Categories: god
Tags: God, Church, Christianity, Jesus, Christ, Ethics, Advent
Date: 21 December 2012 10:35:09
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving; 3 praying together for us also,Its still about serving others. Half of the letter to the Colossians is about serving others. Praying for other people is a way of serving them, especially if our attitude is right. The attitude is shown in three ways: Watching, make sure we are informed, read the news as well as the Bible. Being thankful whenever a prayer is answered and for things God has done in the past. Being humble enough to ask for prayers for ourselves is good too.
that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; 4 that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.(Sorry about the cliché of the heading, that's what tryinto get three headings with the same initial letter does.) Evangelism is part of serving others too. There are some who speak of a social gospel in a bad way as if social stuff like feeding the poor gets in the way of the church's job of spreading the Gospel. But it isn't either one or the other. This mention of evangelism comes in the middle of a section about how to live with others. It isn't something separate, it should be part of how we live.
7 All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here. 10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I testify about him, that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. 16 When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” 18 The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.What a list. The thing about Paul is that he didn't work alone. For every successful Christian there is a team of people working with them.