Bible Study from October 11, 2020 - Colossians 4:2-3

We began this study with a quick response to a question from someone. Are there not times where we can defend ourselves and others and “fight” for what is right and true, when terrible things are happening to us or others? Certainly! Colossians 3:18-4:1 speak primarily to individuals and families and our everyday situations and experiences. Other Scriptures speak to situations experienced by too many in the last century, where nations and others have conquered people and enslaved them and did terrible things to many. (This is a complicated issue, and I can’t get into Scriptures about this in this study.) In general, though, governments and other authorities are given authority by God in the Bible to “bear the sword” and  fight for justice and even to wage “just wars” to defend themselves and help others in need. Many would put the Civil War in the United States and the Second World War and other conflicts, in this category. The Colossians passage applies, for most of us, primarily to employer/employee relationships and treating others fairly and justly, and to doing our own work in everyday life as if we were serving the Lord Himself. See the parable of Jesus in Matthew 25:31ff. (especially v.34-40) where the sheep (the believers) are reminded that the good that they do to others is being done for the Lord Himself.    

We moved on then to Colossians 4:2-6, where we have general encouragement for the church at Colossae and for all of us, especially about prayer. Prayer is never a waste of time. Paul prayed for the people in Colossians 1:3,9 and calls them to “continue steadfastly in prayer” (4:2). Prayer was vital for the early church, as we hear in Acts 2:42 and 6:1-4. Being “devoted to” and “continuing steadfastly in” are the same Greek words in Acts 2:42 and Colossians 4:2.   

Jesus Himself taught about prayer and gave us the model prayer, the Lord’s Prayer. He prayed often right in the middle of what He was doing and took time to get away and pray. He taught His disciples to “watch and pray” just as Paul tells us in Colossians 4:2. See Matthew 26:38-41. The word “watch” can mean both to stay alert and watch for danger and to stay awake.

Our sinful human “flesh” is also “weak” and we all face many struggles and temptations. See 1 Peter 5:6-9, where we are warned of danger but also encouraged to cast all our anxieties and cares upon the Lord in prayer. See also Hebrews 4:14-16, where we are reminded that Jesus knows our struggles, as He was tempted as we are, yet was without sin in His saving work for us. We can therefore approach Him in prayer with confidence and know He will give us what we really need. He even renews our weak souls with His forgiveness and gives us a “willing spirit” to try again to do His will. (See the prayer of David in Psalm 51 and especially v. 10-12.)                         

We use these words often in our worship, and our worship is also wrapped up with prayer. We receive above all God’s gifts to us, through His Word and Sacraments; but we also talk with God, using using many of His own Biblical words and teachings. (See Matthew 21:12-13.) One pattern sometimes used for worship and prayer is the word “ACTS” - Adoration (praising God just for Who He is as our Lord and the one true Triune God), Confession (bringing our sins to God for His forgiveness, His absolution), Thanksgiving (gratefulness for all God has provided for us and done for us, as our Savior), and Supplication (asking God to supply all that we really need for our life now, and for eternal life).   

We closed the study by looking at Ephesians 6:10,13,17-20, where Paul again encourages regular, active prayer and especially asks prayer for himself and others in sharing the Good News of Jesus as they should - a subject we will look at more in our study next week of Colossians 4:3-6. Try out prayer more this week, and ask God to help you to pray. If you have a hymnal or other devotion books, use them to help you, too, using prayers others have written to help you get started. You could also use the ACTS pattern for your prayers. You will be blessed.