Colossians 4:2-4 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving; and pray for us also, 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, as I ought to speak.
What do you pray about? I have a long list of people who I think need grace for one thing or another. I pray for my life and even my life in Christ. I pray giving God thanks and praise for who he is and what he has done. Paul wants prayer for a door to open for him to spread the word, to declare the mystery of Christ. I try to look for opportunities and possibilities that God provides, but I don't pray for God to open doors for the word and mystery of Christ. I think more often the opportunities and possibilities are situations to love and serve, not openings for the word. It might seem peculiar for a preacher to say they doubt that they pray to open a door for the word, but I think it means an open door for folks who would never be in church to hear the preacher.
I remember my young friend John Bernard who would sit with his bible and it was like magnetism as people would be mysteriously drawn to hear the word. I marveled at how that happened, but perhaps it was his prayer that God would open the door for the word. What makes an evangelist? Is it God alone or our desire to have God open the door for the word? Do we really want to share the gospel? Let's pray for doors to open.
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