Colossians 4
March Memory Verse: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10 NIV
Read: Colossians 4
Roman philosopher, Seneca, famously said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” The Apostle Paul has established true Christians preparation in the book of Colossians. He corrected theology in chapters 1 & 2, proclaiming a highly exalted Christ. This correction was due to the false teachers emerging and leading people astray. In chapter 3, Paul challenged the Colossians to put off the old man and clothe themselves with the righteousness of Christ. Corrected theology leads to corrected action—“Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17)
As we open chapter 4, Paul picks up on this theme of preparation. At the end of chapter 3, Paul illustrated the gospel lived out in household relationships. Chapter 4 verse 1 fits better at the end of 3, with the master and slave relationship that was so common in Roman households. However, it does set the tone for the following verses.
Paul’s command to masters to “grant your slaves justice and fairness” was based on the fact that every master has a “Master in heaven.” This perspective was a major shift. This is one of those verses that illustrates the old saying, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.” It also provides anyone with authority—either at work, in the home, or wherever—with a warning. The warning is this, no power or authority on earth comes close to that of the Master in heaven. Note also that in verse 9 we read of Onesimus the runaway slave journeying back to his master, Philemon. You can bet Philemon read verse 1 with a knot in his throat.
So how do we respond? Even the mightiest masters should humble themselves, bow their knees, and “devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” Notice also what Paul commands the people to pray, “that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.”
All these things, the corrected thinking and corrected action, amount to preparation leading to opportunity. People do not come to saving faith in Jesus through “luck,” they come (most often) through the drawing of the Holy Spirit and the one whom God uses to deliver the message—
"How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” (Romans 10:14–15)
God does not need us in this process. God can even use unprepared people to glorify Himself. However, God’s normal operating procedure is to use a prepared person to proclaim the message of salvation to a person who, by the Holy Spirit, can receive that message. That is why Paul offers the command to pray. Likewise, that’s why it’s important for prepared people to guard their witness—Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Through preparation and opportunity, I’m praying that CPC becomes the “luckiest” place on Earth for people to know the Lord.
What stood out from today’s passage?
By: Tyler Short
Read: Colossians 4
Roman philosopher, Seneca, famously said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” The Apostle Paul has established true Christians preparation in the book of Colossians. He corrected theology in chapters 1 & 2, proclaiming a highly exalted Christ. This correction was due to the false teachers emerging and leading people astray. In chapter 3, Paul challenged the Colossians to put off the old man and clothe themselves with the righteousness of Christ. Corrected theology leads to corrected action—“Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17)
As we open chapter 4, Paul picks up on this theme of preparation. At the end of chapter 3, Paul illustrated the gospel lived out in household relationships. Chapter 4 verse 1 fits better at the end of 3, with the master and slave relationship that was so common in Roman households. However, it does set the tone for the following verses.
Paul’s command to masters to “grant your slaves justice and fairness” was based on the fact that every master has a “Master in heaven.” This perspective was a major shift. This is one of those verses that illustrates the old saying, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.” It also provides anyone with authority—either at work, in the home, or wherever—with a warning. The warning is this, no power or authority on earth comes close to that of the Master in heaven. Note also that in verse 9 we read of Onesimus the runaway slave journeying back to his master, Philemon. You can bet Philemon read verse 1 with a knot in his throat.
So how do we respond? Even the mightiest masters should humble themselves, bow their knees, and “devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” Notice also what Paul commands the people to pray, “that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.”
All these things, the corrected thinking and corrected action, amount to preparation leading to opportunity. People do not come to saving faith in Jesus through “luck,” they come (most often) through the drawing of the Holy Spirit and the one whom God uses to deliver the message—
"How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” (Romans 10:14–15)
God does not need us in this process. God can even use unprepared people to glorify Himself. However, God’s normal operating procedure is to use a prepared person to proclaim the message of salvation to a person who, by the Holy Spirit, can receive that message. That is why Paul offers the command to pray. Likewise, that’s why it’s important for prepared people to guard their witness—Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Through preparation and opportunity, I’m praying that CPC becomes the “luckiest” place on Earth for people to know the Lord.
What stood out from today’s passage?
By: Tyler Short
8 Comments
Trying to live to please God, to do my job with humility, integrity, loving my teammates, and working hard, helping others to succeed, etc. has done more than just generate success. It opens up "lucky" opportunities to witness. People take note of success and watch. Sometimes they directly ask questions. I pray I do not miss opportunities to share God's work and His love. I pray also that God can use me and that He forgives me for not making Him always First in my life.
Thanks for the commentary today Tyler.
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive[a] so that you will have the right response for everyone.
If you've been around CPC for a while you've heard our pastors talk about "on ramps". These are opportunities when friends or coworkers open the door for a potential gospel conversation. Examples of "on ramps" could look like this, when a friend or coworker says:
* how was your weekend?
* my kids / teenagers are driving me crazy. How do you deal with your kids?
* my marriage is really struggling, how do you handle ........ ?
* my grandmother / mom / dad, etc. passed away. How did you handle the grief?
The are so many ways comments / questions can lead to telling people about the difference Jesus makes in your life. In order for this to happen we must be living lives that reflect the gospel. Christians also need to be transparent with our lives, the victories & the struggles. Finally, we need to pray for God to open our eyes to these "on ramps" and pray for the people God has placed in our sphere of influence. Each of us has a mission field wherever God has planted us. Have a blessed day JS readers.
In the same chapter it is said to "make the most of every opportunity," (v.5), "know how you should respond to each person," (v.6), but also say that he's sending Tychicus, that he " may encourage your hearts." (v.8)
So...we need a little direction, a little encouragement, and off we go, brothers and sisters in Christ. But not yet. Pray, (v.2). Devote yourself in prayer, in fact, for opportunity. and that it be made clear how you ought to speak, (v.4).
Verse 3 stood out to me today. "And pray for us, too, that God may open the door for our message..."
In my life, I have noticed that when I fail to pray for opportunities to reach out to specific non-Christians around me, the opportunities just don't seem to come.
If I am serious about reaching lost people around me, I need to regularly pray for those on-ramps. Then when they come, they won't come as a surprise to me and I'll be more likely to notice them and take them.
Devote yourselves to prayer. The two things I seem to struggle with is on and off compassion for the lost and prayer. Clearly the two are tied together so no wonder I continue to struggle in both. If I pray the desire to share will become much more prevalent.
I'll echo what Thomas said about praying for the opportunities. I can't say that it's something that is regular in my prayers. I kick myself when I don't take an obvious opportunity that God has given me, but had I been in prayer leading up to that, it would have been fresh on my mind and I could have allowed God to use me rather than pas it up. This chapter is a good reminder and encouragement to always be ready, to always be on the lookout for ways to share with others. We need to prayerfully consider ways God would have us share with others, and then allow God to work through us when those on-ramps appear.
I heard someone say recently, in response to the idea that the Bible promotes slavery because of verses like Col 3:22, that in reality it speaks correction to wicked human institutions. Verse 4:1 is a good example of that. Also, I love the idea of spiritual preparedness. Good stuff.
Praying to God to open a door to witness for Christ! That is my takeaway from this scripture.