This week, our church continued it’s study of Colossians with Colossians 4.2-18, in which Paul shows us the recipe for a missional lifestyle. If Jesus is God, the Creator and Redeemer of humanity (and he is), then it follows that people need to know about him. Many of us would like to live lives of mission for him, but aren’t sure how. But in this passage, our question is answered.
Everything starts with prayer. Paul tells the Colossians to be devoted to prayer (v. 1). Missionality must overflow from a real, vital relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We recognize all that he has done for us in Jesus, and we are naturally moved to love and serve others. It is a watchful prayer, where we are both engaged in/informed about culture and connected with God. If we do either one without the other, we will end up in places we shouldn’t be. We saw that our connection with God is communal. In verses 7-18, Paul lists different peopel who are praying with and for him and the Colossians. In our modern, American, individualistic culture, we have the idea that we’re just going to relate to God on our own. But it doesn’t work like that (or not only like that). God has given us the church, which includes both large public meetings for Word and Sacrament, and smaller intimate meetings for mutual help, counsel, prayer, encouragement, etc. (See Acts 2.42-47). Biblically, there is no category for a Christian who isn’t involved in this.
So missionality is rooted in a relationship with God expressed by prayer. But it overflows in our lives where it is shaped by relationality and intentionality. When we share Jesus with people, it is best that it take place in the context of relationships. Paul speaks of knowing how we ought to answer each person (v. 5). This means we are dealing with real people; not concepts or projects. We must prusue genuine friendships with people, not just use them so that we can talk about Jesus with them. People are inherently valuable, and we must value them with no strings attached.
But our relationships are also intentional: we seek for open doors to talk about Jesus (v. 3). We pray, and trust that God will give us ocassion to talk to our friends about Jesus. So we live life with them, and as our lives are changed by the gospel, we answer their questions. We want to be the same enough that people will want to know us; and different enough that they’ll need to ask us questions. And when they ask, we must make the gospel clear to them. Our reason for our changed lives is not that we are good people, or that we are smart, or anything else. The reason our lives are changed is by God’s grace shown through Jesus’ cross and resurrection.
But so often, we don’t live this life. We are afraid of rejection, and pridfully self-conscious; hoping that no one will think less of us. Yet twice, Paul shows us that he is in prison for the gospel (vv. 3, 18). Something has happened to remove his fear. And that something is the very message we are trying to bring to others. The gospel shows us that we have nothing to fear. Jesus has already gained everythign we need through his life, death, and resurrection. And now, there is no way that we can possibly lose it. He has promised and he cannot lie. And the gospel shows us we have no basis for pride. Jesus has gained everything for us…on his own, without our help. We are eternally charity cases, who can’t fix what’s wrong with themselves. There’s no place for pride or boasting.
And so, as we fix our hearts and our minds on the gospel, this life begins to follow. Rather than try to live on mission, focus yourself on Jesus, and he will sweep you into the mission.
Posted by: Gene Schlesinger