also Suited to Easter Tuesday. It is this that gives them the right and title they have in Christian morality. Were it not almost an indignity to bring them in reference to His great Majesty? Because the Father has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name (Philippians 2:8-10). Nothing so mean that it was thought unworthy of this monogram; nothing so glorious that it was considered unfit to have that excelling glory added thereto. Involves one rule of life for the person in holy orders, and another for the man who has not received a religious vocation. Works that are the same as to external action are good in one and bad in another. Solomon was called to build the temple of the Lord, but every man who is an honest worker, who does his best in the place where heaven has put him, is building up a temple, holy, acceptable to God. 5 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Oh, if they would just put themselves at Jesus' feet, and Rev. 15. These are . save that lest they should not think that they did those evils and lived in them with impunity on this account, because their faith set them free from wrath, which cometh upon the sons of unbelief, doing these things, and living in them without faith. 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