Welcome back to Colossians! We have almost made it through this incredible book that God inspired – only two devotions left. We recently went through the section on relationships (husband/wife, parents/children, and master/slave). That section was extremely practical explaining to us how we are supposed to live as believers in Jesus Christ in our relationships. Now, Paul will finish his thoughts and begin his last section with one of his last commands. Let’s find out what that command is in Colossians 4:2-3:
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.
What is the command? “Devote yourselves to prayer!” Other ways that we can translate this sentence is “Be steadfast in prayer or make a concentrated effort to pray!” So, the question has to be asked “Are you devoted to prayer?” This command is in the present tense meaning it is an ongoing process. We should be continually devoting ourselves to prayer (which means to actually be praying). Think about what you are dealing with right now. If it is a struggle, you may have talked about it, agonized over it, lost sleep due to it, became angry because of it, shed many tears for it, but have you continued to pray about it? It is my experience, most of the time with believers, that we like to talk about our circumstances or agonize over them rather than being devoted to prayer. Put the verse in the immediate context. Are you having trouble with your boss (master) at work, your husband at home, or your child? If so, have you really sought the Lord about it? However, there is something else I want to show you. The word ‘devote’ is plural. Paul was writing to the believers in Christ in Colossae (cf. 1:2). Hence, we are not on this journey of life alone. God wants us together to “Devote ourselves to prayer”. Just recently I shared with some friends about a difficult situation I am going through. They wrote back and said they will “continually be lifting me up in the upcoming weeks and months.” Wow! When I read that, it brought tears to my eyes. You talk about being devoted to prayer for a friend!
Notice Paul doesn’t just say to devote yourselves to prayer, but he says “keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” While you are you praying, Paul is communicating that you have an attitude of thanksgiving. Always be on the lookout for your attitude! How is it right now? Are you thankful? Sometimes, in the midst of a storm, it is so difficult to have an attitude of thankfulness. However; when you are devoted to prayer, when you are constantly praying rather than sulking, when you have people in your life also devoted to prayer for you, God opens up your heart to see and be thankful.
Also, Paul requests that while the believers of Colossae are devoted to prayer, be praying for them as well. What is Paul’s personal prayer request? His prayer request is that God would open up a door for the word, so that they could speak forth the mystery of Christ in a clear way. What is the mystery? Christ in you the hope of glory! Where was Paul…in prison! Was he in a difficult situation? Absolutely! But his exhortation was for them to pray and to be thankful in their prayers no matter where they found themselves. Even though he was in prison, his prayer request was not to get out. His prayer request was that God would open up a door for the word. Wow! How could Paul have that kind of perspective? Because he was a man that devoted himself to prayer! May we also be the people of God who devote themselves to prayer!