Tuesday, Setember 24 - Colossians 4

Colossians 4

New International Version (NIV)

4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

² Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ 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. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone

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SINS OF OMISSION
   "We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have DONE, and by what we have LEFT UNDONE."

   These words, from our regular confession of sins, remind us that we not only sin in wrongful active ways, but also in our more passive failure to act at times when we should.  In the story of the Good Samaritan, for instance, the Priest and the Levite refuse to help the injured man and walk by on the other side of the road pretending they don't see him.  They don't inflict injury, but they sin in their neglect to use the opportunity for good.

   St. Paul, above, reminds the Colossian church that they are to "make the most of every opportunity" -- that is, that they should consciously be using their days to season the world with the love of Christ.

   Obviously, such words remind us all of the many hours that we waste in meaningless activity or of  the many opportunities that have passed us to witness to Christ and His love.   We have, so often, been the Priest or Levite in the story, walking by our brother/sister in need either too afraid or too lazy to try and make a difference.

   But Paul does not say these words to condemn us, because he knows well that Christ covered over even these such sins by His atoning blood.  Rather, he says these words to encourage us to open our eyes a little bit wider to see those times when God has opened up doors for us.  He wants us to see all people through the lens of His mercy and to do all we can to help them grow in their relationship to Him.

   Indifference, apathy, and a defeatist attitude are tools of the Tempter to stop us from ministering to others.  May God enable us to stave off such challenges and to "make the most" of the opportunities He places before us.
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Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant^[a] in the Lord. ⁸ I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our^[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. ⁹ He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
¹⁰ My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) ¹¹ Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews^[c] among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. ¹² Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. ¹³ I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings. ¹⁵ Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
¹⁶ After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
¹⁷ Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
¹⁸ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.