SCRIPTURE: Colossians 4:2-18
OBSERVATION:
Paul is a missionary through and through. He concludes this letter with an encouragement to pray and stand firm in their mission for the Lord. He also names and commends those who are working with him in the mission. Through this section I hear the Lord reminding me to keep the passion burning for the mission, but also to rely on and appreciate those who are partners with me in the mission. As I sense the Lord challenging me to raise the bar on my own sense of calling and purpose, He also prompts me to find strength and support from others who are also following this calling. It makes me think how the Lord sent out His disciples two by two.
APPLICATION:
Am I primarily focused on the Lord and on His mission? Am I fully relying on Him, alert to His ways and thankful for His works? Do I appreciate those around me who support and encourage me in the fulfillment of my task? Like Elijah, I may at times feel all alone in the work that I do, but then God reminds me that He still have His servants, that I am not the only one (Romans 11:2-5). I need to take the time to see those who are with me, and express my thanks. I need to pay attention to the God-moments that are offered me, whether for support or for sharing the love of Jesus.
PRAYER:
Lord, forgive me for getting wrapped up in myself and in my own ambitions and dreams. Paint a picture of Your kingdom deep within my heart, and may that motivate me to love and serve You and those You put in my life. Amen.
I appreciated all the comments on this passage.
God has given me several jobs to do but the most important is the prayer work. Without it the other work is in vain.
Sometimes I get slack about the prayer work….
Lord thankyou for these verses from Paul. Please forgive for not praying when You wanted me to. I am sorry that I was disobediant. Thank-you that You forgive me. Holy Spirit, please, draw me again to the things You want me to pray about and enable me to do this work. Thank-you, Amen.
Paul is in prison-but he continues to do what God has called him to do. His circumstances change how he does it, but not what he does, to spread the message of the gospel. His passion and drive to live out his purpose is not diminished by his circumstances.
This passage also talks a great deal about the work of prayer. Growing up on a farm, the idea of work and physical activity being the same thing is ingrained in my thinking, even though rationally I know there are many many occupations were this is not true and many physical activities that are recreational. That makes it harder for me to think of prayer as work even though I know that without connecting to
God in prayer about all that we do in our lives, we end up keeping very busy being non-productive.
Lord help me to get past old mind sets and recognize prayer as the hard work of the kngdom that Paul describes it to be. Help me to keep my passion for what you have called me to do strong whatever the circumstances that I am currently in. Amen
In the instructions that Paul gave the church – the part that stood out for me was let your conversation be full of grace that you may know how to answer everyone. That’s a challenge! My words must be the ‘very words of Christ.’ I must take every opportunity to show whose I am even by the words I speak. Lord, help me to be an instrument of Your peace.
In his final greetings Paul remembers all those who helped Him in his living for Jesus, and those he knew in the church even during his personal struggles. Lord, teach me how to pray – not just for personal needs but for your kingdom in specifics and not genaralizations, Help me more and more to be a prayer warrior for Your people doing Your kingdom work. Help me to be an encourager as Paul was knowing Your people and praying for them by name.
I am reminded of the kid’s song – the kid in me:-)
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say,
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say,
There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So, be careful little mouth what you say.