Daily Reading February 12 2010 from Colossians 4:1-6 NIV

Day 33

Colossians 4:1-6 NIV
1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Power in Prayer!
Beginning in the 2nd verse Paul begins teaching on prayer. The subject of prayer seems to consume our reading today and it should also consume our churches hearts and minds. Prayer is an essential element to every believer's life and every churches health. Jesus was angered most when He entered into a temple and found everything but prayer taking place. Paul is simply reminding these believers that without prayer they are powerless and unable to do ministry. Jesus didn't even enter His miraculous ministry until He went out into the wilderness for a season of prayer. Before He faced particular challenges in His life He would find a place alone to quiet Himself and talk with the Father. So often we look to confront the major issues of our lives and ministries without taking the time to call on God or we give a quick mumbled hurried prayer and expect it to be enough to carry us through. No, Jesus did not know this kind of prayer life and neither did Paul. Perhaps that is why when the devils spoke to the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19) they proclaimed that they knew Paul and they knew Jesus but did not know these men. Were they are prayerful group of believers or a powerless hurried religious family? The answer lies in the result, their lack of power and ability to call on God was on display for all to see. We are no different! We need the power of God and a knowledge of His very nature and prayer is the place where we can know God and He can know us. When we spend quiet time before Him we are known in hell. We should make it our goal to get alone in a quiet place and talk to the God of all creation. Our children need to know His power, lost individuals need to experience His power, and in order to walk in faith we need to remain in intimate relation with Him.

Blessings,

Pastor Larry