“For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.  Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas” (Colossians 4:13-14).

The saints care for those around them.  You may not notice, but there are many who are deep in the Lord and awaiting the opportunity to serve in His name.  Are you one of them?  There comes a time when, in maturity, we move from the ones being served to the ones who are serving.  The Lord desires that we all grow and mature in the faith and become a part of the witness of the martyrs.

Lord, let me not be caught up by this culture, being immature and always complaining.  Instead, help me to grow in faith such that I do not linger in the elemental things, but grow in wisdom and maturity.  Lead me, O Lord, according to Your goodness so that I would now and always abide humbly in Your goodness and mercy.  Let me not do things the way I think they should be done but do them as You would have me do them.

Lord Jesus, in You alone is all hope and an eternal future worth living for.  Guide me this day to serve where You would have me serve.  Through all things, continue to teach me and help me to teach others what I have learned.  I am Yours, O Lord, and I ask only that I may be of use to You and Your kingdom.  May I be counted amongst the saints who have gone before.  Amen.

“Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).

The actual word used in the Greek is the word for slave.  We begin by calling the Lord Jesus our Master.  That is because we do not know what we are doing, where we are going, and why we need to do certain things.  We must be as a slave to the master.  We need another to direct us in the way we should go.  This is what is means to be saved.  To be lifted up and out of the wickedness of this age is what salvation does.

Lord, help me to not fall into the rebellious habits of thinking that I can do all things the way I want to do them.  Guide me to see that in You alone is all hope.  In You is the way of life.  I do not know these things even when I think I do.  You need to lead me.  Help me to learn to listen to Your direction that I may grow in the goodness You have given me by grace to become like You.

Lord Jesus, You know how far I need to go.  You have encouraged me each step of the way.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may now and always be guided by Your mercy and grace.  Where I still rebel, bring me into submission.  Where I need to be bold, give me strength.  In all things, help me to be what You are making of me so that I may live into this eternal life You have given me by grace through faith.  Amen.

“Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me” (Colossians 4:10-11).

We again meet familiar people with whom Paul was traveling and knew.  Barnabas and John Mark.  Both are mentioned many times in Acts.  Their story intertwines with Paul’s.  This shows the reality of community (as Paul is addressing communities).  In this sense, things have not changed.  Come then and live in the goodness of the Gospel and see that in the Lord is the Truth He is unveiling to those who believe.

Lord, let me see the connections of Scripture so that I may understand more fully.  Help me now and always to be led by what is true.  Through these witnesses, encourage me to be a witness in a world that is skeptical and unbelieving.  Lead me, O Lord, and I will be led.  Guide me, O Lord,  that I may walk in the likeness of Christ my Savior.  Through all things, help me to become what You are making of me.

Lord Jesus, we all have been called in Your grace to become like You.  In Your image have we been created.  Help me to see the bigger picture so that I may humbly walk in the direction You are guiding me and become what You are making of me.  Through all things, keep my eye on the prize so that I may not waver from the faith You have given me in grace and mercy.  Amen.

“As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.  For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here” (Colossians 4:7-9).    

Scripture is connected and the story of the Gospel is connected.  The Epistle of Philemon is to Onesimus.  If you think about all of the connections and the situations of each of these people as far as you know them, you begin to realize that they were fully human (messes and all) and were following the Lord with all they had.  It is no different for us.  We are to follow the Lord no matter what.

Lord, help me to see the finer points of Your word.  Help me to see the reality of those whom You have called by faith and in grace.  Help me to move beyond the elemental view of Scripture to receive a mature understanding of living the life of faith which You have given me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life that You have established.  In and through all things, help me to be Yours fully and wholly.

Lord Jesus, You know all of Your followers better than any of us know ourselves.  Lead me  Lord so that I may now and always be guided by Your goodness and see that You are leading amidst the circumstances in which I find myself.  Help me now and always to look to You and to be encouraged by the witness of the saints around me.  In all things, may I follow Your example.  Amen.

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.  Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:5-6).

Wisdom is an applied combination of understanding, knowledge, and finesse.  Those around you do not want to be treated as objects, nor as idiots any more than you want to be treated by others this way.  Sharing the faith is a matter of sharing.  You are selling nothing.  Come then and live into the life that Christ gives you and be leaven in your community.  Live the faith and others will see that you live differently.

Lord, teach me not to be one who is pushing, nor selling, but humbly living the faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your example to be one hundred percent in, but also myself, loving others as You have loved me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always be guided by You in the hope You give me by grace.  Let the salt in me be salty always.

Lord Jesus, You told us to let our light so shine that others would see what we do and glorify the Father.  Guide me in the way of this hope and promise in order that I may live today doing just that.  Guide me to be consistent in all I do knowing that in You alone is all hope and the promise of eternal life.  In You, Lord, I have a future.  May You season my life with Your presence and purpose.  Amen.  

“Praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:3-4).

Do you pray for the opportunity to share what you have received?  Do you consider the stranger next to you and whether or not they know the truth?  Yes, each of us the responsibility to love our neighbor, the stranger, enough to provide for their welfare.  May the Lord bring about all that is needed that you may care for others as others have cared for you.  Share with others because You have been given much.

Lord, guide me in the way of everlasting life, knowing that I too am one who has been sent. Lead me so that I may live my faith in the presence of others in order that they may know that You are the Lord of all.  In Your goodness Lord, help me now and always to see that You have equipped me with the truth and in that truth I should live, love, and share.  Help me learn how to do these things naturally.

Lord Jesus, Your life which You lived on earth was seamless. Yet all were able to know why You were here.  They may not have understood it, but they knew.  They may not have agreed, but they knew.  In that light, help me to live my life such that others will at least receive a testimony based upon how I live.  Guide me to live into this life of faith that You have given me so that I may be faithful always.  Amen.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2)

What is prayer but constant communication with the Lord?  What is obedience but listening to the one giving the instruction and doing what has been instructed.  Has not the Lord said that He came that He may teach us and that we will learn from Him and do as He has instructed?  Yes, listen to the Lord, be in constant communication, and do the will of the One who made you.

Lord, these simple things are between me and Thee.  Help me not excuse this away, for no one but You will know if I am a person of prayer.  Lead me to be whom You are making me to be and guide me according to Your purpose in the way I should go.  Through all things, help me to know, O Lord, that You alone are able to lead, for You alone know fully what is in my heart and where You are taking me.

Lord Jesus, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, help me to have ears that are open to hear, eyes that are open to see, and a willingness to do what You give me to do.  Help me hear what the world says and see what the world shows so that I may in contrast hear and see more clearly what You are saying and showing.  In all things, by Your grace, continue to lead me so that I may be with You always.  Amen.

“Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1).

We are each appointed to the place where we are.  The Lord gives to each according to His purpose.  Do not think you are something because you have a position of authority.  Instead, use the position to do justice, tempered with mercy.  In all things and with all people, be fair.  Is it not sad that doing these simple things is not what is normal but is considered extraordinary.?  Regardless, be just and fair to all.

Lord, where You have placed me in a position of authority, grant that I would be fair and just to all.  No matter the person or their circumstance, help me to treat others always as I would want to be treated.  Guide me, Lord, in the way I need to go and then help me go that way.  Now and always, lead me to be the kind of person You want me to be and the kind of person I will be in eternity.

Lord Jesus, You dealt with all people the same regardless of their circumstances.  Help me follow Your example and do what is right and fitting according to Your purpose.  Help me, O Lord, to see through the wickedness of this age and not follow its lead.  Instead, let me be known through what I do as one who is just and fair in all things.  Guide me, Lord, that I may follow You.  Amen.

“For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality” (Colossians 3:25).

I believe we sometimes think that we need to be caught before there is a punishment.  The truth is that whenever God’s law is broken, the consequence is built in.  We really do not get away with anything.  Do not be one who seeks to sneak, but one who is intentional and deliberate in all things.  Do what you do and do it the same no matter who is watching or no matter who it is for.

Lord, teach me to be always consistent.  Through all things, lead me in the way of everlasting life that I may now and always be guided by You.  Through these things, lead me to be consistent and impartial.  Help me to understand that You indeed love me, but that love is without partiality.  Teach me how to apply these things to my life so that I may grow in Your love and admonition.

Lord Jesus, You have loved each one of us impartially.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I may now and always live in that love and see that love flow through me and out to others.  In You alone can I become what You are making me to be.  Through You alone are these things possible.  Help me this day to live Your possibilities and grow in Your goodness and likeness by doing what is right.  Amen.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Do you remember the point where Jesus forgave sin.  By this, I mean that He forgives the sin of one against the other as if He were the One chiefly offended?  This is why He said: “forgive as you have been forgiven.”  Well, the reality is that those around you are not the chief point of existence; He is.  All things came in to being through Him and are for Him.  Learn to live this truth.

Lord, guide me in all truth.  You are Truth.  Help me see more clearly each day that in all I do, I am serving You.  Keep me from playing games even with myself so that I may be honest, direct and always truthful.  Guide me in this way of life that from the inside out in order that I may know that all I do matters in Your eyes.  You are the One whom I serve in and through all things.  Lead me to be genuine and true.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I may be guided into the truth of all life.  You have called me to go into the world and serve You when I serve others.  Wherever You send me, teach me how to serve You as You want to be served.  You first served me, now teach me how to serve You.  Guide me to do this with a gracious and thankful heart in all I do that I may honor You.  Amen.