Colossians 4:2-6 - “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And 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.”

The word devote means to be fully given over to, to persevere in, to put much effort in, with much energy, importance, time, and priority in your life.  In this passage, Paul urges the church in Colosse to be fully given over to prayer, to persevere in prayer, to put much effort, energy, importance, time and priority in prayer.This emphasis of prayer by Paul brings a greater ministerial perspective regarding prayer.When we think of ministry, we usually think of the interaction that we have with people, such as leading a small group or Dive-in, or spending time counseling others, evangelizing, leading music, or preaching. However, prayer has at times been relegated as the behind the scenes work, or the activity that is more on the dimension of devotions and not ministry.However, the passage today positions prayer in the realm of ministry, where it is placed in the same playing field as preaching, evangelism, and pastoral counsel.  Prayer according to Paul, is how the vital ministry of this fierce love of God is to go forward. That is why after Paul exhorts them to pray, he mentions the need for the doors to be opened for the gospel, and that his message would be proclaimed clearly as it should be. For these doors for the gospel do not open by themselves-they are opened in prayer.  Hearts are opened in prayer.  Campuses are opened in prayer. Lives are opened in prayer.

Today, let’s spend time devoting ourselves to prayer.  Are there doors for the gospel that needs to be opened?  Are there hearts that need to be opened up through prayer? Do you need to pray for the opening of doors in your missional group, Dive-in, small groups, campus ministries?  Pray that the gospel would be welcomed, and that the preaching of God’s word would be clearly spoken.

-GK