“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains” (Colossians 4:2-3).
On the surface, those two verses likely do not look all that interesting or important. Sure there is a good lesson in there about the nature and attitude of prayer (words like “devoted… watchful and thankful” give some good instruction in that regard), but it is the last portion of the quote that should inspire us.
Paul most likely wrote this letter while he was under house arrest in the city of Rome (Acts 28:16-31). His future was uncertain and his life was in the balance. He may have been chained to his prison guard twenty four hours per day. If not, he certainly had someone watching over him constantly. His outlook was bleak and there seemed no reason to be optimistic or to look for a good outcome.
In the midst of these circumstances, Paul asks his brothers and sisters to pray. However, he does not ask them to pray for his freedom or for an open prison door. Instead, he asks them to pray for an “open door” for the message.
The incredible part of this passage is that Paul is still expecting God to do something. He is still living with his eyes wide open to the possibilities to teach and encourage. He still believes that, in spite of his own circumstances, God can, and will, provide a way for him to be useful in the kingdom. He is not concerned about himself. Rather, he is looking forward to how God will use his imprisonment to provide a way for him to talk about Jesus (the very reason for which he was in prison in the first place).
Paul is expecting God to work. Paul is convinced that prayer changes things. Paul has his eyes, not on his bad circumstances, but on his good God. Paul is convinced that God can work anywhere and anytime.
I love that Paul was living in anticipation of what God was going to do next.
I have a feeling that my life would be more productive if I lived with that same anticipation and awareness.
What about you?
On the surface, those two verses likely do not look all that interesting or important. Sure there is a good lesson in there about the nature and attitude of prayer (words like “devoted… watchful and thankful” give some good instruction in that regard), but it is the last portion of the quote that should inspire us.
Paul most likely wrote this letter while he was under house arrest in the city of Rome (Acts 28:16-31). His future was uncertain and his life was in the balance. He may have been chained to his prison guard twenty four hours per day. If not, he certainly had someone watching over him constantly. His outlook was bleak and there seemed no reason to be optimistic or to look for a good outcome.
In the midst of these circumstances, Paul asks his brothers and sisters to pray. However, he does not ask them to pray for his freedom or for an open prison door. Instead, he asks them to pray for an “open door” for the message.
The incredible part of this passage is that Paul is still expecting God to do something. He is still living with his eyes wide open to the possibilities to teach and encourage. He still believes that, in spite of his own circumstances, God can, and will, provide a way for him to be useful in the kingdom. He is not concerned about himself. Rather, he is looking forward to how God will use his imprisonment to provide a way for him to talk about Jesus (the very reason for which he was in prison in the first place).
Paul is expecting God to work. Paul is convinced that prayer changes things. Paul has his eyes, not on his bad circumstances, but on his good God. Paul is convinced that God can work anywhere and anytime.
I love that Paul was living in anticipation of what God was going to do next.
I have a feeling that my life would be more productive if I lived with that same anticipation and awareness.
What about you?
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