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That ye might walk worthy of the Lord: they prayed for the above mentioned gracious habits, that the Colossians might exercise them in a course of life as it becomes those who are effectually called by the gospel to be the sons of God, and the servants of Christ; suitable to the members of the body of Christ: See Poole on "Eph_4:1". See Poole on "Phi_1:27"; compared with Rom_16:2 1Th_2:12 2Th_1:11. As the word God alone ordinary connotes the Father, so Lord doth Christ; answerable to whose wisdom, holiness, and example, Christians professing a relation to him, and expecting benefit by his purchase, should behave themselves; so that the papists cannot from this walking
worthy of the Lord justly infer a merit of condignity, behaving ourselves as Christians being so far from any merit or desert of ours, that it is a debt, we being indispensably obliged to do so, practice being the end of our knowledge. And this end we are to respect
unto all pleasing, i.e. designing and endeavouring not in one thing only, or in few things, but in all things whatsoever are incmnbent on us, we may find aceptance with our Lord and Master, Col_3:20 1Co_7:32 10:31 1Th_2:4 Heb_12:28: all should be great and generous, such as may best like our Lord, keeping themselves from the defilements of the age, Rev_3:4.
Being fruitful in every good work; particularly fructifying, which in the sense may be joined with being filled, Col_1:8: being fruitful is a metaphorical expression borrowed from fruit-bearing trees, unto which godly men and real Christians are compared, Psa_1:3 Joh_15:8; and
every good work is the fruit which these plants of the Lord, having his Spirit as the seed remaining in them, 1Jo_3:9, do bring forth of every sort from a right principle, 1Ti_1:5, according to rule warranted by God, Isa_29:13 Gal_6:16; or having a call from him, for his glory: see 2Co_9:8 Phi_1:11 2Th_2:17 Heb_13:21.
And increasing in the knowledge of God: the Colossians were not yet perfect in knowledge, and therefore they prayed that they might go on, and grow in grace and knowledge of God and Christ, 2Pe_3:18, the best here knowing but in part, 1Co_13:9; therefore they desired these Christians, as the Philippians, Phi_3:10,12, and the Ephesians, Eph_4:13, might come to their stature: see on the texts.