Today in God’s Word

Today in God's Word—April 2023

East Tallassee Church of Christ

April 30, Colossians 4

We are individuals with personal accountability. But we’re also responsible for how our actions affect other people.

If you have authority over others, remember your authority is delegated by one who has authority over you. The master/slave relationship that was common in Paul’s century is not part of many cultures today. But this principle should guide how we treat people we supervise at home, at work or in the church. Your conduct as a leader shapes a subordinate’s understanding of authority, which may affect his whole life and eternal destiny. Also, how many of us would want to be treated by our Master in heaven the same way we treat the people under our authority?

Intercessory prayer is a dynamic element of community life. Paul was serious about praying for others and requesting their prayers. From prison, he asked his brothers and sisters to pray that God would open doors for him to preach the gospel. Prayer acknowledges God as sovereign over all our circumstances. He gives both the opportunities and the ability to respond to the opportunities. We should never say we can do nothing about a brother or sister’s difficulty. We can always pray for them!

Influence is also powerful factor in community. How much of what we do can be attributed to the training and influence we receive from others—our parents, teachers, mentors and peers? Wise Christians weigh their words and actions, conscious of their effect on others. Jesus said we are supposed to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We must make conscious

effort to have the right influence on the people we know outside the church if we ever want to see them in it.

In a discouraging world, it’s important to participate in the mutual encouragement that’s supposed to be part of life in Christ. Encouragement can come through many channels. No doubt Paul found great encouragement through the years in Luke’s constant companionship. Paul had earlier declined to take John Mark on a mission trip, but here he called him a fellow worker and a comfort. Mark’s progress must have encouraged them both. Paul’s words of commendation and recognition for his fellow workers remind us that partners should encourage one another. Networking is the current buzzword in business, but being connected to other like-minded people has been an important part of Christian encouragement for 2,000 years.

All these matters grow out of living unselfishly—caring enough about one another to use authority properly, pray faithfully and be careful about our influence. Appreciating our community will make us bold enough to give and humble enough to receive needed encouragement. Perhaps all this is reflected in Paul’s request to remember his chains. Imagine the links scraping across the parchment as he wrote the closing lines of this letter. We cannot take these matters lightly when we remember how much they meant to him.

From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.