Colossians 4

The Book of Colossians was written by Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome before he had ever visited the city of Colosse. The apostle dwells on the dignity and glory of Christ’s person, and brings out the great mystery of the indwelling of Christ, and God’s purpose to unite under the Headship of Jesus Christ all things in heaven and earth. It was delivered by his faithful and beloved brother in Christ, Tychicus.

This final chapter of Colossians starts out by telling us to “persevere” in prayer:

4:2 “Persevere in prayer, becoming vigilant in it with thanksgiving”

To preserve means:

~ to persist in anything undertaken

~ to maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles or discouragement

~ to continue steadfastly

My grandparents were pastors and I always remember going to their house as a child and seeing a plaque on the wall that said, “Prayer Changes Things.” And it was not just there for decoration. Even during our visits when my grandmother could have been spending time with the family, she would quietly slip off into her bedroom and get down on her knees and pray. Not only did she pray but she also had a regular schedule of fasting during the week. I am quite certain that I am here today because of the sacrifice my grandmother made in obedience to the Lord. Prayer should not just be hit and miss – we are told to persevere regardless of what is going on around us or how we feel.

Paul goes on to ask for prayers for him in prison:

4:3 “Meanwhile, praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.”

It is important for us not to just pray for ourselves and our own personal needs, but to pray for the needs of others. Prayer is not just communication but a form of communion with God. He cherishes the prayers of his children and delights in answering those prayers according to His will. Regardless of your situation, there is always someone who is worse off than you. And the Lord even goes so far as to tell us to

“love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and PRAY for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” Matthew 5:44

Talk about something that is hard to do, that verse really sums it up! But if our hearts are truly filled with the love of Christ, this should not be difficult. Remembering that in His compassion, He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” II Peter 3:9b.

The next verse leads us to something that is sacred to us all – time.

4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time”

“Outside” refers to the lost. We are to walk upright and in wisdom by setting a higher standard of living to the unsaved. Not that we are “better” than them, but that we have what the world is looking for and they should want it. We all know our personal boundaries, but be assured that the world is watching our every move.

Time – it is a precious commodity these days. It is challenging to strike a balance between the many directions we are all pulled. Do a quick assessment of your time. Here’s an example of a typical day for many of us:

33% - work/school

33% - sleeping

33% - watching TV, playing video games, going to the movies, spending time with friends, etc., etc., etc., etc.

1% - reading the Bible, praying, witnessing

The 99% is all important, but couldn’t we all find a little more time and increase the 1% we give to God? Based on what He has given us – his Son, Jesus Christ – it is certainly the least we can do with our time.

Verses 7-15 is a long list of greetings addressed to a church that Paul did not establish. It reflects his own need to foster supportive relationships and his genuine concern to strengthen the ties with the Colossians.

Verses 16-18 conclude the book with closing exhortations and blessings.

In conclusion, I leave with you the final thoughts of this chapter which all involve action on our part. I challenge you to see how they will transform your life when you put them into practice:

~ Become a person of prayer

~ Repent of any prayerlessness in your life

~ Recognize God’s gift of time and use it wisely

~ Speak with grace and wisdom to all

Dale Adams | Small Group Coordinator

Dale & his wife Vickie are active members of Hutto Bible Church. Dale is currently serving as Coordinator of the Small Group Ministry.