"Devote Yourselves" // Col. 4:2-18

Intro:

- Beginning with the end in mind.

Mowing the lawn

Cooking a meal

Works of art

Michelangelo’s quote of creating the statue of David: “I created a vision of David in my mind and simply carved away everything that was not David.”

- Paul ends this letter with many of the same emphases as when he began.

In this final chapter, having offered love, correction, and instruction, Paul will give a few final directions on how we ought to live with the end in mind.

It can be summarized in the word that begins this chapter: Devotion.

*What does it mean to be devoted to something?*

Main Idea: Lives of Christian devotion are characterized by prayer, wise witness, gracious speech, and care for the church.

1. Devotion to Prayer (v. 2-4)

Alertness: awareness of worldly happenings

Pastor Steven often refers to this as our “cultural moment”

Pray primarily for the mission

1. Opportunities to share the gospel (v. 3)

2. That those opportunities would be taken (v. 4)

2. Devotion to a Wise Witness (v. 5)

Ephesians 5:15–16 CSB

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

Make the most of your time to witness to the gospel in the way you live so that unbelievers may see God’s grace in you.

3. Devotion to Gracious Speech (v. 6)

Seasoned with Salt

Matthew 5:13 CSB

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

Salt served to preserve, sterilize, and season. Paul here refers to the last usage meaning that our speech should be “acceptable and inoffensive” - Melick

4. Devotion to the Church (v. 7-18)

Mark

Demas