[Pray] 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 . . . ; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
–Colossians 4:3–4
If Jesus Christ is central in our lives, then our top priority will be the same as His: saving people who are lost. That was Paul’s priority. In Colossians 4:3–4, he said, “[Pray] 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.” Paul asked the Colossians to pray not only that he would have the opportunity to share the gospel but also that when the opportunity came, he would witness clearly.
I love this comment from the great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon: “Christ said, ‘Feed My sheep. . . . Feed My lambs.’ Some preachers, however, put the food so high that neither lambs nor sheep can reach it. They seem to have read the text, ‘Feed My giraffes.’”
The Bible says we’re not to make things complex or try to impress people with our intellect. And that’s not just true for preachers–we all need to be able to share the gospel clearly. If a child asked you, “How can I go to heaven?” would you know how to answer in a way they would understand? Paul prayed for clarity. Then he said, “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” (vv. 5–6).
Just as Paul was asking the Colossians to pray for opportunities and clarity for him to share the gospel, he was praying the same thing for the Colossians. They were living in a world that was hostile to the Christian message, where Christians were a distinct minority. Nothing has changed in the last two thousand years. Christians are still a distinct minority, and our culture has become hostile and hateful toward the things of Jesus Christ.
Here’s the good news: Christianity thrives in times of hostility. Think about the first century. Twelve followers of Christ were so intent on sharing the gospel message that their group kept multiplying despite intense persecution. When the church is pressed, it expands. As our world becomes more hopeless, the hope of the gospel shines that much more brightly. Instead of despairing, we need to be ready to share the gospel of Christ.
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Today’s devotion is adapted from “Shake and Shine” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2012.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, as quoted in W. Williams, Personal Reminiscences of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 2nd ed. (London: Religious Tract Society, 1895), 145.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.