Free Bible Commentary
“Colossians 4:1-4”
Categories: Colossians“Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.”
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“Devote yourselves to prayer” (verse 2) – I often find myself approaching the Lord’s throne of grace when I am afraid, when there is an illness or when I want something. That is not devotion to prayer. That is praying when I feel I need the Lord’s help more than usual. But the truth is that I need the Lord every minute of every day, and I need to lead a dedicated prayer life that habitually and continually draws near to Him in good times and bad; in times of plenty and in times of need.
“Keeping alert in it” – We need to keep our minds clear and focused as best we can when we pray. Sometimes I catch myself just saying “mindless” words without putting much thought into them when I am talking to (at) God. And, as most of you have probably already discovered, it is impossible to keep alert in prayer when you are lying sleepily in your bed at night after a long, hard day of life. The horizontal prayer position is not forbidden in Scripture but it is not very conducive to attentive, focused, coherent prayer.
“With an attitude of thanksgiving” – Friends, we have a lot to be thankful for. I know that when we are going through a rough spot it is difficult to think about the things that are going right in our lives. But, more times than not, the good far outweighs the bad. A grateful heart is one that is much more open and receptive to God’s blessings than an unpleasant, dissatisfied disposition of mind. Count your many blessings every day. You will actually find that they are far too many to count and sufficiently thank God for. Show Him your appreciation for your innumerable blessings just the same. That pleases God and mentally eases your burdens.
“That God will open up…a door for the word” (verse 3) – If the Apostle Paul saw the need for prayers for open doors into people’s hearts to preach the truth, then certainly we should as well. Pray daily that God will give you opportunity to talk to someone about their immortal soul and their eternal salvation, and that God will “make it clear in the way” you ought to speak to them (verse 4). I am convinced that God will never deny a petition like that. Be and stay devoted to prayer!
Please read Colossians 4:5-6 for tomorrow.
Have a great day.
- Louie Taylor
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