BLESSINGS FROM OBEDIENCE

My Dear Precious Child, Not only did the Holy Spirit tell Paul to encourage the Christians at Colossae for the workers and slaves to obey their bosses and masters as if they were obeying Me, but He told Paul to tell the bosses and masters to deal justly and fairly with their slaves and employees, realizing that they had a Father in heaven who was constantly giving instructions to them in order for them to avoid the evil passions that tempt them to do the works of evil in the world. My guidance through the Holy Spirit who taught Paul was to pray perseveringly, being constantly attentive to prayer, and He said for them to pray with thanksgiving, knowing that their prayers will be answered. (Colossians 4:1-6) My Spirit taught Paul to also teach the Colossians to be prudent in dealing with outsiders of the church, making the most of every opportunity to show forth My grace in good taste in their speech and their actions. His admonitions in this respect was so that their attitudes and actions would be in keeping with My instructions to let their speech and actions reflect My personality and temperament because they are the only earthly representatives of Christ Jesus and My character in their country. (Colossians 5:7-9) Paul addressed in his letter a specific fellow minister whom he called a fellow slave in the Lord. He wrote that that minister would give to them current news about Paul, as he was being sent for that purpose. He was also sent from Paul to comfort the Colosians in their hearts. He wrote to the fellow believers that there was a fellow minister with Paul who was also a prisoner with him in prison. He wrote that Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, also sent his greetings. Paul asked those believers in Colossae that if Mark came to them that they must make him welcome into their midst. A person named Jesus, also known as Justus, sent his greetings. Paul felt led to mention that those men were the only circumcised men among the men working for him for the Kingdom of God, meaning that they were Jews. He mentioned that they were a great comfort to Paul while he was in prison. He also wrote that Ephaphras, whom he mentioned was one of them, meaning a Gentile, sent his greetings, with Paul labeling him as a servant of Christ Jesus who was always pleading in prayer. He wrote encouraging that the believers in Colossae would always stand firm in their beliefs and be perfect, having a full conviction about everything that pertained to My will for their lives. He assured the believers that Ephaphras always had a deep concern for the Colossian believers as well as the ones at Laodicea and Hierapolis. He wrote that the Christian physician, Luke, also sent his greetings to them. (Colossians 5:10-14) The letter to the Colossians was meant by the writer, Paul, to be passed on to believers at other homes and cities, namely the Laodiceans and he encouraged them to also read the letter from the Laodicians that accompanied his letter. He mentioned a particular Colossian, Archippus, and told him to take care to discharge his ministry that he had received from Me.(Colossians 5:15-17) In closing, Paul said that he was writing the letter to them in his own handwriting, not writing through someone else. He reminded them not to forget that he was in chains in prison, yet he sent My grace to the believers. (Colossians 5:18) Your Father of Valuable Guidance