THERE is remarkable similarity in the Epistle to the Ephesians to that to the Col. 1 do not think it, can be said rightly, it is higher ground, so to speak, in Ephesians to what we have in Colossians. It is this, the glory of the body, the church, as seated with Christ in heavenly places, accepted in the Beloved, is in Ephesians; while in Colossians it is the glory of the, Head-Christ risen, and that which belongs to Him as the Risen One, and ours, as risen with Him. It does not say risen with Him into heavenly places, but rather risen out of a place of sin and death to have a part with Him in life and resurrection; out of darkness into God's marvelous light.
The practical consequence in Ephesians is, "Be ye followers of God as dear children, and walk in love as Christ;" in Colossians it is " Walk worthy of the Lord," that is, the affections being set upon things above, where Christ sitteth, we walk down here through this world, in it but not of it, and all our desire is to be going out to the laying up treasures where neither moth nor dust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
But, again, as to practical consequences. In Ephesians, in chapter i. it is, " Blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ," " Accepted in the Beloved." In chapter ii., what we were, " Without Christ, having no hope and without God in the world, but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometime were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Then again we have told out the believer's rich, full blessing in Christ. What security? what a place? what a -portion? Well may we say with a full heart, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us."
But now, if we turn to chapter iv., we see what the believer is in himself, what his habits of old were as to walking, and what he has now to put on, and perhaps needing as to his walk such exhortations as these," Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor," " Let him that steals steal no more," " Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth." What a contrast the believer in himself-surrounded by infirmity, weakness, sin; in Christ-fully, gloriously, abidingly blessed! Cannot we well understand the force of what the Apostle, by the Spirit of God, gives, " Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord"? Do we not indeed need, if this is our weakness here, to be strengthened in Him? to be growing up into Him in all things.
Oh! that we could each say, " I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." Do we not need to be more in prayer with watchfulness? To be seeking to grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ Jesus? To have God's word more as our meditation, and to find it a lamp to our feet and a light to our path?
When we think of the hope that is laid up for us, of the glory ready to be revealed, and we here in bodies of weakness, our resource can only be " Himself," who will yet change this body of humiliation and make it like unto His own body of glory. Let us seek now earnestly that grace and help for every time of need, and say to our souls, " Delight thyself in the Lord." " Finally my -brethren, be strong in the Lord." W. H. S.