Colossians 4:2-6 Pray for Me
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: October 16, 2020 Colossians 4:2-6
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
(Understanding the Text) Paul has just told them to treat their interpersonal relationships as though they were answering to Jesus for their treatment of others. Now, he advises them in their prayer life. He says to keep praying and don’t stop. How can we be watchful in prayer? I understand giving thanksgiving in prayer, but are we watching out for others? Are we watching for sin in ourselves? No, I don’t think so. Are we watching out for God’s working in our lives? I don’t know what we are being watchful for. None of the other translations really say it much differently. The Message paraphrase says “Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.” That might mean looking around to find things in our lives to be thankful for, but it still might mean to be watching the world with a heart of gratitude. It may be speaking of our attitude towards the world and to constantly be in communication with God about it, but I don’t know if I am correct.
Paul also wants the Colossians to pray for him, not so that he can get out of prison, but so that he can have doors opened for preaching while he is in prison. Paul is interesting. He is not asking them to pray for his freedom. He is asking them to pray for his freedom to speak about Jesus. He wants to have doors open for him to reach people from the position that he is in rather than asking that he leave his position.
This line of thought brings Paul to thinking about how the Colossians should present Jesus to those around them. He says to always be gracious to others, use wisdom in your dealing with them. Here, Paul is not speaking of fellow believers. He is speaking about those who are not Christian. He says that we need to think about how we deal with them and cut them some slack. We need to treat them and speak with them in a manner that promotes a favorable attitude towards Jesus.
(Revelation of God) Paul speaks of the mystery of Christ which he wants to make known. God is a mystery to us until we begin to know Him through Jesus. Jesus became a man so that He could open up our understanding of God. He wanted us to trust Him and believe that He only wanted our good. The mystery of Christ was being revealed to Gentiles so that they also could see the beauty of God in their lives. God is in some ways unknowable because He is so different than us. We are created, and He is the Creator, yet in the important ways, we can know Him intimately because He is loving and just and wise. Jesus helped us to know His character and to rejoice in that knowledge.
(Application / Prayer) I pray for wisdom in all my interactions with others. Help me not to mess up my communications and help me to reflect You well.