Colossians (written)

Sunday, 4 June 2017

I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, Colossians 4:8

The word “him” is speaking of Tychicus of the previous verse. The words, “for this very purpose,” relate to what Paul just said to them in that verse. It is he who “will tell you all the news about me.” He then reexplains this in fuller detail with the words, “that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts.” He had sent Tychichus to Colossae with his epistle, entrusting him to fill in all of the information about him which was unstated in the letter, and certainly also to determine their condition in the Lord.

In so doing, and in answering any questions they had about Paul and his associates, he says that he would be able to “comfort your hearts.” Tychicus was obviously faithful in his ability to recount anything that Paul passed on to him. If there was a personal greeting, he would relay it. If there was a note of commendation, he would relay it. If someone needed correction, Tychicus was competent and faithful to ensure it was passed on. For the most part though, the duties of Tychicus were to relate how Paul and those with him were faring.

They certainly would want to know how he was getting along while in prison. They would want to know about his care, any visitors, how he was treated, and so on. With this knowledge, their hearts would be comforted. It appears that Tychicus was eminently suited to this task, because it was he who performed the same mission to Ephesus as is recorded in that epistle. Paul’s use of him in this manner is a confirmation of complete confidence in him. It stands as a personal commission concerning him.

Life application: It is always good to know that a person can be completely trusted. Is this how others see us? Are we willing to conduct our lives with such high integrity that we can be relied upon with even the most sensitive or personal material? Let us endeavor to be such people at all times.

Lord God Almighty, Your word says that a good name is better than precious ointment. May each one of us strive to be a person of integrity, and one who seeks after a good name. Help all of us to have such high integrity that we can be relied upon in every way, even in the most sensitive matters that arise. Because we bear Your name, our actions ultimately reflect upon You. And so help us in this Lord. Help us to be people of complete and total faithfulness in all we do. Amen.

Saturday, 3 June 2017

Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. Colossians 4:7

This and the next verse are almost an exact repeat of Ephesians 6:21, 22. Tychicus would have been sent out with Paul’s letter(s) of instruction, and he would have carried along other information about how he was and what he was up to. This Tychicus is mentioned several times in the New Testament. He is found in Acts 20:4. There he is described as being a person “of Asia.” He was also accompanying Paul from Corinth to Asia. He is mentioned in Ephesians 6:21, 2 Timothy 4:12, and in Titus 3:12 as well.

In this letter, he is called “a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord.” The word used for “minister” is diakonos. This is the source of our word “deacon,” and it comes from two separate words – dia, meaning “through,” and konis, meaning “dust.” Therefore, it is someone who scurries through the dust, and is thus a servant or a minister. In this verse, he is doing exactly what the name implies. He is traveling with the message through the dusty streets of cities for the benefit of the saints. This term is probably not being applied to him in the technical sense of a “deacon,” but rather it points to the duties which he is carrying out. He is ministering to Paul as a friend, a brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant.

It is this hardy soul who was with Paul in such a close relationship who “will tell you all the news about me.” Not only would he bring the beautiful epistle in his hands, but he would also tell all about how Paul was doing. He would also answer any further questions that would come about concerning Paul and his ministry.

Life application: How willing are you to relay the good news concerning the gospel to others? Tychicus was willing to travel by land and sea in order to get the news out to those who were hungry to hear it. Are you at least willing to share it in the circles you travel? Do the people at the restaurant you frequent even know that you are a Christian? Do the people you work with know this? Get the news out!

Lord God, how often we go to our favorite restaurant, to the same bank time and again, to our job each day… and yet, do the people at those places know that we are Yours? Have we ever taken the time to simply share the hope that we possess? We sure will talk about the politician that excites us, or the one we hate, but what about Jesus? Which is more important? Which is our life and hope? Help us in this Lord. Give us boldness to speak about the most important issue humanity will ever face – our saving faith in Christ. Amen.

Friday, 2 June 2017

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6

Paul continues to give exhortations for sound Christian living. In the previous verse, he noted appropriate conduct, or “walk.” Now he moves to appropriate speech by saying, “Let your speech always be with grace.” The Greek literally reads, “in grace.” It is the element in which speech is to be saturated. Our speech should be happy, sincere, filled with humility, etc. It should pour fourth from the pitcher of grace like sap pours fourth sweet syrup from the tree.

He then says that our speech should also be “seasoned with salt.” The use of salt goes back to the Old Testament offerings. It says in Leviticus 2:13 –

“And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.”

Salt has exactly the opposite effect of leaven or honey in the Bible. These were forbidden to be in almost all offerings because they signify sin and corruption. Salt, on the other hand, produces and signifies incorruption. It strengthens the food in which it is, and also preserves it. Thus, it is a sign of faithfulness and covenant keeping. It goes so far as to indicate the perpetual nature of a covenant. It will never be broken as long as it is in force. Jesus refers to the use of salt in sacrifices in Mark 9:49, 50 –

“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. ⁵⁰ Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

The inclusion of salt in the Old Testament offerings pictures Christ’s incorruption; He having never sinned before God. It represents His covenant keeping nature, and even as One who will never break the covenant He makes. Paul would have us emulate Christ in our speech, using words of strengthening, incorruption, and preservation of all that is good.

His words in this verse are given as if directing a meal of delicious conduct concerning our speech. And this is so “that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Each person that one encounters is an individual. We cannot gear our speech to just one approach, but it needs to be modified for the sake of the one we are talking to. But in that speech, we are to draw from the well of grace, and add in the seasoning of salt at all times. We are to be able to give a reason for the hope we possess, we are to do it in meekness and fear, and we are to be courteous and sincere as we utter forth our words.

Life application: How easy it is to let our words slip into that which is profane and even harmful. But we are admonished to not allow this to happen. If what we say is drawn from a nurturing well of grace and then seasoned with salt, it will be helpful, not harmful. It will be soothing and able to build up others instead of tearing them down. Let us strive to meet this goal at all times so that Christ will be exalted by our words.

Lord God, help our speech to others to be given out in grace and to be seasoned with salt. May each thought we convey to others be a meal of delight and not one of bitterness. People are judging our spiritual lives by our earthly conduct, and in turn their perception of Christ is what is ultimately being evaluated. Help us then to make all of our words sincere, meaningful, and helpful. Be with us in this, O God, as it is not always an easy thing. Amen.

Thursday, 1 June 2017

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5

The words are similar to Ephesians 5:15, 16 –

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

In exhorting believers to “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside,” he is saying that we are to act in a manner which is above reproach. Everything we do is to be done fairly, with integrity of heart, and with the goal of being the finest example of emulation that those around us can find. In acting in this way, we are more likely to win them over to Christ. “Those who are outside” is referring specifically to non-believers. We should obviously act this way among believers, but Paul instructs that we should act this way at all times. If we deal one way with believers and another with unbelievers, it would – all by itself – demonstrate a lack of integrity that would certainly not be worthy of emulation. Who would want to follow the path of a hypocrite, unless they too were already hypocrites? And what Christian wants to be surrounded by a bunch of hypocrites?

The title of “Christian” should be carried by people who are wise, honest, and filled with integrity. And in that capacity, walking in this way toward those who are outside, we will be “redeeming the time.”

The word “redeeming” comes from the Greek word eksagorázō. It is a combination of two other words, ek, which indicates “completely out from.” This intensifies the word agorázō, which means, to “buy-up at the marketplace.” In this then, it indicates to “take full advantage of, seizing a buying-opportunity, i.e. making the most of the present opportunity (recognizing its future gain)” (HELPS Word Studies).

In the few hours that we have each day, in the short number of days we have each week, and in the quickly fading weeks, months, and years of our lives, we need to take advantage of the time we have been given, pursuing the greater and weightier matters which have eternal significance.

Instead of whining about what is bad, we should praise for what is good. Instead of moaning of our situation, we should be in prayer for the needs of others, and for the glory of God. Instead of reading novels which satisfy our minds for a moment, we should read and study God’s word which will enrich our souls for eternity. Rather than telling others about the latest sports statistics, we should tell others about the great deeds of the Lord and the love of God found in Christ Jesus. These are the type of things we should pursue in order to redeem the time.

In such ways, and in relation to those who are non-believers, we will be using our time in a manner which is properly directed toward their eyes and hearts. We will be bringing them closer to, not pushing them away from, a relationship with Christ.

Life application: Those around us are watching. Many are perverse and will never come to Christ. Instead, they are enemies of soundness and right reason. But there are those who are evaluating the world around them, searching for answers to life’s difficult questions. If they see us filled with joy, contentment, and peace, they will want that. If we act in this manner towards them, they will want it even more. Such should be the conduct of our walk.

Lord God, help us to walk in a manner which is worthy of emulation by others. Sure enough, there are a lot of perverse people who are simply the enemies of Christ for whatever crazy reason exists in their heads. But there are many who are simply not aware of the goodness of the Lord. If we are their only gauge of what a believer in Christ Jesus is, then will we draw them closer to You, or will we drive them further away? Help us to act in a way which will draw them in! Help us to be decent representatives of the marvelous Lord we serve. Amen.

Wednesday, 31 May 2017

…that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Colossians 4:4

Paul has asked for prayers for himself and those who were his fellow workers. Then to explain that further, he said they were to open a door for him to speak the mystery of Christ. He then noted that it was for this reason that he was in chains. Going back to the request for prayer now, he says that his desire is that he “might make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” The word “it” is speaking of “the mystery of Christ.”

He is already in chains, and so he is asking that an effective door be opened to him to speak this mystery even while in chains. It is not to discount prayers for release, which would be an open door, but whether in chains or whether free, he is praying for opportunities to speak the words which would make the mystery of Christ manifest to those he would meet. His words show that he cared less about being in chains than he did about getting the message of salvation out to the people he encountered. His desire was first and foremost for an effective door to be opened to him in order to speak. It is a mark of the true inward-burning evangelist.

Life application: Do you encounter people and think, “I need to tell this person about Jesus”? Or do you just look for a normal social interaction and then move on? If you aren’t hoping to share Christ, it would be good for you to pray about your attitude, and to embolden yourself to open your mouth and speak. Whose job is it to tell others about Jesus? The answer is, “Each one of us.”

Most glorious heavenly Father, would I dare to withhold the message of Jesus out of timidity? “Oh me! I might offend someone with what I know!” Should we care about that? Will we feel offended when they are eternally separated from you because we wouldn’t simply open our mouths and speak​? Offense schmoffense! Let us be bold and unwavering in our faith. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. You have shown that no man may come to You but through Him. Help us to garner the courage to proclaim this truth. Amen.