COLOSSIANS , Sarah Barry
PRAYER, WITNESSING, AND SERVICE
Passage: Colossians 4:2~18  
Key verse: 2
Further Instructions
2 Devote yourselves to prayer,(A) being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door(B) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery(C) of Christ, for which I am in chains.(D) 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise(E) in the way you act toward outsiders;(F) make the most of every opportunity.(G) 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace,(H) seasoned with salt,(I) so that you may know how to answer everyone.(J)
Final Greetings
7 Tychicus(K) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[a](L) in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[b] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.(M) 9 He is coming with Onesimus,(N) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.(O) They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus(P) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,(Q) the cousin of Barnabas.(R) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[c] among my co-workers(S) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(T) who is one of you(U) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(V) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(W) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(X) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(Y) the doctor, and Demas(Z) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(AA) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(AB)
16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(AC) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus:(AD) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”(AE)
18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(AF) Remember(AG) my chains.(AH) Grace be with you.(AI)
Footnotes
- Colossians 4:7 Or slave; also in verse 12
- Colossians 4:8 Some manuscripts that he may know about your
- Colossians 4:11 Greek only ones of the circumcision group
Cross references
- Colossians 4:2 : S Lk 18:1
- Colossians 4:3 : S Ac 14:27
- Colossians 4:3 : S Ro 16:25
- Colossians 4:3 : S Ac 21:33
- Colossians 4:5 : Eph 5:15
- Colossians 4:5 : S Mk 4:11
- Colossians 4:5 : Eph 5:16
- Colossians 4:6 : Eph 4:29
- Colossians 4:6 : Mk 9:50
- Colossians 4:6 : 1Pe 3:15
- Colossians 4:7 : S Ac 20:4
- Colossians 4:7 : Eph 6:21, 22; Col 1:7
- Colossians 4:8 : Eph 6:21, 22; Col 2:2
- Colossians 4:9 : Phm 10
- Colossians 4:9 : ver 12
- Colossians 4:10 : S Ac 19:29
- Colossians 4:10 : S Ac 12:12
- Colossians 4:10 : S Ac 4:36
- Colossians 4:11 : S Php 2:25
- Colossians 4:12 : Col 1:7; Phm 23
- Colossians 4:12 : ver 9
- Colossians 4:12 : S Ro 15:30
- Colossians 4:12 : S 1Co 2:6
- Colossians 4:13 : S Col 2:1
- Colossians 4:14 : 2Ti 4:11; Phm 24
- Colossians 4:14 : 2Ti 4:10; Phm 24
- Colossians 4:15 : S Col 2:1
- Colossians 4:15 : S Ro 16:5
- Colossians 4:16 : 2Th 3:14; S 1Ti 4:13
- Colossians 4:17 : Phm 2
- Colossians 4:17 : 2Ti 4:5
- Colossians 4:18 : S 1Co 16:21
- Colossians 4:18 : Heb 13:3
- Colossians 4:18 : S Ac 21:33
- Colossians 4:18 : 1Ti 6:21; 2Ti 4:22; Tit 3:15; Heb 13:25
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
What a great blessing we have in Jesus that we can come before our Father's throne as his precious children and receive grace and mercy in prayer! Paul says we are to devote ourselves to prayer, to be alert to what is happening around us, and to have an attitude of thanksgiving. Our prayers must also focus on the advancement of the gospel, asking God for opportunities and wisdom to share the good news of Jesus.We must be careful in our conduct and conversations with others, seizing every opportunity we can to witness in a way that is full of grace and truth.
2. Faithful service (7-18)
As Paul shares his final greetings, we are amazed by the image of Christ we see in all his coworkers. Tychicus and Onesimus are both described as faithful and dear. They would personally convey Paul's love and circumstances to the Colossians Epaphras continued to work hard for the sake of God's people and faithfully wrestled in prayer for them. Paul's life is perhaps the greatest example of them all. His chains remind us of the sacrificial life he lived for the sake of Christ.
Prayer: Father, give us strength to pray and serve.
One Word: Devote yourself to prayer