Paul is very clear in the beginning verses of the second chapter about our need for the body of Christ:
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you [all]…that [your] hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ (v. 1-2)
Only when our hearts are “knit together” in love, Paul says, will we reach all the riches of understanding and knowledge of Christ! WOW! THAT is sobering! Other versions of this passage use “united” or “joined together” in love. The transliterated Greek word is sumbibazo, which would be accurately defined by all the words already mentioned, but one definition that struck me was “to cause to coalesce.” Merriam-Webster defines coalesce as “to grow together; to unite into a whole; to unite for a common end; to arise from the combination of distinct elements; join forces.” Doesn’t that definition correlate perfectly!?
When I think about knitting (although I don’t knit, to the dismay of my grandmother), there are a few points of application for us:
- Someone else is knitting the yarn together…the yarn itself isn’t doing the work. It’s just letting the knitter have his way. GOD DOES THE WORK–we just let Him.
- There are many different colors of yarn. WE ARE DIFFERENT and that is better than if we were all the same.
- There is a final product in mind…a scarf or sweater or blanket. GOD WANTS US TO KNOW HIS SON.
- In order for the yarn to fulfill its purpose, it must be knit together with other yarn. WE NEED EACH OTHER to know Christ fully.
In order for us to receive the riches of the full understanding and knowledge of Christ, we must COALESCE in love with the believers God has placed in our lives. We will not mature alone…I am so thankful God likes to knit…
