Journal Col 4 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
At the same time, pray also for us that God may open to us a door for the word; to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear: which is how I ought to speak.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders (making the best use of the time).
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Col 4:2-6
Observation: Nitty gritty stuff. I see the heights of doctrine and…. here’s how to put it into practice. Paul is so good at this…
Analysis: What popped out at me thinking about this posting was “declare the mystery of Christ…”
I have been stumbling and fumbling at this Road for several decades and still, if I were to be asked, “Please dear sir, explain to me the “mystery of Christ? I surely want to know…”, I probably couldn’t do it in any sort of systematic way.
Christ isn’t a mystery, right? Died, cross, sin, salvation, resurrected, coming back sometime soon, etc. etc. All true, but all buzz words still.
But why is He all these things? What possessed Him, caused the decision to die for Sin? To be the Atonement for all Creation? To deliver from death’s (read: Wrath) clutches?
The “mystery of Christ” equals a prison sentence for Paul and the buds of Paul. I wonder which part of that message got him locked in the pokey. “Be saved for God loves you?” Or, might it have been, “God is Holy, you are not and are deserving of God’s Holy Wrath. Repent, and be rescued from this wicked generation—of which you are a part of…”? Paul was probably slicker than I am today, but I am probably not far off on the essential message.
If I notice, this is the tangential message to the Church in his letters. Paul references outsiders (like he does here) but his letters? His letters exhort the local Church and the believers.
It is a mistake to read the Epistles and say “that is for unbelievers” for there are functional unbelievers in the local churches. Watch me, and from time to time, I will demonstrate what functional unbelief looks like.
It is why I must, it is imperative, that I review the Gospel, the Cross every day. I must, otherwise I forget.
Here’s the mystery of Christ from my perspective, and why it will always be: “Why did You die for me?”
Prayer: Lord, what I know as the Gospel was conceived and developed in Eternity, and before Time began. The phrase that started it was “Let there be light.”
Inconceivable to my puny mind. And the angels are still scratching their collective heads (including the fallen).
What a Wonder!! What a Marvel!! What Amazement!! No wonder that the 24 elders fell on their face. Glory and Honor to Your Name! AMEN