Colossians 4
1 Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
If you are in charge of others at the workplace then you must be fair and just, for God will treat you the same way that you treat others.
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with {an attitude of} thanksgiving;
3 praying 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;
4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
We must pray for ourselves, that we may be faithful, and we must pray for those in ministry, that they may be faithful. That’s what Jesus did.
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, {as though} seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
When dealing with outsiders, we are to make the most of every opportunity. That doesn’t mean that we should blurt out the gospel to everyone we meet. Wisdom is needed to discern when to speak about the gospel. Our words should help (i.e. be with grace) and our presentation should be interesting and exciting (i.e. seasoned with salt).
That’s what Jesus did.
7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, {our} beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.
8 {For} I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts;
9 and with him Onesimus, {our} faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your {number.} They will inform you about the whole situation here.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and {also} Barnabas's cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);
11 and {also} Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.
12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.
13 For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
14 Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and {also} Demas.
A handful of people were part of Paul’s team, helping him during his imprisonment. But later, some of them, like Demas, left Paul’s team. As we read in 2 Timothy, hardly anyone was left. The road of ministry is often a lonely road, and that is why the relationship with God must be so strong that even if everyone deserts you, you can still stand firm as long as the Lord is with you.
15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.
16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter {that is coming} from Laodicea.
Paul wrote other letters as well, and not all made it as Scripture. We don’t know what that letter contained, but unfortunately, it seems like the Laodiceans didn’t do too well because we read in the book of Revelations that the church in Laodicea was in pretty bad shape a few decades later.
17 Say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."
If you have been fortunate to receive a ministry from God – for not everyone is entrusted with true riches – make sure that you don’t neglect it. It is a great honor to serve God, and a great regret to lose something as valuable like that, as Judas and Esau found out.
18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.
Paul tells the Colossians to remember who he is and what he is to them, and prays that God will help them to do what is right.
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