Friday, September 20, 2013

September 21, 2013 What to Do?



Read Colossians 4:2-4

What to Do?

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

OFTEN those who are passionate to see the Word of God spread and for the church to grow ask, “What are we supposed to do?” The question comes during meetings or after years of trying different approaches to ministry that seem to show little, if any, growth in the Kingdom of God. That question comes currently from state leaders in our church denomination as we view a decade of declining attendance. And the question increasingly comes from godly parents who wonder why their children avoid or ignore church. How do we answer the question?
     The only answer is in the prayer focus of Paul’s words here. He doesn’t tell the church in Colosse to do an ad campaign, start a contemporary service, shorten the sermon, lengthen the sermon, have parenting classes, or do a service project. He urges the church to commit to the one strategy: Devote yourself to prayer.
     To devote oneself to a cause means people are earnest to pray. They are constantly diligent to persevere in prayer and to adhere closely to prayer. It means the church sticks to praying as if its very life depends upon prayer because it does.
     Prayer is God’s invitation to you to speak to him with trust and faith. Praying tells God you know you need him to do his will in his church and on earth. Praying lifts your faith to the throne of God.
     Jesus was devoted to prayer. Why wouldn’t his church be?

A Moment’s Thought: Stop meeting and start praying.


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