Overview

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Great importance has been given to prayer from the start of this epistle. Now here, at the end, the apostle encourages the Colossians to keep on praying.  Elsewhere (Luke 18.1) we are told that “Men ought always to pray and not to faint.”  Are we tempted to give up?  No, don’t lose heart, for “God’s eyes are over the righteous and His ear is open to their cry.”

Sometimes servants of God ask us to pray for them and their circumstances.  How often do we say we will, and then forget them?  Let us try to be more faithful in remembering them!

Approaching and reaching unbelievers is quite a daunting task.  We need to pray for two things here:

1. How to be wise in our approach, and not just to blunder in, cutting off ears.
2. That God would open up opportunities for us that may not be missed and will prove to be fruitful!

Colossians chapter 4.1-9

The chapter break is very unfortunate, and it is evident that verse 1 belongs to the final section of chapter 3.  Christian masters are reminded that they must maintain a sense of what is right in dealing with those who work for them.  Equal treatment forbids the indulgence of favouritism or partiality.  Finally, masters must ever be aware that they are responsible to a superior master who is above, in heaven.

Watching in prayer, walking in wisdom and words of grace (verses 2-6)

Three features ought to qualify our prayers: namely perseverance, perception and praise.  We have to work at our prayers and not give up, following the example of the widow in Luke 18.  We are also to be alert and aware of circumstances around us when we pray.  The Lord instructed the disciples in the garden to “watch and pray,” but sadly, when He returned, He found them heavy with sleep.  Paul himself is a great example of giving thanks in prayer, as chapter 1 verse 3 and verse 11 demonstrate.

Paul requested that he and the servants with him might have a place in their prayers.  He wanted a door to be opened, not a door of liberty from prison, but a door of opportunity to speak the message of the gospel, which he calls here the mystery of Christ.  Verse 5 emphasises that it takes wisdom to approach non-Christians, but nevertheless we are to buy up the opportunities afforded to us.  Time is passing swiftly, and the question is, are we using it to present Christ to the perishing?

People around us are looking for answers, but it is important not only to know what to say but also how to say it.  That is why, like the Lord Jesus, we will use gracious words and guarded words, guided by God to put before individuals the very specific response that they need.

Paul’s commendation of Tychicus and Onesimus (verses 7-9)

Paul has spoken little about his own personal circumstances in the epistle. He leaves the details of that to the discretion of Timothy to inform the assembly when he arrives in Colosse.  How precious, though, the confidence he has in Tychicus, who will carry this letter and the letter to Ephesus, along with a personal letter to Philemon.

Paul tells of his intimate affection for him as a brother, his complete trust in him as one who has proved faithful and his fellowship with him in the service of God.  The earliest reference to him is in Acts 20.4, where we learn he was a man of Asia and accompanied Paul with others at the end of his third missionary journey.  Besides this passage and Ephesians 6, Tychicus is also mentioned in 2 Timothy 4 and Titus 3, where Paul would send him to help the saints at Ephesus and Crete.

Accompanying him was Onesimus, no longer returning as a runaway slave but as a faithful and beloved brother.  Notice that faithfulness comes first here, to demonstrate the trust Paul now had in a man whose life and character had been changed by the power of the gospel!  Paul’s affectionate relationship with him was the basis to endear Onesimus to the Colossians that they might warmly receive him.  For, says the apostle, “He is one of you.”

Next time:

Meaningful salutations