One-Year Bible Reading Plan  : Seekers & New Believers |  Jul 1 | Colossians Chapter 4: Continue in Prayer and Walk in Wisdom 

🦌 Opening Today’s Reading 

Dear brothers, sisters, and friends, peace be with you in the Lord!

Welcome to today's reading journey! Today, we are exploring Colossians Chapter 4 together.

In our everyday interactions at work, home, or social settings, how do we represent our faith? When conversing with coworkers, neighbors, or friends who don't share our beliefs, is our speech marked by kindness, wisdom, and grace?

Let's pause and take a quiet moment. Bringing a receptive heart, let's look at how Paul encourages us to remain vigilant in prayer and to interact with others using speech seasoned with grace.

📖 Context Snapshot 

Where are we today?

Colossians Chapter 4 brings the epistle to a practical close, applying new life in Christ to prayer, conduct, and Christian fellowship:

1. Masters' Duty (Colossians 4:1): Masters are exhorted to give their servants what is just and equal, knowing they also have a Master in heaven.

2. Devotion to Prayer and Open Doors (Colossians 4:2–4): Paul instructs believers to continue steadfastly in prayer with watchfulness and thanksgiving, asking for prayer that God would open a door of utterance for the mystery of Christ.

3. Wisdom and Seasoned Speech (Colossians 4:5–6): Believers are exhorted to walk in wisdom toward those outside, redeeming the time, and ensuring their speech is always with grace, seasoned with salt.

4. Final Greetings and Encouragement (Colossians 4:7–18): Paul commends faithful co-workers such as Tychicus, Onesimus, Aristarchus, Mark, Epaphras, and Luke, asking for the letter to be read in Laodicea and concluding with a personal blessing.

💡 Today’s Scripture Verse  - Colossians 4

4 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

🌟Daily Heart-Check:  From "Careless Words" to "Grace-Seasoned Speech" 

• Prayer fuels alertness and opportunity: Steadfast prayer keeps our spiritual awareness sharp and our hearts filled with gratitude. It also prepares the ground for sharing God's grace with those around us.

• The impact of seasoned speech: Salt seasons, preserves, and enhances flavor. When our words are seasoned with grace, they bring warmth, peace, and constructive encouragement to every conversation.

🎵 Response Song :  

🙏 Closing Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father,

Thank You for speaking to us today through Colossians Chapter 4.

Grant us grace to continue steadfastly in prayer, watching with hearts full of thanksgiving. Open doors of opportunity for us to share Your love and truth with those around us.

Guard our tongues, Lord, so that our speech may always be gracious and seasoned with salt. Help us walk in wisdom, redeem our time, and reflect Your love in every interaction.

We pray for our families, friends, and co-workers today. May Your peace, strength, and grace abide with us all.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen!