Video Talk
Colossians 4:2-6 ESV
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
These are specific instructions given by Paul to the
Colossian Christians, but they can apply to us, as well, perhaps in some areas
in a more general sense, such as we do not need to pray for Paul, obviously, since
he is deceased, but we should pray for everyone who is sharing the truth of the
gospel of our salvation, especially for those we know who are doing this full
time. And we should pray that we all should make the gospel message clear, and
in its fulness, and in truth, which is how we ought to speak.
And we should continue steadfastly in prayer, which means we
should be in a continual attitude of prayer, always ready to hear from the
Lord, and always ready to speak to him about things going on in our lives or to
give our prayer requests or to inquire of him about anything or to give thanks
to him, etc. So this isn’t just about formal times of prayer, but these prayers
can be given while we are driving down the street or walking in a park or while
we are washing dishes or clothes, or while we are cooking a meal, etc.
And we are to walk in wisdom toward outsiders and in
everything that we do and say, being watchful and careful to make certain that
how we are living and what we are speaking are for the glory of God and not for
the glory of the flesh. And we should all be making the best use of our time,
not wasting away our spare time on the junk of this world but using our time
for the glory of God and for sharing the gospel and for loving other people.
And this is not saying we can’t relax, we can, but just use wisdom in all you
do.
And when it says here to let our speech always be gracious,
seasoned with salt, so that we may know how we ought to answer other people,
this is not suggesting that we compromise the truth of the gospel in any way in
order to not offend other humans. For God’s grace teaches us to renounce
ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and
godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return (see Titus 2:11-14). And he
prepares us and preserves us to walk in his love and grace, and not in sin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EcxclTUHIk
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Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer
Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897
Oh,
to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This
is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly
I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus,
Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh,
to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving,
forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping
the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking
the wandering sinner to find.
O
to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy
and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly
enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing
to suffer others to save.
O
to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour
out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make
me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit
me for life and Heaven above.
Oh,
to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd
Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come
in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp
Thine own image deep on my heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg
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