Above All Else: Make the Most of it Colossians 4:2-6 · Join the Journey

Ever sent a text or posted something online that you immediately regretted? If you’ve ever texted with me, you know I’m the worst. I often forget to proofread—and I use voice-to-text, which doesn’t always get it right. So you may have received some crazy messages from me. Sometimes they’re funny; sometimes they’re just embarrassing. Thankfully, Apple now has a feature that lets you edit or even delete sent messages!

Today Paul urges us to let our speech be “gracious and seasoned with salt.” In a world of impulsive words, we’re called to speak with wisdom and gospel purpose. Make the most of every opportunity.

We have been studying through Colossians this summer. It’s been a rich journey through these four chapters, and now we’re nearing the end. Next week we will wrap it up. But as we look back we have seen that Jesus is above all else. and it’s on Jesus that we build our lives, our families and the church. Because of Jesus, we grow toward maturity. That means putting to death our old sinful lives and as Jeff shared last week that we replace the old self with the new clothes God has chosen for us. compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

These new clothes will change how we interact with others. Our spouses, kids, neighbors and co-workers. Everyone. We will forgive not as they deserve but as we have been forgiven. We will admonish and correct each other. Everything we do we will do in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God.

Today we will see that in order to live lives that are pleasing to God we will have to be devoted to prayer and make the most of every opportunity to reach the lost.

If you have your bibles turn with me to the book of Colossians. It’s on the right side of your bibles, in the NT, comes right after Philippians and right before 1 Thessalonians.

Colossians 4:2

Be devoted to prayer. This isn’t a new idea in scripture. We see this in the first church in Acts 2. They were devoted to the apostles teaching, fellowship, the lord’s supper and they were devoted to prayer.

Over and over again in the bible we see the power and importance of prayer. Prayer was not optional for Jesus—it was central to His life and ministry.

Mark 1:35

Very early Jesus sought the Father in prayer. And we should too. Start your day with prayer. Pray early. We also see that before Jesus made major decisions he went to the Father in prayer.

Luke 6:12-13

Luke 6:12–13

Before Jesus choose His 12 disciples who would carry on the ministry that He was starting, He prayed all night! Before making major decisions we need to pray.

Jesus prayed early, Jesus prayed before major decisions, and Jesus prayed in times of crisis and suffering. In the Garden before going to the cross, what did Jesus do? He prayed. Three times, “Father if you are willing take this cup from me, yet not my will, but your will be done.” Luke 22:42

Luke 22:42

Prayer was central to Jesus’ life and it should be to ours. Start early with prayer. Pray before decisions. Pray in suffering and in crisis. Be devoted to prayer—just like Jesus.

Paul tells us that in every situation we need to take it to God in prayer.

Philippians 4:6

How are we to deal with anxiety? Take it to God in prayer. Not in some things or when things are bad, but in every situation, we need to go to God in prayer. Make your petitions and requests known to God, giving thanks in every situation.

Are you facing a job change, financial stress? Take it to God in prayer.

Are you in conflict with your family, co-worker, neighbor? Make your request known to God.

Are you struggling with health concerns? Present your petition to God.

In any and every situation pray. Start early and pray often. And here is the promise.

Philippians 4:7

God doesn’t promise to change the situation but he promises to change you. The peace of God that goes beyond understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.

In every situation pray. But don’t just pray for yourself, pray for others.

Colossians 4:3-4

Colossians 4:3–4

Paul asks them to pray for him. Notice that he doesn’t ask for them to pray his chains to be removed, but that despite his chains, doors would be opened not for his freedom but for the gospel to be shared and that he would proclaim it as he should.

Pray for others. Lift up your spouses in prayer. Pray for their walk with Jesus, for your marriage and that God would help you be the husband or wife that God has called you to be.

Pray for your kids even if they are adults. Job prayed and offered sacrifices to God for his grown children. I heard a story recently of a man who lived for 40 years in sin. Not even knowing that his mom and her church for those years prayed for his protection and repentance. Until after 40 years God led him to repentance. Don’t give up on praying for your kids.

Pray for your family, your friends, co-workers, neighbors and pray for your enemies. Yes your enemies and even those who do you harm. Listen to what Jesus taught.

Matthew 5:43-44

Matthew 5:43–44

Sadly we have seen far too often the hate and evil that has hurt and taken the lives of innocent. But there is something powerful when you see the families of those victims praying for their loved ones attacker. Praying for their repentance.

They are following the example of Jesus. Jesus while hanging on the cross prayed, Father forgive them.

Pray for your enemies and those who hurt you.

Jesus prayed for others and we should too. In John 17 Jesus prayed for his disciples, and those who would believe in Him through their message. That’s you and me. Jesus prayed for us that God would glorified through us.

Pray for others. Make a list. Pray for them by name. Pray for the lost. One of my prayers is that God would bring revival in Washington. That those who are far from would come to know Him. That God would add to us those who are being saved. And that God would use me and us as Journey Church to point the lost to Him.

Don’t just pray for others—pray with them. There’s something powerful about standing in faith with someone else."

I ask that you would pray for me. That God would guard my heart and mind. That God would help me to proclaim the truth of His word as I should. Pray that God would open doors for His message through me. Pray for my wife Suzanne and my son Camden.

Jesus prayed for and with others. We should too. Be devoted to prayer and make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel.

Colossians 4:5

Paul says be wise in how you act toward those who are lost. Be intentional with your actions around those who are far from God.

Does the life you are leading set any example for others or does it still look like the world? Look back at chapter 3. Which of those things describe you? Are you putting to death sin or living in it.

Be wise in how you act towards outsiders. Make the most of every opportunity. But don’t just be wise in how you act—be wise in how you speak.

Colossians 4:6

How do you respond when others disagree with you? Do you get defensive or sarcastic? Or are your words full of grace and seasoned with salt. Do you show respect and offer the truth with care.

When someone is hurting do you ignore them or are you cold towards them? Or are you showing compassion gently pointing them to God.

When you are confronting sin in others are you pointing out the speck in their eye so they cant see the log in yours. Or are you with humility and care are you speaking the truth in love.

Texting and social media have some way of separating our brains form our fingers. We type all kinds of impulsive, divisive things. We are quick to share and comment before we really consider the impacts it will have on others. Before you text or post you should ask, “is this full of grace and seasoned with salt.”

And most importantly when it comes words. Are you being intentional about sharing the gospel. Make the most of your conversations to tell others how you have found peace with God through Jesus. So you may know how to answer everyone.

1 Peter 3:15

One of our goals as a church is to each one reach one. We want all of us going out to build authentic relationships with the lost in our community and around the world and to communicate the gospel of Jesus.

One of the most powerful ways to share the gospel is to share your story. Here's a simple framework

What was your life like before Jesus?

How did you come to Jesus?

What has Jesus changed?

Romans cards.

This week, make the most of every opportunity. Start with prayer—early and often. Pray for your family, your church, and your enemies. Ask God to open doors and give you the words to speak. Let your life reflect Jesus, and let your words be full of grace and seasoned with salt.

Who is one person you can pray for and reach out to this week?

Don’t miss the moment. Be devoted to prayer—early and often. Let your life reflect Jesus. Let your words point people to Him. And when the opportunity comes, step into it with courage and grace. Make the most of it.