Scripture Colossians 4:2-6; Romans 8:26-30; Romans8:31-39
In Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, he
encourages them to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all
circumstances …”! (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) How many of us actually live like this on a
regular basis? That passage continues to
remind us that it is God’s will for us to celebrate all that the Lord brings to
our lives, and to always stay in touch with Him through a prayerful life.
And what does a life of “constant prayer” look like? First of all, it doesn’t mean that we are
always on our knees, verbally praying for God’s help, His word, His
forgiveness, His will for our lives. But
it does mean that we are always centered on the word of God and the teachings
of Jesus Christ. It means that we are
focused and intent in following the will and way of God in Christ. And ultimately, it means that we reject the
ways of Earth, in favor of the way of salvation.
Today, we consider our final lesson from Colossians
– the benefits of a relationship that is focused and committed through prayer
with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Read Colossians 4:2-6
Paul had become a man who
immersed himself in prayer, and encouraged others to do the same. He saw a life dedicated to prayer as one that
showed a reliance on God, through a
perseverance that overcame human and physical limitations when consistent in
prayer, a commitment to defeating spiritual complacency, and a conviction of
the need to give God thanksgiving for the life that He had placed within our
being.
He also saw prayer as being
reciprocal, in that if another person is praying for you, you should be willing
to pray for whatever they ask. And what
should our attitude toward prayer be? In
Mark 11:24, Jesus tells us to pray with both boldness and confidence; He
said 24 Therefore
I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours.
But Paul not only writes
about our “conversations with the Lord, he also gives us some advice regarding
our approach toward others! We are to be
“wise” in our relationships with those who are yet to come to the Lord, but
what does that require? How about Luke 6:27-28 – love those who despise you, bless those who curse you, and pray
for those who mistreat you! In other
words, begin cultivating a relationship with them, and see just how far this
attitude may take you both! This goes
against everything that the world would have us follow, doesn’t it! And it’s a pretty good start in showing what faith is all about!
And what about the issue of
seasoning your relationships with “salt”?
What’s that about? Mark 9:50
tells us that salt has purpose in our lives, but if saltiness is lost, we also
lose the important gifts that salt brings to us. And never forget to be grace-filled in all of
your conversations – certainly those with God, but just as vital, in every word
you speak to others.
Read Romans 8:26-30
And while the power of prayer
maintains and even heightens our relationship with God, it helps us to prepare
for the work of God’s Spirit within our lives!
During recent past years, the Church’s groans have combined with the
groans that the Holy Spirit brings to life within us. This enables the Spirit to work in the
weaknesses that have brought about our struggles, our uncertainties, our doubts
and hesitations regarding the direction we have been moving in, the opposition
that comes against the ministries and other outreach that we strive to
accomplish, and especially any fears that may limit the effectiveness of our
ministries. And Spirit inspired prayer
comes out of the spiritual blessings that the Spirit’s work within us, both
personally and collectively, accomplishes on behalf of Christ.
In John 15:16, Jesus
reminds us that He has chosen us, and appointed us to go as He has need for us
to work in His name. And when we
faithfully answer His call on our lives, whatever we ask for in His name, will
be granted in full. And through the Holy
Spirit, God will also be working, and enabling, and fulfilling all that we
strive to do in love of the holy name of Jesus.
Paul ensures us that The Lord
has justified and forgiven us so that we are worthy to be called to His purpose
and to walk in the steps that He set down before us. As He is our living Lord and God, we, too,
will know the life that comes by faith in Him.
And even though we may not understand His call before He proves it to
us, God established our part in His salvation work long before time ever
began. And when we accept the part that
we have been chosen to carry out, glory grows in the precious Name of Jesus.
Read Romans 8:31-39
Paul asks 4 questions with
each having the same unspoken answer:
1. Q. “If God is for us, who
can be against us?”
A.
Nobody! Because God gave us the
Gift of His own Son, and by faith, now gives us His perfect salvation.
2. Q. If God has saved us, who can bring any
charges of condemnation against us?
A. Nobody!
For it is God who has justified us for His salvation, not by our own
works!
3. Q. Who can ever condemn
us, as they did Jesus?
A. Nobody!
Christ died on our behalf, He rose to new life, and now intercedes for
our benefit to ensure that we, too, will live eternally with Him!
4.
Q. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
A. Nobody!
Not any of the possibilities mentioned, because the love of God is far greater than the world’s hatred.
And
then, in verse 37, the words that Paul writes on that parchment just shout
out the acclamation that the power of God’s love has caused us to become
far greater than any amount of words can ever describe! And if that isn’t enough, he then offers a
list of ten powers that exist throughout creation, with the caveat that not a
single one of them could ever “separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Isn’t
this sufficient reason to always stay connected to our Almighty God through
constant prayer?
