24 Aug September 22 Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHRISTIANS –  DEVOTE YOURSELF TO PRAYER

Colossians 4:3-4 “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”

You can support your pastor in his ministry through your prayer life.  He is called by your congregation to preach and teach the Holy Scriptures, administer the sacraments, counsel the struggling and console the sorrowing.  These expectations lay a huge responsibility upon the shoulders of mere mortal man.

As an Apostle, missionary and pastor, St. Paul walked more than 10,000 miles, suffered ship wreck a number of times, was jailed, and eventually martyred. He pleaded with the Colossian Christians, “. . . pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ . . . “ (Colossians 4:3)

If St. Paul needed the support of the Colossians through their prayers, then surely so does your pastor. The Holy Scriptures say that your prayers are of great importance when James writes, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) You can pray for yourself, your fellow believers, for strangers and even unbelievers, but don’t forget you can also pray for your pastor.

To assist you in your prayers for your pastor, ask him what he would like for you to include in your prayers for him.  You may be surprised.  Because he is a mortal, sometimes even frail human being, his needs will parallel your own.  But there is one need he has that you do not have.  Every week he crafts a sermon (or more if there is a funeral, wedding, etc.)  Add to this the Bible classes needing to be prepared and taught, counseling sessions that require a good grasp of God’s word and comfort needed by those suffering loss require your prayers that he “may proclaim the mystery of Christ.”

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, guide me in my prayer life to support my pastor in all You have called him to do.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

(A hymn often sung at the installation of a pastor)

Send, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit On Your servant now, we pray;

Let him prove a faithful shepherd That no lamb be led astray.

Your pure teaching to proclaim, To extol Your holy name,

And to feed Your lambs, dear Savior,

Make his aim and sole endeavor.

You, O Lord, Yourself have called him

For Your precious lambs to are;

But to prosper in his calling, He the Spirit’s gifts must share.

Five him wisdom from above, Fill his heart with holy love;

In his weakness, Lord, be near him,

In his prayers, Good Shepherd, hear him.

Help Lord Jesus, Help him nourish All our children with Your Word

That in fervent love they serve You

Till in heav’n their song is heard.

Boundless blessings, Lord, bestow On his faithful toil below

Till by grace to him be given  His reward, the crown of heaven.

(LSB 681)