Colossians 4:2-6. In yesterday’s reading Paul got very specific in applying the truth about who Jesus is and what he has done for us to the lives of the people in Colosse. Whether it was their marriages, their parent-child relationships, or masters and slaves the people needed to remember that their lives were there to teach the world about God and Jesus. In today’s reading Paul makes this focus on the people around us very clear.
In verse 2 Paul tells the believers at Colosse to be devoted to prayer. The idea behind the word “devoted” is one of persistence, prayer needed to be a habit for them. The next part of the verse literally says “being watchful in thanksgiving”. Behind their prayers needed to be the foundation of what they were living for. They had been given a great gift, eternity with God, it was their hope and needed to be the thing that constantly gave shape to their prayers. This doesn’t mean that all they did was sit around saying, “Thank you God. Oh I thank you God. God it’s wonderful that you have a place for me in Heaven.” We certainly need to feel those ways and tell God but that is not what Paul is talking about here.
In verse 3 Paul tells them that when they are praying that they needed to be praying for him too. Specifically that he will have an opportunity (an open door) to tell others about Jesus, the “word” about the mystery of Christ. Remember this had once been a secret or mystery but is was not anymore, and Paul wanted to make sure it wasn’t a secret from anyone. Paul probably used the word “mystery” for two reasons, it implies that the “good news” about Jesus was still a “mystery” (or secret) from some people (and that was no good in Paul’s, or God’s, mind) and second it was one last little jab at the false teachers who wanted to enslave people with their talk of mysteries. God want’s the world to freely know how to be right with him. At the end of the verse Paul mentions that it is because of telling people about Jesus that he is under hose arrest (imprisoned). While the false teachers were cruising around sucking people into their religion (and probably getting money and more from it, see Jude) Paul was paying a real price for teaching the real secret to the world. In verse 4 he asks them to pray that he will have the right words to say when he gets the opportunities.
The way Paul makes his request hints that it is the same thing he wants the Colossians to pray for themselves. They needed to make a habit of prayer. They needed to focus on the great story that they were a part of, the story of God making Heaven available to us through Jesus, and they needed to be asking God to give them opportunities and the words to tell others about Jesus. This is a great follow up to the talk about living lives that give the world little glimpses of God. In 1 Peter 3:15 Peter told his readers to make Jesus the one and only master of their lives and then to be ready to tell anyone who asked them why they were filled with hope that Jesus was the reason. Peter even ended that verse with words that echo Paul’s request. Peter told his readers to be gentle and respectful, they needed just the right words too.
If there was any doubt about what Paul had in mind when he told them to make a habit of prayer verses 5-6 should make it more clear. Theses verses aren’t talking about the content of the prayer but probably point to the outcome. Just as Paul wanted the opportunity and the words to tell others about Jesus, here in verses 5-6 he uses the similar language to describe what he wants them to do. They need to act wisely toward people who don’t know Jesus yet, who have not given their lives and eternities to him. They need to see these people as an opportunity. In verse 6 we see that the opportunity involves them filling their mouths with “grace”. The Greek word Paul uses here can mean “favor, thanks, or something that gives joy or pleasure”. In the early church it came to have special meaning, it was the “good news” about who Jesus is and what he ahs done for us.
Paul tells them that their words should be like salt. In ancient times salt was used in many ways, it was used as a preservative, it was used as an antiseptic (I used it that way one time), and it was used as a seasoning. Although some Bible teachers like to bring up the preservative idea it doesn’t really fit with the other word Paul uses here “seasoned”. What Paul I saying is that they need to use the “good news” about Jesus in a way that people will say, “Mmmmmm, Mmmmmmm, I want some of that!” The world is filled with people looking for meaning for their lives. They insist that they have worth, it screams at them from the deepest parts of their being (see Ecclesiastes 3:11). That verse tells us we know we were made for more that just a few sucky years here on earth. It also tells us that we can’t figure out the answer on our own. That is why God had guys write the story down, in the Bible (see “The Old Testament Connection”), and that is why Paul wanted tell everyone he could, why he wanted the Colossians to live the story and tell it to others, and why Peter wanted the same for his readers to. The world is hungry, we need to be the ones who show them where dinner is.
Verse 6 ends with Paul kind of telling them it’s a one at a time kind of thing. There is no formula for helping people find Jesus, it personal, and it takes time, thought and prayer.
It is serious that my life needs to be the thing that makes people see that Jesus is the answer to their deepest desire for meaning and purpose. Peter says that we need to let Jesus rule in our lives and that will give us a hope that people won’t ignore. The Colossians had hope too, and Paul complimented them on that. But he too wanted their hope and every part of their lives to be an opportunity to share Jesus with others. Sometimes I don’t have a lot of hope. I get all tangled up in the everyday troubles of life and forget that I’m just passing through. I get frustrated by bills and relationships. I get sucked away from time with God. I want more spiritually and that frustrates me too. But in reality I have everything spiritually, Jesus has made me right with God and I am assured of an eternity in Heaven with God. I need to remember that all the little details of my life here and now need to point others to God. God has brought me this far and I’m sure he will take me all the way to Heaven. When life is filled with troubles and distractions I still need to deal with them but not get frustrated. I need to pray that God will use them as an opportunity for me to tell others about Jesus, but I need to stay focused on Jesus and stay hopeful. Pray that it will be so in my life and yours.
Jesus keep me focused. Help me stay hopeful no matter how gnarly life gets, I’ve never been in jail like Paul and he remained hopeful. He did ask for prayer though. God help the young people I have taught over the years find their peace and hope in you. Let them find the meaning and purpose that we all look for in you. Help the words I have shared in these posts be salt. Help all that I say and do make people say, “Mmmmmmm, Mmmmmm, I want some of that!”. And help me remember to. Fill me with hope and let it shine in a dark and miserable world.