COLOSSIANS 2:2
“that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and that they would attain to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,”
You have probably heard the expression “tight knit” to refer to a group of people whether they be family, co-workers or teammates. It is a good thing. It means they have come together as a group and are in agreement on a common goal or purpose. They work together well and rely on each other’s strengths to accomplish their tasks.
Paul uses the Greek word, symbibázō which comes from sýn, “identified with” and embibázō, “to board a ship.” HELPS Word studies says this word means “‘causing to stride together’ (TDNT); (figuratively) to grasp a truth by intertwining ideas needed to ‘get on board,’ i.e. come to the necessary judgment (conclusion); “to prove” (J. Thayer).”
APPLICATION
Don’t you just love that? You could say you are all on board together. Paul’s desire is that these believers in Colossae would be so connected through Christ’s love that they could accomplish whatever God asks them to do. Ephesians 4:16 uses the word this way, “from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”
Albert Barnes says this about this word. “It means, properly, to make to come together, and hence, refers to a firm union, as where the heart of Christians are one. Here it means that the way of comforting each other was by solid Christian friendship, and that the means of cementing that was love. It was not by a mere outward profession, or by mere speculative faith; it was by a union of affection.”
So, let me ask you a question. Does that describe your connection with your fellow believers? Are you “knit together” like that? That should be the goal of each believer, each church, each small group. Do your part in being knit together. It begins with you.
O Lord, help me join others in this manner today. Let our hearts be knit together through the love of Christ.