ES Col 4:2-6 Steadfast Prayer, Faithful Witness
As the redeemed of Christ, we are called to live out God’s design for our lives.
• This is possible because we have a new life with Christ and a reconciled relationship with God our Father.
• Paul concludes his letter with an encouragement to his readers to be faithful in prayer and their witness for Christ.
We see two broad exhortations here – one, to SPEAK TO GOD in prayer and
two, to SPEAK TO THE WORLD for Christ.
Col 4:2-4
2Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3At 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 — 4that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
1. SPEAKING TO GOD FOR THE WORLD
NIV: “4:2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
• Paul tells the Colossians to continue in what they have been doing, to be “steadfastly in prayer” and be “watchful and thankful in it”.
• It is not just the importance of prayer that Paul is stressing but HOW it is offered.
• He stresses persistence, persevering spirit, and being devoted and vigilant in it.
We are to guard it and treasure it because we need it.
• Philip Yancey: “Prayer is a declaration of our dependence upon God.”
• It is the awareness that we need Him, which is not always there.
• We are not always keenly aware of our need for God. We pray when we are desperate or in danger.
• But the truth is we are dependent on God all the time, in everything and for everything.
Paul’s exhortation to pray is a theme he repeats in all his letters to the churches.
• Prayer ultimately is based on relationship, not transaction.
• We do not come to God just to get something; we come because we are His children and He is our Father.
• It is relational and communal, rather than transactional. We need Him more than anything we might get from Him.
Philip Yancey: “Prayer means keeping company with God who is already present.”
• He is always there; we are the ones who are absent. Prayer is making time to connect with the caring God who is always present.
• Peter wrote, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” (1 Pet 3:12, quoting Ps 34:15)
• God is always present in our lives watching over us and hearing us, all the time.
We are the ones who need to make time, create space, and set aside all our distractions to be WITH Him.
• Be quiet and be still, so that we can tune into God’s presence and speak with Him.
• Hence the exhortation here – “Devote yourselves to prayer.”
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While you are at it, Paul says,
• 4:3-4 3At 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 — 4that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Paul wasn’t too concerned about his imprisonment, whether he would be freed or be in chains, but the Gospel cannot be bound.
• He is praying for more opportunities to share Christ, whatever the circumstances.
• He wrote in Phil 1:12 “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the Gospel.”
• Preaching got him into prison but he is praying for more opportunities to do it.
And he said, pray that “I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”
• Imagine this coming from Paul, who has been so seasoned at preaching the Gospel and yet still asking for prayers to “make it clear”!
• If he needed this prayer, then all the more do we.
Charles Spurgeon was best known for this. He was determined to explain the Gospel in words and with such clarity that ordinary people understand.
In his day, ministers were notorious for speaking with lofty rhetoric inaccessible to the laypeople. He famously told his students, “The Lord Jesus did not say ‘Feed my giraffes,’ but ‘Feed my sheep.’ We must not put the food so high up by our fine language but use great plainness of speech.”
Spurgeon laboured to make the truths of the Bible understandable to the common man. He knew that if he did not speak with plain language people would be ignorant of the Scriptural truths vital for spiritual growth.
“[The preacher] must preach Christ so plainly that his hearers can not only understand him but that they cannot misunderstand him even if they try to do so.” (MTP 56:489)
There is no ambiguity at all. No uncertainty, no vagueness.
• Paul prays for this and believes that prayer makes the difference in communicating the Gospel.
Col 4:5-6
5Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
2. SPEAKING TO THE WORLD FOR GOD
The first part talks about PRAYING to God for the world, and in the next two verses Paul talks about PRESENTING the Gospel to the lost world.
• He provides some guidelines for our relationships with outsiders.
Be wise in the way we conduct ourselves; make the most of every opportunity.
• Paul knew only too well the importance of giving the world no reason to criticise or gossip about the behaviour of Christians.
• If we claim to be changed by Christ, show it. Paul says in both our conduct and speech.
• Present ourselves with wisdom. Let our conversation be full of grace and seasoned with salt, which suggests something flavourful and palatable; pleasant and polite, not rude and disrespectful.
The Gospel is true but HOW we present it is important. It can colour the message.
• Paul tells his readers to be mindful of not just what they say but HOW they say it.
• Walk in wisdom and speak with grace. The tone we use, the approach we take, and the words we choose, matter.
• This is so true. It is not always the content of what we say but the way we say it that leaves a lasting impression.
• And sadly, people remember only how they feel and not what was said.
Paul says, let us make an effort to provide answers to those who ask us.
• Peter wrote the same in 1 Pet 3:15 “…in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…”
Lee Strobel’s Journey to Christ
Lee Strobel, the author of the book THE CASE FOR CHRIST, was a very successful journalist and editor with the Chicago Tribune, and he was also a staunch atheist. His worldview was shaped by scepticism, and he believed that religion, particularly Christianity, was a crutch for weak people.
His life took an unexpected turn when his wife, Leslie, became a Christian in 1979. He was shocked and almost wanted to divorce her, believing that she had been scammed.
But his wife’s faith grew and he began to see changes in her life—changes that were hard to ignore. He wrote, “I was pleasantly surprised – even fascinated – by the fundamental changes in her character, her integrity, and her personal confidence.” (p.16) Her change was especially evident in her newfound joy, peace, and love.
Despite their differences, Leslie treated him with kindness, love, and respect, even when he mocked her faith or made fun of her church activities. His first reaction was to attempt to disprove Christianity through his investigative journalism skills. As a reporter, he had a talent for uncovering the truth behind complex stories, so he set out to prove that Christianity was nothing more than a myth.
But as Strobel dug deeper, he encountered challenges that he hadn’t anticipated. Every time he tried to disprove a key claim of the Christian faith—whether it was the resurrection of Jesus, the reliability of the Bible, or the historical evidence for Christ—he found that the evidence was far more compelling than he had expected.
After months of research, questioning, and struggling with the evidence, Strobel finally reached a breaking point and decided to give his life to Jesus.
But what truly moved his heart was not just this intellectual evidence—it was his wife! He was perplexed by her unwavering kindness and love for him. Leslie never pushed him or forced him to believe. Instead, she patiently prayed for him and loved him through his anger and scepticism. He saw the authenticity of her faith.
It was a gradual process, but in the end, Strobel’s heart was transformed.
He wrote about his journey in THE CASE FOR CHRIST and how the kindness, patience and love of his wife influenced him on the road to Christ. Leslie lived out her faith in such a way that he could not help but take notice. It was through her gentle but steadfast witness that Lee was ultimately drawn to Christ.
What can we learn from Paul’s exhortations today?
1. STAY CONNECTED WITH GOD
• Guard our time with God. Make prayer a priority.
• Cut down on all the distractions, like the time spent on social media.
2. LIVE OUT THE GOSPEL FAITHFULLY
• May the way we live and speak reflect Christ and His love.
• Seek every opportunity to present the Gospel in words and deeds.
