Read Colossians, chapter 4 today.
The first verse in chapter 4 is a continuation of how slaves and masters relate in God’s economy. After telling slaves to be obedient, he then told masters to be fair and just to their slaves. They were under the authority of their heavenly Master, and should treat those they oversaw just as God treats them.
Paul gave further instructions on how to live, emphasizing prayer and staying alert and being thankful. We need to be watching what God is doing in our lives and remembering His goodness and mercy towards us. Giving thanks for all He has done should be a daily habit, and it helps bolster our faith when we recall the things we have seen Him do. Paul asked for prayer for himself and for those serving with him in ministry. He wanted strength and wisdom to present the gospel clearly and to be easy to understand. Even though he was in prison, he wanted his life and testimony to have impact. He cautioned his readers to be wise in how they treated others, because they were being watched. He wanted all of us to take advantage of any opportunity to share our faith. What we say and how we say it is important. Our speech should be full of grace and as we learn and grow in our knowledge, we can relay that information with credibility to non-believers.
The final greeting from Paul was written in his own hand. (The rest of the letter was most likely penned by a scribe.) In this last section, Paul mentioned the people who were close to him and were helping him communicate messages about his situation, and deliver his letters to the various churches to whom he was writing. Paul wanted these churches to know they had not been left alone, and that there were many praying for them and wanting the best for them. Paul was interested in their steadfastness in their faith and their spiritual formation was utmost on his mind. He was a pastor to these people, and gathered many believers around him to help him fulfill his mission. He was not stopped by difficult circumstances, and he was full of joy for the believers to whom he had helped come to know the Lord through God’s grace as the put their faith in Jesus.
The letter ends with a call to remember his situation, most likely so they would pray for him, and then Paul blessed them by saying, “Grace be with you.” Paul had a pastor’s heart for his people, and it was evident in what he wrote to them and how much he thought of them. He included other people to share his messages, and showed us how to act as the church – the body of Christ. His example is one we can follow today, and be an encouragement to help our brothers and sisters in Christ stay on a steady path as we pray for them and remind them of all God has done.
Overflowing Hope 