A different Focus

And that's exactly what Paul has been teaching us in the book of Colossians.

He has spent his whole letter reminding us to keep our focus on Jesus.

Jesus is enough.

Jesus is above all.

Jesus made us new.

And because of that, we should live differently, not just on Sunday, but every day.

We live with a different focus.

We live with a different focus.

Now, as we come to the final chapter of Colossians, Paul shows us what it looks like to live with a different focus because of Jesus.

Let's turn to Colossians 4, verse 2 to 4.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

And pray for us, too, that God may open the 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.

Paul is writing this letter while he is in prison.

So think about that.

Paul is suffering.

He is imprisoned because of preaching the gospel.

So if anyone had a reason to pray for their own circumstances, it was Paul.

He could have said, church, please pray for me.

Pray that God will open the door of the prison for me.

But instead he says, pray that God may open the door for our message.

So Paul is in prison, but his focus is not on himself.

His focus is still on the gospel.

It's still about the people who haven't heard the gospel yet.

So his circumstances are difficult, but his vision is bigger than his circumstances.