eginning to end
but the revelation of God's will for man? Perhaps the most all-embracing
prayer is: "Teach me to do Thy will"; and certainly the ideal life is
summed up in the phrase, "He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Well might the Apostle pray for these Christians of Colosse to be filled
with the knowledge of God's will.

The word rendered "knowledge" means "mature knowledge," and is one of the
characteristic words of these four Epistles written from Rome. The Apostle
evidently regarded mature knowledge, or deep spiritual experience, as the
pre-eminent mark of a ripening Christian. In this respect St. John bears
the same testimony, in his reference to the three stages of the Christian
life represented by "little children," "young men," and "fathers." The
little children _have_; the young men _are_; the fathers _know_ (1 John
ii. 12-14). This spiritual knowledge or experience is the great safeguard
against error, in that it gives power to distinguish between good and
evil, between truth and falsehood.

The measure of this knowledge is to be carefully noted--"_filled with_ the
knowledge of His will." The word also implies a fulness which is realised
continually--not a bare knowledge, but its completeness; not an
intermittent stream, but a perpetual flow. When the soul experiences this
it is provided not only with the greatest safeguard against danger, but
also with the secret of a strong, growing, powerful Christian life.

The characteristics of this knowledge should be observed: "_In all wisdom
and spiritual understanding_." "Wisdom" is a general term which implies
the capacity and faculty for adapting the best means to bring about the
best ends in things spiritual. "Spiritual understanding" is the specific
coming or putting together of principles by means of which true action is
taken. It really means "putting two and two together," comparing ideas and
principles, for the purpose of adopting the best in any given course of
action. Of the importance and necessity of wisdom and spiritual
understanding scarcely anything need be said. Christian wisdom, Christian
understanding, Christian perception in the thousand and one things of
life--this surely is one of our greatest necessities and choicest
blessings. How many errors would be avoided, how many wanderings checked,
by means of this spiritual wisdom! Still more, how much joy would be
experienced and how much genuine service rendered, if we were always