A note from the Pastor’s Desk:

“Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:”

Colossians 4:3

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

From the confinement of his bonds, the Apostle Paul recognized that while a simple twist of a key could free his body, only a supernatural downpour of God’s grace could unlock the doors of utterance to advance the mystery of Christ. Our study verse this week, Colossians 4:3, captures the Apostle’s request for the prayers of a distant church. His request for the ability to preach the gospel is grounded in his humility, the sovereignty of God in orchestrating its spread, and the costly nature of the message he was preaching. 

The Apostle, at the time of writing this letter, held immense spiritual stature among the young New Testament church. He had been the subject of a miraculous conversion, had seen visions of heaven, written countless letters, many of which turn into our scriptures, and planted a network of churches among the Gentiles. Yet, in this moment, he admits that he is utterly helpless to preach the gospel without the power of God. His need was not based on his being in prison and unable to travel to the congregation. The Apostle understands that, regardless of physical limitations, no person is a spiritual island and no preacher can share the gospel without the grace of God. True spiritual leadership, as demonstrated by the Apostle, is marked by humility, not self-sufficiency. The disciple should be reminded that the prayer closet fuels the pulpit. As such, the responsibility for the preaching of the gospel does not rest solely on the minister.

The Apostle instructs the church to pray that God would grant a door of utterance or an open door to preach the gospel. The prayer for an open door was not a prayer for release from prison but rather a prayer that God would provide a people to hear the gospel that the Apostle desired to preach. The minister can have the most articulate arguments and brilliant strategies. Still, a human being cannot force open a heart or orchestrate a gospel opportunity, no matter how hard they try. The door of utterance requires a key that only God holds. The responsibility of the minister, including the Apostle, is to be ready when the door is opened, not to open the door. 

The Apostle sitting in a Roman jail knew that preaching the gospel came at a price. The truth is especially costly when it shatters cultural comfort zones. As demonstrated in the last chapter, the Apostle was preaching a countercultural message about the roles of women, children, and servants in the home. He was also challenging Jewish authority by declaring that the Jew and Gentile were now equal with God, co-heirs in one body. He was completely bypassing centuries of cultural, racial, and religious separation. His message infuriated the religious elite and brought persecution on the Apostle and other followers of Jesus Christ. The reality is, no matter the day and age, when faithful preaching (led by God) clashes with worldly divisions and power, the messenger must be willing to pay the price for the purity of the message. The Apostle knew this and was joyful to be in bonds if it meant he was preaching the truth of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 4:3 ultimately captures the humility of the Apostle and his dependence on Jesus Christ. However, it also reminds us, as modern disciples, that God is the one who can open doors, and when they are opened, we have a responsibility to share the pure message of the gospel. 

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah