At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may make it known as I should.
Colossians 4:3-4 NET
How do you respond when someone asks how they can pray for you? What would be first on your list? Health or family issues? Job or financial struggles? There are many things that we might seek prayer for. But what should be at the head of our list?
I love Paul’s example here. He is in prison, so you might expect that he would pray for deliverance or for having his needs met while in prison. But when he asked the Colossian church to pray for him, his request was not about his physical needs.
Instead, Paul asked them to pray that God would open a door for him to continue proclaiming the gospel message. That he would continue to have the opportunity to do what had put him in prison. More important than anything else, Paul wanted to be about the task that God had given to him.
Few of us are called to travel the world sharing the gospel. Most of us have been called to serve the Lord where we live and work. But all of us should be praying for open doors. For opportunities to share the gospel with the lost. And for the opportunity to serve our Lord with the gifts and resources he has given us.
Someday, each of us will leave this world behind. And then, much of what seems so important now will fade. But what we do for the Lord never will. Pray for open doors to effective service. And that you would be faithful to walk through the doors he opens, producing fruit that will last (John 15:16).
