A few weeks ago, we talked about living the way Christ wants us to live. And today, I want to talk to you about actually living that life. Not just believing the right things—but letting those beliefs shape who you are, how you pray, how you walk, and how you speak.
You know, in the last two chapters of the letter Paul wrote to the Colossians, Paul lays it out plainly. He gives us a blueprint for Christian living. Over in Colossians 3:1–11, he talks about the basis of Christian living—setting your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. Then in verses 12–17, he explains how a Christian should clothe themselves—not with physical garments, but with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. And then finally, in verses 18–25, he gives instructions for Christian households—wives, husbands, children, and servants—all to live under the lordship of Christ.
And then in chapter 4, Paul closes the letter with some final instructions—three powerful encouragements. The first one is this: continue earnestly in prayer (Colossians 4:2). That’s where I want us to begin this morning.
Paul says, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” That word “earnestly” means to be steadfast, to be faithful, to not give up. Paul says the same thing in Romans 12:12 and again in 1 Thessalonians 5:17—“pray without ceasing.”
Prayer isn’t just for a crisis. It’s not just when you need something. Jesus Himself set the example—He prayed often and earnestly. In Luke 18:1, Jesus told His disciples a parable “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Then He tells of a widow who kept coming to an unjust judge, pleading for justice. And though the judge didn’t fear God or care about people, he finally gave in—not because he cared, but because she wore him down.
But Jesus makes a contrast. He says, if even an unjust judge will respond to persistence, how much more will God respond to His faithful ones who cry out to Him day and night? Jesus ends that parable with a question: “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
You see, prayer and faith are tied together. If I believe God hears, I’ll keep praying. And just like David in Psalm 55:16–17, or Daniel in Daniel 6:10, or Anna in Luke 2, or Paul himself—God’s faithful people have always been people of prayer.
And Paul goes on to say, not only should our prayer be faithful—it should also be watchful. That means being alert. Being aware. Jesus said the same thing to His disciples—watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. When you’re watchful in prayer, you’re prepared when Satan shows up with temptation. You’re prepared for the end of life. You’re ready when the Lord returns.
Then Paul says prayer must be thankful. That means we come to God with gratitude. Not just asking—but appreciating. I know the first thing I pray each morning is, “Lord, thank You for another day.” Thank You for breath, food, light, and shelter. It’s easy to forget how much we’ve already been given.
And then Paul says our prayer needs to be purposeful. In Colossians 4:3, he asks the church to pray for us also. He doesn’t just say, “Keep us in your thoughts.” He says, “Pray that God would open a door for the word.” He asks for boldness and clarity. Over in Ephesians 6:19–20, Paul asks for the same thing—for the courage to preach as he ought. And so I want to ask you—are your prayers specific? Are you asking God to open doors, to use you, to work through you?
Now, after talking about prayer, Paul moves on to the second encouragement: Walk in wisdom (Colossians 4:5). He says, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”
What does that mean? It means I need to be careful how I live—especially in front of non-believers. People are watching. And whether they ever read the Bible or not, they’re reading your life. And I’ll be honest, sometimes people are won to Christ not by a sermon, but by a godly example.
Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:1–2 that a husband might be won by the conduct of his wife. Over in John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” And in John 17, when Jesus prayed for unity, He said it was so the world may believe. How we walk matters.
And Paul says in Ephesians 5:15–17 that we need to redeem the time. Because the days are evil. Time is short. You never know how much time you or someone else may have. So don’t waste the time you’ve been given—use it wisely, for the Lord.
Finally, in Colossians 4:6, Paul gives us the third encouragement: Let your speech always be with grace. That means your words matter. James 3 tells us the tongue is powerful—it can bless or destroy. Paul says in Ephesians 4:29 that no corrupt word should come from our mouths, only what builds up and gives grace to the hearer.
He also says our speech should be seasoned with salt. Now that’s not salty in the worldly sense. That’s salt as in flavorful, useful, pure. Something that makes others want to hear more, not shut their ears.
Why? Paul says, “That you may know how you ought to answer each one.” So when someone asks you why you have hope, or why you follow Christ, or how you find peace, you’re ready. Not with argument, but with grace and truth.
Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:24 that “the servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition.”
So, I want you to ask yourself this morning: How’s your prayer life? Are you walking in wisdom? Are your words seasoned with grace?
Because if we live out these three things—faithful prayer, wise conduct, and gracious speech—they will absolutely transform our witness and strengthen our walk with Christ.
And as we close this morning, let me ask—have you taken advantage of the time that’s left? If you’re not a child of God, there’s still time to respond.
To become a Christian, the Bible teaches you must hear the gospel, believe it, and repent of your sins—not just feel sorry, but change your ways. Then confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and be baptized for the remission of your sins. Just like Jesus was buried and raised, you’ll be buried in the water and rise to walk in newness of life.
And after that, you must remain faithful. Yes, it’s hard. But with God’s help, it’s possible. And when you stumble, the Lord is still there—ready to forgive.
Are you ready to obey the gospel? Don’t wait.
