READING: Colossians 1-4, 1 Thessalonians 1-3
The evangelist in me often turns to Colossians for at least two reasons. First, Paul reminds us of just how bound and lost we were apart from Christ; indeed, we were living in the domain of darkness before God graciously transferred us to the kingdom of His Son (Col 1:13). Into the darkness came the light of Christ, and God chose to draw us from that darkness to Himself and make us His own. How can we not tell that story?
Then, I’m reminded that Paul requested prayer for his evangelism. He strongly requested that the Colossians devote themselves to prayer on his behalf, their asking God to give Paul opportunity to speak the gospel and clarity when he did: “pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, so that I may make it known as I should” (Col 4:3-4). Couple this request with Paul’s ask of the Ephesians to pray for his boldness (Eph 6:18-20), and you see that even Paul, the extraordinary apostle uniquely called by God, needed God’s help to do the work of evangelism.
If Paul needed prayer support to do what God expected him to do, surely I need even that much more prayer. I need prayer before I evangelize, while I’m evangelizing, and after I’ve told the story. I cannot tell the good news without the power of the One who is the Good News.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you have someone praying this way for you?
PRAYER: “Father, help me to enlist prayer partners to empower my evangelism.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 1-3, 1 Timothy 1-4
