Continue steadfastly in prayer…with thanksgiving…pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ…that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:1-6
The inhuman condition into which children of Adam and Eve were born has been addressed by our Savior and Lord Jesus and, now, God calls those of us who are His children in Christ to put on the new humanity that is found only in His Son. In the previous verses, Paul wrote of what God’s design for humanity looks like in the family and the covenant community. In our verses today, Paul shows what God’s design looks like in relation to the outside world. Paul encourages the Colossian Christians to pray diligently and thankfully because it is one of the most powerful weapons we have for tearing down the Enemy’s strongholds. It is true that one of the marks of the believer is the resolve to pray at all times and in all circumstances. Christians must be diligent in prayer. Doing so would make the church much stronger when facing its adversaries. Praying for to the will of God to be done and asking Him to show forth His power and grace on the behalf of His people are a delight to God’s ears. Paul also asked the Colossian Christians for prayer that “God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ.” Note that Paul does not ask for them to ask for his release from Roman imprisonment. Paul realizes that there can be just as many opportunities for the advance of the gospel even in his chains. If Jesus were to unleash Paul’s chains, that would be great, for he could then go on another missionary journey. If not, that will be okay as well. If God makes the hearts and minds of Paul’s captors open to the message of salvation, it would be great. Perhaps we should follow Paul’s example, praying not so much for the alleviation of our own suffering or the suffering of the persecuted church around the world, but that the gospel would go forth freely and powerfully even in the midst of this trouble. Praying for other Christians is also a way to manifest our love for them, as true love for Paul would motivate the Colossians to intercede for the apostle. It is not in vain that the Lord has appointed this exercise of love between us and that we pray for each other. Do we take the privilege of prayer seriously, or do we simply tell people that we are praying for them and then forget all about it?
Source: S C Ball March 1, 2024
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