(Col 4:2)  “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”  Thanksgiving. We have emotions given to us by God. Those emotions will come forth during hardships unbidden. That does not mean you are not thankful. It is during such times we are to take stock of what we are and who we are. What are we and who are we? Answer: Children of God Almighty, bought with the very blood of His Son, put in favor in the Beloved. Therefore the things we are facing will end up for His glory and our good: (Rom 8:28)  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  So, we by faith give thanks!  

(Col 4:2)  “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”  The Scripture that aids in the understanding of this one is, (1Th_5:17) “Pray without ceasing.”  Since prayer is talking with the Lord, I believe prayer should be a walking/talking relationship of constant communication with Him. Such an attitude of prayer finds us rejoicing before Him, thanking Him for every good thing we recognize. Example: this morning something slipped from my hand and in reaction caught it and without thought immediately said, “Thank you, Lord.”

 (Col 4:1) “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.”  I am to seek to do as my Savior would do. My Lord hates deceit for it is just a form of lying.  “Just and equal” is the way He deals with us. We are to do the same towards all men. In all things we are to seek to be like Him as His ambassadors upon this earth.  

(Col 3:25)  “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”   God is no respecter of persons. He does not love me more than He loves you. He does not want to do more for you than He does for me. Yet, we each have a work to do: (Eph 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  One of us might be more willing than another to sacrifice our life for Him. One might handle having money better than another. Our Lord will do what is best for each of for His Own glory. So, we cannot judge God’s blessings outwardly, humanly. Money is not always a blessing. Want may be the greater blessing if it keeps one closer to the Lord, making them more useable.  The greatest blessing one can have is to walk and talk – fellowship – with the Lord every day of his or her life!  That life is given for His glory. He is no respecter of persons.

(Col 3:25)  “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”  There is a separate judgment for the saved from the unsaved. Theirs is testify to the fact that they have sinned against God and deserve that sentence of eternal suffering. Ours is for what we have done with the “salvation life” grace has bestowed. I am afraid many saved have thought, “Well, I will face whatever it is then” and proceed forth to please themselves. They forget that in that day, shed of this sinful body with the old nature, our conscience and thinking will be extremely different. The bearing of that shame before Him will be intense.  Better to put aside self and live right before Him now. 

 (Col 3:24)  “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”   So often we think the only ones “serving” the Lord are those who are in full time service – missionaries, pastors, youth leaders, music directors. But that is as wrong as it gets. Each one of us are to live their “bought with a price” life in the service of He Who saved us. We are to serve Him for the purpose of being lights in a world of darkness. In a world where the only way the lost will hear of what Jesus has done and would do for them is through our individual voices and demonstrations of righteous living.

(Col 3:24)  “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”  It is so hard for the true Believer to practice the Word of God because we are held back by this sinful flesh. The Bible says the flesh and the spirit struggle one against the other. Our promise of reward awaits us in our inheritance. The flesh wants it now just as the Prodigal Son. Our promise here is, “In the world thou shalt have tribulation;” and there is, “…but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  This wrong desire leads one’s heart to blame the Lord when the outcome here is not what we look for. The problem is not a failure on the Lord’s part but a wrong Bible understanding on ours.

(Col 3:22)  “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:”  One is not to pretend to do right if the heart is not in it. That would be hypocrisy.  To overcome that, one is to focus their heart upon the Lord, as in doing service to Him. All of life is to be focused upon the Lord Who saved us. Our work here upon this earth is temporary  and short in the eyes of eternity. We can bare anything as long as we remind our heart, “This is but for a moment.”

(Php 3:21) “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”    The second part of this verse reminds me that nothing is beyond the ability of God except that which He has decreed. One such decree is the free will of man. My Lord does not force a person to be saved and does not force them to obey Him. His desire is that we will love Him and be thankful enough for the cross to surrender our earthly desires to Him.

 (Php 3:21) “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”   This is very much a part of the salvation the Lord Jesus purchased for us on the cross, which He was the first to enjoy through His resurrection from the dead. Lying around on clouds is not the promise for the saved. It is a new body, a new earth, a new home, physical life not marred by sinful thoughts, warped character, the ugliness of pride, or the frailty of our bodies. What awaits the Born Again is an eternity of activity and fellowship!  I say, “Even so Lord Jesus come quickly”!