8/04/13
"Prayer And Wisdom"
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Scripture Reading:
Psalm 121:1-8 Most of the time, when you start something, it’s usually best to complete it; to stick with it; to continue at it. All of us had done things that we have given up on too soon.
I recently came across this poem titled “Don’t Quit.” No one knows who wrote it. When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering man; Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor's cup, And he learned too late, when the night slipped down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out - The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are - It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit. A few years back I climbed a mountain with a friend. It wasn’t an extremely difficult mountain; but it wasn’t easy either. And as you know, you can talk yourself out of almost anything. As we hiked up the mountain, it soon became apparent that my climbing partner was beginning to talk himself out of getting to the top. And after a while he says “I’m going back down. I’ll meet you at the bottom.” He went down and my other climbing partner and I finished the climb to the top. It was less than thirty minutes to the top. Had he stuck with it for just another half an hour, he would have made it to the top. Most of the time, when you start something, it’s usually best to complete it; to stick with it; to continue at it. |
God’s word is so glorious that it reminds us time and again of the things we need to quote “stick with;” to “continue” in; and to not give up on it especially when it becomes difficult. And those things are some of the most important things in your life.
Please open your Bible with me to one of those things. It’s found in the Book of Colossians chapter four. Colossians 4:2 “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.” My heart is directed today towards prayer and wisdom. So I’ve titled today’s sermon “Prayer and Wisdom.” Shall we pray? We’re all learning that the road of life is often paved with great challenges. And this is especially true when it comes to living the Christian life. So here’s what I’d like to say to you today from Colossians chapter four. First, your personal prayer life is central to your success in this world. Colossians 4:2 “Continue in prayer.” The Holy Spirit, as you know, had the Apostle Paul write this epistle, not merely for the Believers at Colosse; but also for you and me. And here’s why. It’s not easy to be a man or woman of prayer. It takes effort. It takes time. And it takes “stick-to-itiveness.” Yet, the LORD knows that anything He commands you and I to do is for our good and for our long-term benefit; even if it’s hard in the present. Most people you and I know have some very difficult things to deal with. Sometimes it’s family. Sometimes it’s finances. Sometimes it’s co-workers. But practically speaking, most of the time, it’s ourselves that we’ve got to overcome. Paul’s first word here is to Christians. And it’s on the subject of continuing in prayer. Now, what comes to your mind when you hear or read the word “continue”? |