“As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.  For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here” (Colossians 4:7-9).    

Scripture is connected and the story of the Gospel is connected.  The Epistle of Philemon is to Onesimus.  If you think about all of the connections and the situations of each of these people as far as you know them, you begin to realize that they were fully human (messes and all) and were following the Lord with all they had.  It is no different for us.  We are to follow the Lord no matter what.

Lord, help me to see the finer points of Your word.  Help me to see the reality of those whom You have called by faith and in grace.  Help me to move beyond the elemental view of Scripture to receive a mature understanding of living the life of faith which You have given me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life that You have established.  In and through all things, help me to be Yours fully and wholly.

Lord Jesus, You know all of Your followers better than any of us know ourselves.  Lead me  Lord so that I may now and always be guided by Your goodness and see that You are leading amidst the circumstances in which I find myself.  Help me now and always to look to You and to be encouraged by the witness of the saints around me.  In all things, may I follow Your example.  Amen.

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.  Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:5-6).

Wisdom is an applied combination of understanding, knowledge, and finesse.  Those around you do not want to be treated as objects, nor as idiots any more than you want to be treated by others this way.  Sharing the faith is a matter of sharing.  You are selling nothing.  Come then and live into the life that Christ gives you and be leaven in your community.  Live the faith and others will see that you live differently.

Lord, teach me not to be one who is pushing, nor selling, but humbly living the faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your example to be one hundred percent in, but also myself, loving others as You have loved me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always be guided by You in the hope You give me by grace.  Let the salt in me be salty always.

Lord Jesus, You told us to let our light so shine that others would see what we do and glorify the Father.  Guide me in the way of this hope and promise in order that I may live today doing just that.  Guide me to be consistent in all I do knowing that in You alone is all hope and the promise of eternal life.  In You, Lord, I have a future.  May You season my life with Your presence and purpose.  Amen.  

“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; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:3-4).

Do you pray for the opportunity to share what you have received?  Do you consider the stranger next to you and whether or not they know the truth?  Yes, each of us the responsibility to love our neighbor, the stranger, enough to provide for their welfare.  May the Lord bring about all that is needed that you may care for others as others have cared for you.  Share with others because You have been given much.

Lord, guide me in the way of everlasting life, knowing that I too am one who has been sent. Lead me so that I may live my faith in the presence of others in order that they may know that You are the Lord of all.  In Your goodness Lord, help me now and always to see that You have equipped me with the truth and in that truth I should live, love, and share.  Help me learn how to do these things naturally.

Lord Jesus, Your life which You lived on earth was seamless. Yet all were able to know why You were here.  They may not have understood it, but they knew.  They may not have agreed, but they knew.  In that light, help me to live my life such that others will at least receive a testimony based upon how I live.  Guide me to live into this life of faith that You have given me so that I may be faithful always.  Amen.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2)

What is prayer but constant communication with the Lord?  What is obedience but listening to the one giving the instruction and doing what has been instructed.  Has not the Lord said that He came that He may teach us and that we will learn from Him and do as He has instructed?  Yes, listen to the Lord, be in constant communication, and do the will of the One who made you.

Lord, these simple things are between me and Thee.  Help me not excuse this away, for no one but You will know if I am a person of prayer.  Lead me to be whom You are making me to be and guide me according to Your purpose in the way I should go.  Through all things, help me to know, O Lord, that You alone are able to lead, for You alone know fully what is in my heart and where You are taking me.

Lord Jesus, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, help me to have ears that are open to hear, eyes that are open to see, and a willingness to do what You give me to do.  Help me hear what the world says and see what the world shows so that I may in contrast hear and see more clearly what You are saying and showing.  In all things, by Your grace, continue to lead me so that I may be with You always.  Amen.

“Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1).

We are each appointed to the place where we are.  The Lord gives to each according to His purpose.  Do not think you are something because you have a position of authority.  Instead, use the position to do justice, tempered with mercy.  In all things and with all people, be fair.  Is it not sad that doing these simple things is not what is normal but is considered extraordinary.?  Regardless, be just and fair to all.

Lord, where You have placed me in a position of authority, grant that I would be fair and just to all.  No matter the person or their circumstance, help me to treat others always as I would want to be treated.  Guide me, Lord, in the way I need to go and then help me go that way.  Now and always, lead me to be the kind of person You want me to be and the kind of person I will be in eternity.

Lord Jesus, You dealt with all people the same regardless of their circumstances.  Help me follow Your example and do what is right and fitting according to Your purpose.  Help me, O Lord, to see through the wickedness of this age and not follow its lead.  Instead, let me be known through what I do as one who is just and fair in all things.  Guide me, Lord, that I may follow You.  Amen.

“For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality” (Colossians 3:25).

I believe we sometimes think that we need to be caught before there is a punishment.  The truth is that whenever God’s law is broken, the consequence is built in.  We really do not get away with anything.  Do not be one who seeks to sneak, but one who is intentional and deliberate in all things.  Do what you do and do it the same no matter who is watching or no matter who it is for.

Lord, teach me to be always consistent.  Through all things, lead me in the way of everlasting life that I may now and always be guided by You.  Through these things, lead me to be consistent and impartial.  Help me to understand that You indeed love me, but that love is without partiality.  Teach me how to apply these things to my life so that I may grow in Your love and admonition.

Lord Jesus, You have loved each one of us impartially.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I may now and always live in that love and see that love flow through me and out to others.  In You alone can I become what You are making me to be.  Through You alone are these things possible.  Help me this day to live Your possibilities and grow in Your goodness and likeness by doing what is right.  Amen.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Do you remember the point where Jesus forgave sin.  By this, I mean that He forgives the sin of one against the other as if He were the One chiefly offended?  This is why He said: “forgive as you have been forgiven.”  Well, the reality is that those around you are not the chief point of existence; He is.  All things came in to being through Him and are for Him.  Learn to live this truth.

Lord, guide me in all truth.  You are Truth.  Help me see more clearly each day that in all I do, I am serving You.  Keep me from playing games even with myself so that I may be honest, direct and always truthful.  Guide me in this way of life that from the inside out in order that I may know that all I do matters in Your eyes.  You are the One whom I serve in and through all things.  Lead me to be genuine and true.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I may be guided into the truth of all life.  You have called me to go into the world and serve You when I serve others.  Wherever You send me, teach me how to serve You as You want to be served.  You first served me, now teach me how to serve You.  Guide me to do this with a gracious and thankful heart in all I do that I may honor You.  Amen.

“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” (Colossians 3:22).

Most of us will experience times where we do not like our circumstances.  Some have lives that are a bad circumstance.  Those who are well and whole cannot fully understand the lives of those who have needs and are disadvantaged.  But in all circumstances, no matter what they are, live from the inside out knowing that the Lord who sees all things will lead you no matter your circumstances.

Lord, in this insensitive give-me-what-I-want world, help me to be genuine.  Guide me away from thinking that what I do does not matter.  Lead me to treat everyone in every circumstance in the truth that You love them and have commanded that I love them also.  Help me to do this.  Guide me according to all that is good so that I may now and always live into the life You have granted me by Your grace.

Lord Jesus, You are the One through whom all things have their being, but You came as a servant of all.  In Your example, teach me to live knowing that others are equally valued in Your eyes and worthy of any love I may give.  Guide me to love others according to the Father’s purpose.  Through all that comes, guide my heart to be willing, in every circumstance, to love as I have been loved.  Amen.  

“Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.  Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart” (Colossians 3:20-21).

Again, we see the encouragement to be in a proper relationship with those around us.  Many times it is simply an order of things, but the Lord intends that we relate one to the other.  This is as it should be and we are told of the boundaries and how God intends things to work.  Work then by applying what You know to be the right boundaries in your life amongst those with whom you relate.

Lord, teach me to be obedient to You in all things.  You have shown me how long-suffering You are.  Help me to be the same with those around me so that I would not exasperate them.  Guide me now and always in the way of everlasting life.  Help me to see clearly the way You have set before me.  In and through all things, lead me Lord and help me to do these things which are right.

Lord Jesus, You were obedient even unto death on the cross.  I cannot be You, but I can become like You, doing what You give me to do.  Lead me in these things, Lord, so that I would put them into effect in my life and learn a little more this day of what these things mean.  Through all that You give me to do, guide me in the upward way of salvation in order that I may be conformed to Your image.  Amen.

“Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them” (Colossians 3:18-19).

Be different.  The world treats others as if the one who is making the decision is the center of all things.  Is it any wonder there is contention in marriage?  If both will be like Christ and think of the other as more important than themself, the relationship will work.  Beyond this, why does Scripture give this admonition so often?  Is it perhaps that there are greater lessons for those who are the bride of Christ?

Lord, teach me all that I need to know.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and then help me to move in that direction.  In and through all things, place in my heart the right attitude so that I would love others in the way You love them.  Move me away from being self-centered and demanding, and more like You, caring for others, their well-being, and encouraging them in their salvation.

Lord Jesus, You are the groom and we are the bride.  You set the example by dying for us.  In all of the relationships that I am in, help me to have the appropriate boundaries so that I may live according to Your goodness.  Guide me in the power of Your Holy Spirit this day so that I may now and always live into the life to which You have called me, knowing that this is the eternal life for which You are preparing me. Amen.