shadmans Musings  

            (2) Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; (3) praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; (4) that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.           (5) Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. (6) Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Col 4:2-6) There are two aspects within these verses, the obvious one is about prayer and the other is about our speech. In this section, Paul calls upon the Colossians to put on a lifestyle of prayer and to be on their guard to demonstrate proper conduct to those around them. In the words of commentator, R. C. Lucas, this section “... turns the believers’ atte...

  (22) Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. (23) Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (25) For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality. (1) Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. (Col 3:22-4:1) Paul finished off this section of Colossians by discussing the relationship between the master and the slave or servant. Some commentators equate slaves or servants, and masters as employee and employer, slaves had fewer rights than employees and masters could be much more abusive than employers. Slaves did not have the right to quit. But it was nothing like the slavery found in th...

  (18) Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. (19) Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. (20) Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. (21) Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. (Col 3:18-21)  The arena of relationships is our best testing ground for spiritual authenticity. Thinking above has practical results here below. True spirituality deals with “real life.” The false teachers promoted ideas which made spirituality the possession of the special few who tapped into “higher” knowledge, engaged in mystical experiences, or conformed to a code of rules. Paul points believers in another direction. Spirituality is nothing grand, romantic, or impossible. It is submitting to the supremacy of Christ which will transform our character and revolutionize our relationships. When Paul penned Colossians, the “household” consisted of three sets of rel...