The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 4:1-4, “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth

the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;

4 in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.”

Paul never lets up! Just previously, he unloaded on wives, husbands, fathers, children, and slaves. Now, he turns on the masters! Maybe they thought they were going to escape unscathed. Not with Paul. Nor do you or I escape. If you are in charge of anything, you are “the master” in that situation. You may be doing something quite menial with others helping, but if you’re in charge of them, you are “the master.” Yes, to be sure, there is someone above you. He is your master. And the the One who is above us all, the LORD, He is our Master.

That being said, we are to devote ourselves to earnest prayer –not “blind” prayer—alert prayer, accompanyied with thanksgiving and focused. I can remember the prayers of some, who prayed, “Lord, bless all for whom it is our duty to pray.” Now, think about that for a minute. What’s wrong with prayer like that? It’s not truly focused! Of course, no one can know of whom the one praying is thinking. It may be potentially injurious to mention the name. Still, true prayer should be focused and personal!

Paul, too, emphasizes prayer that gives entrance of the Gospel into the human heart. Open to us a door for the Word.

My daughter and I went shopping together this week. I had been praying for a girl I met at Walmart. She was not where I expected her to be when we entered the store. I completed my shopping before Teri, and I was waiting for her when suddenly, right before my eyes was the girl! I had promised her something I had written, something I had forgotten to bring on my previous trip to the store. She was very pleasant and received it warmly. What I learned about her gives more focus to my prayers. But, seeing her again was the LORD’s opening of the door for the Gospel!

If you’re not “into” witnessing to lost people, you will surely want to pray as Paul did when he asked that he might make

the Gospel “clear” as he presents it to those who have yet to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. You don’t have to be

a scholar to share the glory of Christ. You just have to be “clean” and “loving” as you tell others what Jesus means to you. Just remember, “No one learns to swim by sitting at the edge of the pool.” Nor do they start by jumping into the pool at the deeper end. We’re not pushing “religion!” We’re pushing a “relationship”: Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself on the Cross for our sins. Paul closes with three words, “I ought to speak.” We ought to speak, too. May the LORD be with you as you faithfully share Him with others.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”