Sunny Thoughts from Sunset by Rev. Vance Drum 8-31
The Sunset pastor on Sunday continued our “Raised with Christ” series with a message, “Open Doors.” The text was from Colossians 4:2: “Pray for us, that God may open a door for our message….”
Did you ever have an experience where you needed to do something, and you wished for an open door to do it, but there were all kinds of frustrations (ever been put on hold for a long time?), obstacles and closed doors in the way?
Paul in our text wished for an open door, and he gave instruction on how to go through it, and what to do after the door opens.
The pastor made three points: (1) Devoted Prayer; (2) Wise Action; (3) Gracious Conversation.
(1) Devoted Prayer. V2: “Devote yourselves to prayer, bring watchful and thankful.”
It’s good for our prayers to be both at times on purpose and spontaneous. It’s good to have a regular, daily, devoted prayer time—a time you set aside to pray, because God hears our prayers.
Pray for yourself with petition and confession. Pray for others in intercession. And don’t forget to praise the Lord.
As you pray for others, God will give you insight into how to pray for them. For example, for my five grandkids, I always pray that they will all grow up to honor, love, serve and fear the Lord; that they will learn to obey their parents; and that they will learn good and true, not false and wicked, things in school. That’s what God gave me.
Paul says be “watchful.” Be aware of what’s going on in the world so that you can pray about it. That’s one reason Christians watch the news.
And “be thankful.” Being thankful acknowledges God’s blessings, and keeps us from constantly complaining with never-ending grievances.
If your prayers are mostly personal requests, but you are short on thanksgiving, you might want to adjust your prayers.
Prayer should also be spontaneous. Whatever comes up during the day, pray about it. Many times in the prison over the years I would pray about things that could blow up into a major problem. I prayed: “Lord, let this situation fall to the ground and not amount to anything.” God answered many times.
Paul’s request was that the Colossians pray for him to have an open door to proclaim the Good News of God’s love; and that he proclaim it “clearly.”
Preachers should not regularly use big words that most people don’t understand. We should aim most of all to be clear as we proclaim.
(2) Wise Action. V5: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders.”
For most people in the world, the only reading about God they will do will not be in the Bible, but they will read your character. If they know that you claim to be a follower of Christ, but your manner of life betrays your profession of faith because you don’t walk your talk, they won’t believe your words about Christ.
Be wise in the way you act. We must be people of integrity — doing what we say we’ll do, not cheating, lying, being verbally or physically abusive, violating the law. We must be devoted to God and faithful to our commitments and our vows.
Then, v5: “Make the most of every opportunity.” God’s people get their rest, but they do not waste time.
We regularly ask God: “Lord, how do you want me to spend my day today? Help me to be aware of opportunities that come my way to love God and help my neighbor.”
(3) Gracious Conversation. V6: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Our speech should not be harsh, cutting or unkind, but full of grace, and sprinkled with salt which preserves relationships and does not destroy them by what we say. Ask God for wisdom about how to answer. God will bless with open doors.
“You, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations.” [Psalm 102:12]
God the Creator is enthroned as King forever. May He be the King of your life today — our prayer for you from your friends at Sunset Christian Church.
