A note from the desk of our Pastor:

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

Colossians 4:5

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

Our study verse this week connects the Apostle Paul’s request for prayer with the believer’s day-to-day actions. The Apostle desired that the congregation pray for a door of utterance so that he might share the mystery of God with more people. However, the fulfillment of that prayer also depends on the community of believers’ interaction with those who have not converted to the truth of Jesus Christ. If that interaction is not done with wisdom, the door might be closed to any future understanding of the Apostle’s teaching. 

In this verse, the Apostle uses an implied metaphor that might not be as obvious to modern Western Bible students. The verse relies on shared knowledge in Colossae of going to the marketplace. Vendors, with limited quantities of their goods, surround the individual. The purchaser must act quickly to get the goods they desire at the price they can afford. In other words, they must make good use of their time because if they delay, the goods will be gone. In a similar vein, the Apostle tells the church at Colossae that they have limited interaction with those outside the community. They must be wise with how they use their time, because if they make a poor impression, their opportunity to open their eyes to the peace of the truth of Jesus Christ might be gone. 

The Bible student should remember the setting in which the Apostle wrote these words. His ministry and Apostleship had founded many churches, but even then, the New Testament church was in a fragile social position. It was a tiny minority under heavy scrutiny from various groups. The Apostle himself was imprisoned for preaching the message of Jesus Christ. Other believers were persecuted, tortured, and even put to death. Despite all of that, the Apostle is encouraging the community of believers to reach out to those outside the church rather than hunker down to protect themselves. Even in a world that seemed opposed to them, the community of believers sought to share the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ.

Finally, the Apostle continues to expose heresy and fight against false teachings with this instruction. In Colossae and other places, false teachers had adopted a Gnostic heresy that held that wisdom was secret and private. As with most false teachings, it gave these men a power structure over others. The Apostle, in this verse, flips the heretic’s favorite word (wisdom) back on them, showing that true godly wisdom is practical and ethical, not elite and reclusive. He reminds believers in Colossae (and all readers of this text) that the wisdom of God can reside in all disciples and guide their interactions with others. 

Ultimately, our study verse this week is an encouragement to disciples to behave in a way that keeps doors open to potential conversations. The Apostle is not instructing believers to make every interaction a high-pressure sales pitch to get them to believe in Jesus. Rather, he is instructing the saints of God to behave in a way that makes those outside of the community of believers intrigued with the peace and the hope you possess. 

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah