(REFLECTIONS ON Colossians 4:1-6)

What should our attitude towards Christ be as believers? In today’s Scripture, Paul shows us how there is a beautiful balance of devotion, dedication, and conviction, with thanksgiving and grace.

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

First we should be devoted. Paul here refers to prayer, but in actuality this can apply to our worship, our daily devotion and quiet times, and our acts of faith. Our attitude towards Christ because of the sacrifice He made on the cross, and the salvation obtained through Him, should be of devotion.

We should be devoted, which speaks of a level of dedication and conviction. Paul also writes that we should keep alert in our prayer, our worship, and our Christian living. Being devoted and keeping alert speak of a level of awareness and intensity, not letting down our guard, but rather keeping our eyes, ears, and hearts open to the Spirit moving in us, around us, and through us each day.

So, on one hand there is a level of intensity to it, but our attitude towards Christ should also include an attitude of thanksgiving. Yes, we should be devoted and dedicated, but we should also be thankful in all situations, and at all times. Our prayers and worship should be focused, but filled also with thanksgiving.

Paul also writes,

6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Again, an interesting contrast, of being seasoned with salt, meaning that our voice, our speech, our Christian life should not be bland, but full of flavor, being bold, living and speaking with conviction, but also full of grace.

We should have a voice in this world. No, not a voice for ourselves, but for Christ. That voice should be empowered by the Holy Spirit, and be a voice of authority, devotion, and conviction. Yet at the same time, in the saltiness of our voice for the Lord, it also should be full of grace.

Today’s Scripture reminds us that our attitude towards Christ should on one hand be intense, focused, devoted, but on the other, full of thanksgiving, and full of grace. It is this balance that will show the world, that we are serious about what we believe in, but also thankful for Jesus and full of grace for the grace and mercy that He has shown to us.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Colossians 4