Today we hear a lot of closing greetings from Paul to the people at the church in Colossae. Greetings from folks who are with the Colossians and ones who are with Paul.

Some typical stuff there.

But with those greetings come some closing exhortations that are important: “Continue steadfast in prayer…Walk in wisdom…Let your speech be gracious.”

Pray, walk, and talk.

He has preached the Good News to them, countering heresies and false teachers and philosophies. He has addressed these people – who he did not know – in a fatherly, pastoral way on the full divinity of Jesus (and why that is essential). He has shared that they are dead to sin and alive in Jesus. He has has reminded them to set their “minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.” He has given them practical reasons to deal with all relationships in love, honor and respect, as serving the Lord.

And now it is time to close his letter with “pray, walk, and talk” like the redeemed people they are. A loving reminder to both “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” as a praying Christian.

As we conclude our journey through this beautiful book of the Gospel, may we see Jesus in and through every page. For everyone. Forever.

So we pray, in Jesus. We walk, in the wisdom of Jesus. We talk with the graciousness of Jesus.

Jesus.

Always.

For everyone.

Forever.

“Thank You, heavenly Father, for sending Your Son, our savior, Jesus, in whom the fullness of the deity dwells, to accomplish everything for us and our salvation. Let all our thoughts and actions be based as ones who respond to Your gift of mercy and grace in Him through our relationships, our philosophies, our actions, and our prayers. Grant that in every way, we are pointed to Him, dependent on Him, share Him, live Him, and love Him. Always. In His precious name do we pray. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Colossians 4:2-18

Today’s lesson is a tough one. It has a lot in it that, albeit short, is not easy to hear or do.

There is a list of what seem to be directives that can go against our desires, sensibilities, and culture.

They deal with wives, husbands, fathers, bondservants, and masters.

It seems so out-of-date and out-of-touch. So cringe. So wrong.

But that’s because we are still viewing things through earthly, cultural lenses, not on God’s “higher things” lens.

If we view our earthly duties and relationships merely in the context of this world, they will be twisted and distorted; adulterated; out-of whack.

The way to view any and all the relationships God has given us is through His lens and His example.

Jesus came and gave everything for us. He sacrificed. He endured wrong and humiliation. He turned His cheek. He gave His very, innocent life for us and our sins.

He humbled Himself. For us. Forever.

That’s the example. That’s the mindset we should have in dealing with those we interact with all around; those who we serve under and those who we serve in positions of authority.

And even further, we should view our service as serving Him in all things!

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23).

He came to serve and sacrifice for us, who were completely unworthy, because of His immense love for us.

We respond by serving Him as best we can in love and heart-felt gratitude by serving others in every relationship we have.

We have salvation through what Jesus did. We get to respond to that everlasting Gift of mercy and grace through our service of, to, and with others.

What a blessing!

“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to serve and give Your life as a ransom for many; for us; for me. Grant me the will and desire to respond to Your Gift in my service to everyone You have placed in my life in the same way of sacrificial love. In Your previous name do we pray. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Colossians 3:18-4:1

We’re now moving from a time when Paul was preaching the Word and teaching the Colossians about some theological aspects of the faith to a time when he is going to instruct and exhort them in how to live; what to do and what not to do; what is godly and what is not.

Today he gets to the heart of the matter of setting our minds on “things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.”

That’s good advice for Christians, especially when our culture seems to be going in all the wrong directions. We can get so tied up in the news and the issues of the day; so many worries and concerns that we forget that we are dead to this world and way of doing things and are united with Christ. We forget that we should be clothed with Him, and so should set our minds on things above where He is, instead of all of these things that are around us. We should be putting off those things of the world, those concerns, those issues. Things like “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness.” We should look at things that divide us and put them off as well because they are a part of this world. We are to set our minds on higher things, on things Above. Because if we are dead in Christ, then we should be dead to this world.

Certainly those things will still affect us and touch us, and we will be hurt by some of them. That is the reality of being still on this side of eternity. But the reality for Christians is that our Home is above and our mind should be on what is Above; not stuck here, not worried here, not concerned with anything here.

We look to Christ and what He has already done for us. That He has already conquered all of these things here – even death itself. So since we are dead to these as well now, let us look to Him. Let us look Above. Let us look on the godly, holy things, the higher things, and not on the things here.

Christ has already accomplished it all for us, for all, forever.

“Thank you, Lord, for conquering all of what is down here on earth, all of the bad that affects us each and every day. Thank you for letting us die to them as well through faith in You. Help us now, Lord, focus not on the things here, but on You and the things above; on how to act in a spiritual way; in a way that is holy; in a way that is pure; in a way that is honorable; and not in ways of our culture and world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Scriptures

• Colossians 3:1-17