Episode 74: Watch and pray

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told his emotionally exhausted disciples to watch and pray. Similarly, as Paul begins to wrap up his letter to the Colossians (Col 4:2-4), he tells them to pray and be watchful. He asks them specifically to pray for his ministry, using language that echoes what he’s said earlier in the letter. But more generally, he also wants their prayers to be grateful ones; in their prayers, can they learn to be watchful for reasons to be thankful?

What is Chunks: Paul's Letter to the Colossians?

The church in the city of Colossae had recently been founded by one of the apostle Paul's colleagues; he had never met them personally. But he had heard of their faith and of some of the challenges that threatened to undermine that faith, including what seems to be the presence of false teachers who were leading them astray. Paul therefore writes to them from prison, lovingly encouraging them to realize the treasure they already have in the gospel. In so doing, he paints a magnificent and cosmic portrait of the Christ in whom they've already believed, and in whom they've been given a new and transformed nature. His words should help remind believers of every time and place that the Christ we worship is supreme. (Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages will be read from the New International Version.)