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All the names mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:7-17 indicate that with him there was a sense, a consciousness, of the Body as the one new man:
１
All the names also show that there should be no differences among the churches — what Paul wrote to the Colossians was also for the Laodiceans, and what he wrote to the Laodiceans was for the Colossians; what fellowship, oneness, harmony, and intimate contact this implies!
２
Paul charged Tychicus to make known to the Colossians all that concerned him because of his consciousness of the Body as the one new man.
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It is essential for the growth and development of the Body that we each recognize our measure and not go beyond it; we should learn to be blended with other brothers and sisters — 1 Cor. 12:15-18; 2 Cor. 10:13-14.
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Every member should know his own capacity and not consider himself more highly than he ought; if everyone does this, there will be no jealousy, ambition, or craving to do what others can do — Phil. 2:2-4; Rom. 12:1-5.
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Wherever there is Body-revelation, there is Body-consciousness, and wherever there is Body-consciousness, individualistic thought and action are ruled out:
１
If we want to know the Body, we need deliverance not only from our sinful life and our natural life but also from our individualistic life.
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Seeing Christ results in deliverance from sin; seeing the Body results in deliverance from individualism; we cannot enter into the realm of the Body by anything other than seeing.
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What we do not know, another member of the Body will know; what we cannot see, another member of the Body will see; what we cannot do, another member of the Body will do — 1 Cor. 12:17-22.
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If we refuse the help of our fellow members, we are refusing the help of Christ; sooner or later all individualistic Christians will dry up; the whole Body is built up through the interdependence among the members — v. 12.
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Many of us have the experience that when we are dry and have no way to go on, we need other brothers and sisters to intercede for us before we can get through — Eph. 1:16; Col. 1:9; Phil. 1:19; 1 Thes. 5:25; 2 Thes. 3:1; Col. 4:3; Heb. 13:18.
Morning Nourishment
Col. 4:15-16 Greet the brothers in Laodicea, as well as Nymphas and the church, which is in his house. And when this letter is read among you, cause that it be read in the church of the Laodiceans also, and that you also read the one from Laodicea.[The] personal greetings... in the book of Colossians... indicate that with Paul there was a sense, a consciousness, of the new man….There should be no differences among the believers [or] among the churches; for example, no difference between the church in Laodicea and the church in Colossae. This is proved by Paul’s word regarding the reading of letters: “And when this letter is read among you, cause that it be read in the church of the Laodiceans also, and that you also read the one from Laodicea” (Col. 4:16). What Paul wrote to the Colossians was also for the Laodiceans, and what he wrote to the Laodiceans was for the Colossians. What fellowship, oneness, harmony, and intimate contact this implies!
In 4:7... Paul had charged Tychicus to make known to the Colossians all that concerned him. If Paul did not have the consciousness of the new man, he would not have regarded it necessary to give Tychicus such a charge. (Life-study of Colossians, p. 259)
Today’s Reading
If you are a member of the Body, then you must allow yourself to be limited by the other members. Here we find the necessity of the cross. The cross leads to the Body, and the cross operates in the sphere of the Body. If I am quick and another is slow, I must not insist on keeping my own pace; I must allow myself to be limited by the slow member…. It is essential for the development of the Body that we each recognize our measure and not go beyond it [cf. Eph. 4:7]. This is a basic requirement for the growth of the Body.The Body of Christ is not only a protection to the members but a limitation to all the members….We should not allow ourselves to go our own way; rather, we should learn to be blended with other brothers and sisters. Individual dispositions and peculiarities have no place in the church. Every member should honor the talents of others and be faithful to his own. Moreover, every member should know his own capacity and not consider himself more highly than he should. If everyone does this, there will be no jealousy, ambition, or craving to do what others can do…. Many people have not seen their own capacity. As a result they overstep their boundaries [cf. 2 Cor. 10:14]…. If members behave this way in the church, some will begin to monopolize while others will withdraw, and the result will be a loss to the church. We should not behave in this way. We should turn back and take our place in the Body and be limited by the Body. If we do this, the Body will be spared from damage.
Many of us have the experience that when we are dry and have no way to go on, we need other brothers and sisters to intercede for us before we can get through.
The Head is Christ, and the Body is also Christ. Each member is a part of the life of Christ. If I refuse the help of my fellow members, I am refusing the help of Christ. If I am not willing to acknowledge my need of them, I am not willing to acknowledge my need of Christ. Just as I cannot be independent from the Head, I cannot be independent from the Body. Individualism is hateful in the sight of God. What I do not know, another member of the Body will know; what I cannot see, another member of the Body will see; what I cannot do, another member of the Body will do.
Sooner or later, all individual Christians will dry up. As long as we live in the Body, we will receive the supply of the Body, no matter what our condition is. Every member should learn to treasure the supply of the Body and to treasure every member. (CWWN, vol. 44, “The Mystery of Christ,” pp. 805-806, 800-802)
Further Reading: Life-study of Colossians, msg. 31; CWWN, vol. 44, “The Mystery of Christ,” chs. 99-100, 103-104, 106