COLOSSIANS 4:2-6
PRAY PERSISTENTLY: PROCLAIM POSITIVELY AND PEACEFULLY
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
SUSAN: The saints (believers) are to be courageously, tenaciously, consistently in prayer. They should intercede for one another with intentional alertness . . .
SUSIE: . . . remembering to approach the Lord with gratitude for all He has already done and what He will do in the future.
SUSAN: The Lord impressed upon me that His favorite position in our lives is not as Creator, King, or Lord, but as our Father—the One who nurtures us. The Father delights in hearing His children’s thanksgiving and requests. When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He did not have them begin by saying Creator or Exalted King. No, He taught them to pray, “Our Father.”
It is not possible that God should refuse to hear prayer; it is possible for him to bid the sun stand still and the moon to stay her monthly march. It is possible for him to bid the waves freeze in the sea—possible for him to quench the light of the stars in eternal darkness. But it is not possible for him to refuse to hear prayer that is based on his promise and offered in faith. God is as pleased to give us his blessing as ever we are to receive it. It is as much to his honor as it is to our comfort. He takes more pleasure in our prayers than we do in his answers.
The Spurgeon Study Bible, Allistair Begg, editor.
Colossian 4:3-4 . . . as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.
SUSIE: Paul then voices his own prayer request.
SUSAN: Envision Paul’s message as being in a suitcase. He asks that the churches at Colossae and Laodicea pray that He will be able to unpack the message God has given him that more people may come to understand the Gospel. He wants to boldly proclaim the mystery that Jesus indwells all believers, not just Jews but Gentiles as well. God’s blessings are for all who have trusted in Jesus, all who are a part of the Messianic Community, the bride of Christ.
SUSIE: Paul asked that they pray for him to be fearlessly bold in fulfilling his God-given duty to preach the Gospel even though he was already imprisoned as a result of that obedience to the Lord.
ACTIVITY: Make a list of people you know personally who are in full-time Christian ministry. Start with the staff of your home church. Then add friends and family in ministry and ministers to whom you donate money or goods. Remember to put Precious Jewels Ministries on your list! Try to pray for these people at least once a week or whenever the Lord brings them to mind.
Colossians 4:5 Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
SUSIE: Perhaps another translation will help us here:
Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.
Colossians 4:5 (AMPC)
SUSAN: Those who are “without” (KJV) are people who are not yet a part of the Messianic Community—Non-believers. Christians need to live in such a way that the encounter they have had with Jesus is evident, not only in our words, but in the way we live our lives before the world and its system.
SUSIE: We are to be wary of unbelievers and yet gentle and kind toward them, sharing the truth of God’s message.
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be wary and wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless, guileless, and without falsity) as doves.
Matthew 10:16 (AMPC)
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
SUSIE: In talking with unbelievers, we should be gracious and kind, sharing the good news of Jesus with them. Our dealings with those who are not yet Christians should reflect the new nature Jesus has given us and be a positive representation of our Lord.
seasoned with salt. Just as salt not only flavors, but prevents corruption, the Christian’s speech should act not only as a blessing to others, but as a purifying influence within the decaying society of the world.
John MacArthur Study Bible
SUSIE: Salt intensifies flavor. That is why even recipes for sweet desserts call for a touch of salt. Our speech should bring out the bold sweetness of the Gospel message.
SUSAN: We should speak in a way that proves that the Lord is alive and active in our lives and that draws people toward the truth of the Scriptures, the Holy Bible.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:8 (BSB)
SUSAN: After talking with us, the non-believer should want a taste of what we have in our relationship with the Lord.
SUSIE: We should be prepared to answer questions about the Lord which means we need to know His word. We need to have studied the Bible and internalized it.
SUSAN: We should not be afraid to say, “I do not know the answer to that, but I will be happy to look into it and get back with you.” Then we should carefully, prayerfully study in order to give an answer later.
But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
1 Peter 3:15 (AMPC)
SUSIE: We cannot beat people over the head with the word of God.
SUSAN: We must approach them with dignity and respect . . .
SUSIE: . . . remembering that we are ambassadors of the Most-High God and our attitudes and actions reflect on Him.
PONDER THIS: Notice that before discussing how to deal with non-believers, the Lord (through the pen of Paul) stressed the importance of persistent, continual prayer. We cannot defend the Gospel graciously to non-believers in our own strength. We must first seek the Lord and be right with Him.