Paul wraps up his letter to the Colossians in this short chapter. It’s always fun to look at his next-to-last words, just to see what final tidbit of exhortation Paul has for his church. In this case, he calls out Archippus, “see to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord” (4:17). I read this as a personal challenge to complete the work God has begun in me. I believe God has been at work in me all my life. My parents raised me in a loving, Christian home and I publicly accepted Christ as a pre-teen. I can’t honestly say I’ve followed Christ since, but I know that I am renewed in him and am motivated to finish the work he began in me many years ago. Lord, please keep me moving toward you and leading others to your arms!
I pray that we will all “devote [ourselves] to prayer, being watchful and thankful…so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ” (4:2-3). Lord help us to “be wise in the way [we] act toward outsiders; [making] the most of every opportunity. Let [our] conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (4:5-6). Amen!
Paul wraps up his letter to the Colossians in this short chapter. It’s always fun to look at his next-to-last words, just to see what final tidbit of exhortation Paul has for his church. In this case, he calls out Archippus, “see to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord” (4:17). I read this as a personal challenge to complete the work God has begun in me. I believe God has been at work in me all my life. My parents raised me in a loving, Christian home and I publicly accepted Christ as a pre-teen. I can’t honestly say I’ve followed Christ since, but I know that I am renewed in him and am motivated to finish the work he began in me many years ago. Lord, please keep me moving toward you and leading others to your arms!
I pray that we will all “devote [ourselves] to prayer, being watchful and thankful…so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ” (4:2-3). Lord help us to “be wise in the way [we] act toward outsiders; [making] the most of every opportunity. Let [our] conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (4:5-6). Amen!