Focus
Pay attention to the tension in your body. Let go of it and any expectations to do anything other than God’s will today. Prepare yourself to hear God’s word.
Read
Colossians 4:2-6 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.
Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
Reflect
Every word in Scripture matters, but the first thing I look at in almost any passage is the VERBS: the actions that God is taking and the actions we are called to take. Maybe it’s my background in management, or my innate love of to-do lists, but I like to know who’s doing what.
In this passage, God OPENS the door, but the rest is on us (both before and after that door swings open). DEVOTE yourselves; KEEP ALERT; CONDUCT yourself wisely; MAKE the most of the time; KNOW and SPEAK and PRAY (and PRAY some more).
There are lots of wonderful, practical verbs here, but the focus seems to be on who we are, more than on what we do. In every single verse, in one way or another, Paul calls us to be ATTENTIVE and to be INTENTIONAL.
If we are attentive and intentional, we’ll discover plenty of reasons to say “thank you” to God (even from a jail cell); we’ll be able to communicate with outsiders, rather than lecture or argue with them; and we’ll be far better supporters of our brothers and sisters in ministry.
The door is open. Our eyes and ears and hearts and minds need to be, too.
Pray
Lord, I am so busy “getting things done”
that I sometimes stop paying attention
to the people around me and to You.
Forgive me, Lord.
Open my eyes and ears,
my heart and mind
to the mystery of Christ and the blessings of this day.
Give me the wisdom and grace to represent You well
in all that I do and say.
Amen
Go with God!
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