The Christ Life in an Alienated World
Holiness in Our World at Large - Prayer and Witness (18)
Colossians 4:2-6 (NKJ)
Gordon E. Johnson
Rio Grande Bible Institute
Paul approaches the end of his Epistle to the Colossians. While he has never met them in person, one would never discern that by his personal affection and gracious exposition (Col. 2:1). He is an example of what he is about to share. His counsel is brief, concise and succinct, as from the "aged" prisoner of the Lord (Philem. 9). They demand our attention.
Paul begins where all ministry begins in prayer, in a deepening relationship with God. "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" (Col. 4: 2). This is a paraphrase of Phil. 4: 6, 7. Paul takes for granted that they are praying already, so continue, imperative mood, present on going tense. But now he adds two virtues often missed, vigilance and thanksgiving. In the midst of a trial how easily we are overwhelmed with fear and doubts that assail us. Guard your heart against laziness.
In the busyness of life be on guard that prayer in its totality of expression be not neglected. Bishop H.C.G. Moule quotes Richard Cecil, a Puritan, who said: "The minister of Christ is often in highest honour with men for his performance of one half of his work, while God is regarding him with displeasure for the neglect of the other half" (Moule, 271). Who among us does not need to pray more and with persistency? Prayer is God at work while we believe.
Paul asks that in such prayer the Colossians may remember him so that the prison in Rome might be his pulpit, his door of witness of the Word. In a hostile world – in which we all live – Paul wants that divine ability to unveil "the hidden secret," the mystery --"Christ in us the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27), unknown to a lost world. There he adds poignantly "for which I am in chains" (4: 3). Pray will sustain him in this adversity.
But in our witness to the world, he adds another basic ingredient. "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time" (4: 5). We need our secret, Christ in us, preached but also equally lived out before the eyes of the world in a winsome, gracious yet faithful way. Again "walk" is a command, imperative mood, present tense. Paul counsels both a walk and witness always intertwined. May our witness not be self righteously only to condemn bluntly to alienate, legalistically to denounce. The background of "redeeming the time," «kairos», the strategic occasion, not in a temporal sense, is buying back from a hostile market an opportunity for truth. Such is God's plan in our daily witnessing in a hostile world.
In our witness, let there be meekness and strength of character with biblical conviction. In our desire to share our message, let us never sacrifice the Message of the Cross. The Message does have in itself an offense, "a scandal" for the world (Gal. 5:11). Let us not add our scandal in delivering that heart changing message.
Paul last counsel is timely: "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer everyone" (4: 6). While we are in the world, we are not of the world. They persecuted Him and they will reject us (John 17: 14-19). But that should not lead to paranoia, rather an increased passion to walk and witness so as to win some. Peter reminds us: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).
Gordon E. Johnson
December 14, 2006
