Colossians 4:2-6 says...
Today's verses are Colossians 4:2-6, which read,
v.2-4 - Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
After a section on specific instruction to different groups who have become Christians, Paul goes to a general instruction to all Christians. Christians are to pray and we are to devote ourselves to prayer. Devote means to be courageously persistent or to hold fast and not let go. Does this describe your prayer time with God?
Our prayer is to be a priority that we are alert as we do it. In its most basic form it means to actually stay awake but in a deeper sense it means to be alert to what we are praying about. We are praying in concrete terms about situations and Scripture rather than vague statements and flowery language. Does this describe your prayer time with God?
We keep thanksgiving at the top of the list so that our prayers are focused more on Him than ourselves. We pray like we keep the two greatest commandments. We pray with a love for our God and we pray with a love for others. We are give thanks both for salvation from God and the ability to serve others. Does this describe your prayer time with God?
Paul then asks for their prayers. He is in prison and again, instead of praying for deliverance from that state specifically, he asks for prayer for an open door to share the word of God. The bigger picture is that the gospel of God's grace through the cross of Christ would be proclaimed whether in prison or out of prison. Paul goes a little further that when the opportunity is given that he would speak of the gospel clearly and with the attitude and tone needed for that specific situation. We are to be praying that the gospel message would get out with clarity and sound content and the truth would be bathed in love as it is being proclaimed. Does this describe your prayer time with God?
v.5, 6 - Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Paul's instruction on prayer leads right into action from the prayers. We are praying for the gospel to be spoken, for an open door, and when God gives it we are to take it. We do this with wisdom that has come from God through that time with Him. We see this as a real live opportunity given to us by God to share with the "outsiders" or unbelievers. Our conduct on a regular basis sets the tone for their receptiveness when things get around to vocally speaking about Christ. This opportunity given to you is another assurance of God's salvation of you and His love for you.
Part of our conduct around them is our speech. Our speech should involve grace and salt. We have graceful speech in the words that we choose to say that are wholesome and guided by the Scriptures. We have salty speech in the words that we choose to say that come from our time with God in His word. That graceful salty conversation from the Christian comes from time spend with God in prayer so we are prepared to respond in the right way to "outsiders" or unbelievers. Our prayer life is connected to our conduct before others and our gospel presentation when the door is opened by God.
Does your speech come out of your daily conduct and does your daily conduct come out of your prayer time with the Lord in which you are devoted and alert? Don't wing it. Be in prayer today God's way so that He can use you to share Him with others with a holy conduct and holy words. Let's pray.
"Lord, we sometimes downplay prayer. Sometimes we forget to pray. Sometimes we don't forget but just decide not to. May we see how key it is for us to spend that kind of time with You so that You can affect us through it, so that we can be salt and light of You. May we not leave the house without it today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.2-4 - Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
After a section on specific instruction to different groups who have become Christians, Paul goes to a general instruction to all Christians. Christians are to pray and we are to devote ourselves to prayer. Devote means to be courageously persistent or to hold fast and not let go. Does this describe your prayer time with God?
Our prayer is to be a priority that we are alert as we do it. In its most basic form it means to actually stay awake but in a deeper sense it means to be alert to what we are praying about. We are praying in concrete terms about situations and Scripture rather than vague statements and flowery language. Does this describe your prayer time with God?
We keep thanksgiving at the top of the list so that our prayers are focused more on Him than ourselves. We pray like we keep the two greatest commandments. We pray with a love for our God and we pray with a love for others. We are give thanks both for salvation from God and the ability to serve others. Does this describe your prayer time with God?
Paul then asks for their prayers. He is in prison and again, instead of praying for deliverance from that state specifically, he asks for prayer for an open door to share the word of God. The bigger picture is that the gospel of God's grace through the cross of Christ would be proclaimed whether in prison or out of prison. Paul goes a little further that when the opportunity is given that he would speak of the gospel clearly and with the attitude and tone needed for that specific situation. We are to be praying that the gospel message would get out with clarity and sound content and the truth would be bathed in love as it is being proclaimed. Does this describe your prayer time with God?
v.5, 6 - Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Paul's instruction on prayer leads right into action from the prayers. We are praying for the gospel to be spoken, for an open door, and when God gives it we are to take it. We do this with wisdom that has come from God through that time with Him. We see this as a real live opportunity given to us by God to share with the "outsiders" or unbelievers. Our conduct on a regular basis sets the tone for their receptiveness when things get around to vocally speaking about Christ. This opportunity given to you is another assurance of God's salvation of you and His love for you.
Part of our conduct around them is our speech. Our speech should involve grace and salt. We have graceful speech in the words that we choose to say that are wholesome and guided by the Scriptures. We have salty speech in the words that we choose to say that come from our time with God in His word. That graceful salty conversation from the Christian comes from time spend with God in prayer so we are prepared to respond in the right way to "outsiders" or unbelievers. Our prayer life is connected to our conduct before others and our gospel presentation when the door is opened by God.
Does your speech come out of your daily conduct and does your daily conduct come out of your prayer time with the Lord in which you are devoted and alert? Don't wing it. Be in prayer today God's way so that He can use you to share Him with others with a holy conduct and holy words. Let's pray.
"Lord, we sometimes downplay prayer. Sometimes we forget to pray. Sometimes we don't forget but just decide not to. May we see how key it is for us to spend that kind of time with You so that You can affect us through it, so that we can be salt and light of You. May we not leave the house without it today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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