Verse of the Day 3/15

Through the Bible - Job 25-27, 1 Corinthians 9

 

Good morning,

My wife Jean and I recently watched the movie "The Importance of Being Earnest" in which Colin Firth played the role of a man who lived in the country in the late 19th century and who was known as Jack.  He made frequent trips into the city and when he did so he used an assumed name, Earnest.  The movie revolved around the problems that developed when the two worlds came together.  He met a woman that he wanted to marry in the city who loved his name "Earnest".  It was a funny film yet, perhaps, tragically realistic.  How many of us try to live "double lives"?

 

In the end he ended up legally taking the name Earnest, he saw the importance of being earnest.

 

For today's verse we'll go to a passage in Colossians 4 which we talked about in our high school Bible study group last Sunday.  The heading in my NKJV Bible is "Christian Graces".  The first thing mentioned is prayer.

 

Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,   NKJV
 

Paul is encouraging the Colossian believers to persevere in prayer.  Other translations use words like be devoted, or continue steadfastly.  The Greek word for continue here means to be "courageously persistent" or "to hold fast and not let go".

 

It is the first step, the staring point in our daily walk.  The passage goes on to talk further of the "Christian Graces" as our walk. 

 

What we talked about on Sunday and something for us to consider is "does our prayer life match our walk" or "does our walk match our prayer life"?  Do the things that we pray for match up with our daily walk?  Do we pray for opportunities, for doors to open and then walk right past them, too busy to notice the open door?

 

Pastor Bob's current series of sermons is "Christian Atheist - Believing in God But Acting as if He Didn't Exist".  Is it possible to be a Christian "Atheist" in regards to our prayers?  If our prayer life doesn't match our walk?

 

Prayer is a two way street, in my own life I've realized that it has often been one way, sending my requests to God then going, walking along my own way.  I need to be more earnest in my prayer life, how about you?

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Col 4:2-6
2 Christian Graces Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,

4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
NKJV