“A Door Of Utterance,
To Speak The Mystery Of Christ,”
SIH’s Think On
These Things: Col 4:2-4
Col
4:2-4
2) Continue in prayer,
and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3)
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to
speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4)
That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Paul’s life, following salvation,
was devoted to taking the gospel to the unsaved of the nation of Israel and the
surrounding Gentile nations. Paul’s ability
to succeed in his service to Christ required a humble spirit submissive to the
will of the God, and the opportunity to share Christ with others. The same holds true for each one of us. Opportunities opened for us to be a witness
for Christ is an absolute necessity to fulfill our Christian calling. As such, they are acts of grace, undeserved
privileges, and blessings for which we should all be thankful.
Paul helps us to
understand the importance of our God-given opportunities for service in Col
4:2-4…
Continue
in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Paul asks the believers
in the church at Colossea to possess a thankful attitude as they pray for
him.
Withal
praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak
the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it
manifest, as I ought to speak.
What would be the
subject of their prayers? Would it be
for life to be easy for Paul? Would it
be for Paul’s needs to be met? Or, maybe
that he would be released from his imprisonment? Absolutely not. Paul was not asking for prayer to make the
path of his life easier for himself. This
prayer request shows us much about the heart and love for Christ that Paul
possessed.
Paul desired prayer from
the Colossians that they might petition God to open up “doors” of opportunity
for Paul to minister on behalf of Christ while sitting in prison. Paul describes the opportunity for service as
“a door of utterance” that was in the total control of God. God opens us these doors of opportunity for both
individual ministry (1 Cor 16:8-9) as well as ministries to be fulfilled by the
Lord’s churches (Rev 3:8).
Paul goes further in
telling us that this “door” would allow him to “speak the mystery of Christ” to
others. The recognition that Jesus was
the promised Messiah of the OT was a mystery to many. Paul desire was “to take the cover off” (“make
it manifest”) this mystery and reveal Jesus as the true promised Messiah and
Redeemer of His people.
Paul made a similar
request to the believers in the church at Thessalonica in 2 Thess 3:1-2… Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the
word of the Lord may have [free]
course, and be glorified, even as [it is]
with you: And
that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all [men] have not faith.
As members of the Lord’s
local church, and individual believers, we should always be aware of the many
gracious doors of ministry that the Lord opens for us. Along with that recognition, comes heartfelt
appreciation for the privilege of being chosen to minister the wonderful truths
of His Word to those who need it so desperately. It is through these opportunities that we can
serve the One who had done so much for us and reap eternal rewards to be placed
back at His feet as an act of honor and submission to Him.
May the
Lord bless us as we “Think On These Things”.
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