May 17

For it pleased the father that in him should all fulness dwell. - Colossians 1:19.

LET us consider the reasonableness of this appointment. “It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.” And what pleases him should always please us. We should always remember, though he acts as a Sovereign, and the reason of his proceedings may be “far above, out of our sight,” that he has reasons which are all satisfactory to him, and will be satisfactory to us when they are developed. Our Lord therefore says, in his intercessory prayer, “I thank thee, O Father,”-not because thou wilt, but-“because it seemed good in thy sight.” What seems good to us may be evil; but what seems good to God must be good, for “his understanding is infinite.” With regard to his dispensations, therefore, when we cannot walk by sight we should seek to walk by faith, knowing that he cannot do any thing but what is right. There are three reasons which may be assigned why it “hath pleased the Father that in Christ should all fulness dwell.”

First, To render it most secure. God trusted one man, but he will never trust another. He left Adam to his own standing; but he soon fell a victim to temptation, became a bankrupt, and ruined all his posterity. But the everlasting covenant made between himself and his Son is “ordered in all things and sure;” and we are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Thus all true believers in him are safe and secure:-“they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of his hand.”

Secondly, To render it more encouraging. “Speak thou to us, and we will hear; let not God speak to us, lest we die,” said the Jews to Moses, when they were filled with terror at the display of God’s majesty. When we consider God’s greatness and his purity, we feel our need of a mediator between us and him; but we do not need a mediator between us and Christ; and it is well we do not. “We may come with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” We may come to him just as we are,-ungodly to be justified, unholy to be sanctified, and impoverished to be enriched. And what a pleasing consideration is it that in all the concerns of religion we have immediately to do with Him

“Whose heart is made of tenderness,

Whose bowels melt with love”!

Then, thirdly, “It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell,” to render it most beneficial. Thus is established an important intercourse between him and us. This state of things brings us continually to him. If we have any trial to bear, any duty to discharge, or any enemy to conquer, we must always away to him. Now, of what importance is this! Take a child that cannot sustain itself: is he then abandoned? No; he is provided for, and provision is made for him in the bosom of one who will always give him a welcome and frequently invite his access; and so the mutual action of giving and receiving endears the mother to the child, and the child to the mother. Just so, in consequence of this economy, there is communion between Christ and his people; and this communion is infinitely honourable to him and beneficial to them.