If winter's cold is getting you down, imagine yourself back in summertime... when instead of mittens or stout snow gloves I was wearing...garden gloves.
My garden gloves were a mess—torn, somewhat mended with duct tape, definitely ready for the trash after years of grubbing out weeds. I guess my sister-in-law noticed when she stopped by one day while I was down-on-my-knees wrestling with rose-bed weeds. Soon after, here came her practical, loving gift: new gloves.
I purposely chose the word “wrestling,” as my “knee-level” gardening stance regularly reminds me of another implication of “on-your-knees”: that of earnest prayer. Prayer doesn't need a certain body posture. But I've experienced how the “down-on-the-knees” posture helps adjust my heart-attitude when I'm wrestling with heart-wrenching prayer needs.
That's also the word translators chose (from the Greek pale) for the earnest prayers of one of the leaders of an early New Testament church located in today's nation of Turkey. The word is tucked away in Paul's letter to the church in Colossae (near today's modern city of Honaz in southwest Turkey*).
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colossians 4:12 NIV)
Even though Paul had never been to the city (see Colossians 2:1), he had once hoped to come there in person to encourage the Colossian believers. Christianity had been planted there through the ministry of Colossian resident Epaphras, converted during a trip to Ephesus (about 100 miles away). Now, years later, this new church had adapted some heresies into their faith platform, including a descent into legalism and Gnosticism. Epaphras knew he needed help to lead this congregation, so made the long trip to Rome to consult with Paul, now a prisoner on house arrest.
In response to Epaphras' concern, Paul wrote this pastoral letter, full of doctrine and theological correction. It ended with extensive “final greetings” that revealed his appreciation for those who were carrying on the Colossian ministry. Ten names dot the final ten verses—quiet reminders of believers who put on their “work gloves” to serve that church.
I wonder if, at this point, Paul felt something like worn-out work gloves. He'd traveled thousands of miles, enduring beatings, stonings, and persecutions. Yet, stranded in Rome as a prisoner, he realized he'd probably have to give up hopes of “hands-on” ministry in Colossae. He had to turn it over to “new gloves,” new leaders who had to confront the false legalistic teachings and affirm the Gospel message of faith in Christ.
Or, to continue the analogy: it was a situation of “out with the old rules/rituals and weird Gnostic ideas” and “in with the new life-giving Gospel.” Crusty, dirty, worn-out religious ideas OUT, the fresh, working-gloves faith in Jesus, IN!
*See map here: Honaz,Denizli, Türkiye - Bing Maps
**For a little more on the Colossian heresy, go here:
