top of page

Tuesday, June 4th, 2024





Scripture: Col. 4:3 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;

Col. 4:4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.


Teaching: Paul continues his instruction to the Colossians to be devoted in prayer by adding a plea for prayer for himself. However, Paul’s plea is not to be freed from imprisonment, but rather that God’s word would advance regardless of his or any other’s personal circumstances. It echoes his comments in Philippians 1 in which he marvels that the gospel is advancing all the more because of his imprisonment!


The “mystery of Christ” that Paul speaks of is important to understand. A mystery, in Paul’s context, was something alluded to or promised in the Hebrew scriptures (called the Old Testament by Christians) that was not yet revealed by God. For example, the Old Testament makes references to the Messiah, Christ, who was revealed later and those Scriptures were then fulfilled and understood. In a similar way, there are passages in the Old Testament that allude to Gentile salvation and the whole world being reconciled to God in Christ. These passages were a mystery that only became evident in Christ. Paul speaks of this “mystery of Christ” here and in other letters. Paul’s prayer here is that this message, the gospel, would be proclaimed and received by all, as Jesus often said, “who have ears to hear.”


Takeaway: Dale Carnegie’s famous book How to Win Friends and Influence People is often suggested as a must-read for adults entering the workforce as it helps many to forge relationships, find business success, and build personal influence. The Gospel, however, often does the opposite. It divides, it offends, but it saves and thus is the “good news.” But, its proclamation does not guarantee warm reception, as Paul’s imprisonment for proclaiming Christ proves. As the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4 teaches, the receiving of the Gospel is not a work of its proclaimer. As that parable shows, the sower sows seeds, or proclaims the gospel, without thought towards what soil it is landing upon. It is the Holy Spirit that determines the condition of the soil, or the heart that receives the gospel. The best that any of us can do is to proclaim Christ to whomever we come across, trusting in the Lord for the work of salvation, and be devoted to prayer to endure what comes of our proclaiming of the gospel. Though we all will not face imprisonment for proclaiming the gospel as Paul did, we should not be deterred by fear of it. A devoted prayer life is our greatest weapon in the mission of Christ: to go and make disciples.  

Comments


bottom of page