Walk Worthy - Part 5 - Colossians 4

We end the powerful Book of Colossians with these instructions in Chapter 4. We see prayer as an integral part of the Christian walk. We are to "devote" ourselves to prayer. The word used is the Greek word "proskarteréō" which has the sense of being "to be earnest towards," "persevere," "constantly diligent." 

• Masters, provide your servants with what is right and fair
• Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful
• pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains
• Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should
• Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders
• make the most of every opportunity
• Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
• See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord

In the Book of Acts we see the same word used. The Apostles called on the church to appoint deacons that might attend to the things of God, "devote" themselves ("we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry." -Acts 6:4). They did no go about this task with sloth. In this age, we must be so focused in prayer. The Apostles gave their whole lives and attention to the spreading of the "hope of Israel" and the message assigned to them. These 12 had a special calling as part of that age.

In this present age, we are equal members, we have our own calling. We are all called to "proclaim the mystery of Christ" as we see in the next verse. The Mystery of the "One Body" revealed in the Book of Ephesians. The Mystery of the calling and hope in the "far above the heavens." This is a high calling indeed and an integral part of the daily of the Christian who seeks to walk in the new nature. We devote ourselves to prayer and to the declaration of truth

This is what we are to declare to the men of the world: the Great God and Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, the risen one, as revealed in the Book of John.

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. -John 20:31

To those who have placed their trust in Christ alone, who have the new nature, who have "life," we are to declare the Mystery revealed to Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles in the Book of Ephesians. The Mystery of a Body who has its hope in the "far above the heavens." A church which was hidden by God from before the foundation of the ages (before Abraham, before Adam), revealed to Paul. The whole epistle (alongside Colossians) must be studied here, but I leave us with this excerpt from Ephesians 3.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

-Eph 3:7-11