1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:12,620 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:18,170 Speaker 1: a calming scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 3 00:00:18,230 --> 00:00:21,349 Speaker 1: each day with God's Word in your mind and on 4 00:00:21,370 --> 00:00:26,250 Speaker 1: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,030 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: we will reflect on tonight's scripture, Colossians chapter 4 Our 6 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:46,620 Speaker 1: evening reflection is written and read by Kyle Norman. Colossians 7 00:00:46,659 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: chapter 4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right 8 00:00:53,980 --> 00:00:57,450 Speaker 1: and fair, because you know that you also have a 9 00:00:57,490 --> 00:01:03,110 Speaker 1: master in heaven. Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 10 00:01:04,290 --> 00:01:07,110 Speaker 1: And pray for us too, that God may open a 11 00:01:07,150 --> 00:01:10,590 Speaker 1: door for our message, so that we might proclaim the 12 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,700 Speaker 1: mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray 13 00:01:14,740 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 1: that I may proclaim it clearly as I should. Be 14 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: wise in the way you act towards outsiders. Make the 15 00:01:22,620 --> 00:01:27,020 Speaker 1: most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full 16 00:01:27,060 --> 00:01:30,690 Speaker 1: of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know 17 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:35,740 Speaker 1: how to answer everyone. Tychicus will tell you all the 18 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister, 19 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 1: and fellow servant in the Lord. I am sending him 20 00:01:43,910 --> 00:01:47,390 Speaker 1: to you for the express purpose that you may know 21 00:01:47,510 --> 00:01:51,010 Speaker 1: about our circumstances, and that he may encourage your hearts. 22 00:01:52,330 --> 00:01:55,650 Speaker 1: He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, 23 00:01:56,150 --> 00:01:59,090 Speaker 1: who is one of you. They will tell you everything 24 00:01:59,150 --> 00:02:04,910 Speaker 1: that is happening here. My fellow prisoner, Aristarchus, sends you 25 00:02:04,970 --> 00:02:09,350 Speaker 1: his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You 26 00:02:09,370 --> 00:02:12,500 Speaker 1: have received instructions about him. If he comes to you, 27 00:02:12,570 --> 00:02:18,380 Speaker 1: welcome him. Jesus, who is called Justice, also sends greetings. 28 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the 29 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:27,899 Speaker 1: kingdom of God, and they have provided a comfort to me. Epaphras, 30 00:02:28,380 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, 31 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,910 Speaker 1: sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, 32 00:02:35,669 --> 00:02:38,390 Speaker 1: that you may stand firm in all the will of God, 33 00:02:39,370 --> 00:02:43,490 Speaker 1: mature and fully assured. I vowed for him that he 34 00:02:43,550 --> 00:02:46,970 Speaker 1: is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea 35 00:02:47,610 --> 00:02:53,130 Speaker 1: and Hierapolis. Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas 36 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: sends greetings. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters 37 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:02,060 Speaker 1: of Laodicea and to Nympha and the church in her house. 38 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,150 Speaker 1: After this letter has been read to you, see that 39 00:03:07,190 --> 00:03:09,750 Speaker 1: it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans 40 00:03:10,510 --> 00:03:13,590 Speaker 1: and that you, in turn, read the letter from Laodicea. 41 00:03:15,530 --> 00:03:19,570 Speaker 1: Tell Archippus, see to it that you complete the ministry 42 00:03:19,630 --> 00:03:24,210 Speaker 1: that you have received in the Lord. I, Paul, Write 43 00:03:24,230 --> 00:03:29,150 Speaker 1: this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace 44 00:03:29,389 --> 00:03:37,690 Speaker 1: be with you. There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge. 45 00:03:38,890 --> 00:03:44,810 Speaker 1: Knowledge consists in the accumulation of information. We learn datum, facts, 46 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,900 Speaker 1: insights that we recall at any moment. The more we know, 47 00:03:49,260 --> 00:03:53,380 Speaker 1: the more knowledge we have. Wisdom, on the other hand, 48 00:03:54,150 --> 00:03:57,310 Speaker 1: isn't based on how much we know, but upon whether 49 00:03:57,370 --> 00:04:02,250 Speaker 1: we rightly discern life around us. When Paul advises that 50 00:04:02,290 --> 00:04:05,020 Speaker 1: we should, quote, be wise in the way you act, 51 00:04:06,020 --> 00:04:09,300 Speaker 1: he isn't calling us to be smart or to know facts, 52 00:04:10,060 --> 00:04:12,700 Speaker 1: but to be able to discern where God is moving 53 00:04:12,780 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: around us. For Paul, wisdom is about being able to 54 00:04:18,750 --> 00:04:22,770 Speaker 1: recognize where the Spirit of God calls us each moment. 55 00:04:24,070 --> 00:04:27,299 Speaker 1: We make the most of every opportunity because we live 56 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:32,340 Speaker 1: with a heartfelt desire to make God's love known. Living 57 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,540 Speaker 1: as wise people involves keeping ourselves open to the Spirit's 58 00:04:36,580 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: work so that we can respond to what the Spirit 59 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:45,350 Speaker 1: does in us and around us. When opportunities come to 60 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,969 Speaker 1: speak into someone's life or to pray for someone, we 61 00:04:49,070 --> 00:04:53,029 Speaker 1: seize that opportunity. To be wise in our walk with 62 00:04:53,089 --> 00:04:56,930 Speaker 1: God is to step further into our relationship with God. 63 00:04:56,950 --> 00:05:01,770 Speaker 1: It's to invite someone to explore God's place in their lives. 64 00:05:02,670 --> 00:05:06,890 Speaker 1: It's to be steadfast in prayer. So as you rest 65 00:05:06,930 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: this night, take a moment to pray that God would 66 00:05:11,390 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 1: give you a spirit of wisdom, one rooted in right discernment. 67 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,940 Speaker 1: Ask God to open your eyes and your ears so 68 00:05:19,980 --> 00:05:24,090 Speaker 1: that you might respond to the harvest opportunities all around you. 69 00:05:25,570 --> 00:05:29,030 Speaker 1: And like Paul, pray that God would give you the 70 00:05:29,089 --> 00:05:33,830 Speaker 1: wisdom to proclaim the gospel in word and deed as 71 00:05:33,970 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 1: clearly as he calls you. Gracious God, you call us 72 00:05:42,540 --> 00:05:46,739 Speaker 1: to live with wise and discerning hearts. If we lack wisdom, 73 00:05:46,820 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: your word encourages us to ask of you boldly trusting 74 00:05:51,070 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: that you give generously without finding fault. And so this night, 75 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,140 Speaker 1: I pray that you pour into my life your spirit 76 00:05:59,180 --> 00:06:03,380 Speaker 1: of wisdom. Open my eyes and help me see the 77 00:06:03,420 --> 00:06:06,990 Speaker 1: pathway that you call me to walk. Open my ears 78 00:06:07,450 --> 00:06:10,910 Speaker 1: and help me hear your voice of guidance and direction. 79 00:06:11,510 --> 00:06:15,390 Speaker 1: And open my tongue, that I might proclaim your praise 80 00:06:15,850 --> 00:06:18,969 Speaker 1: in ways that will be effective and meaningful for the 81 00:06:19,010 --> 00:06:24,620 Speaker 1: people around me. May my life continually point to your 82 00:06:24,730 --> 00:06:28,510 Speaker 1: presence and your grace. I pray all these things in 83 00:06:28,570 --> 00:06:35,270 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen. How did tonight's scripture speak 84 00:06:35,310 --> 00:06:39,430 Speaker 1: to you? Share your thoughts in the Your Nightly Scripture 85 00:06:39,850 --> 00:06:52,110 Speaker 1: forum discussion. Thank you. for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. 86 00:06:53,110 --> 00:06:58,070 Speaker 1: Tonight's scripture was read from the New International Version by Biblica. 87 00:06:59,050 --> 00:07:04,470 Speaker 1: All rights reserved. Be sure to follow our sister show, 88 00:07:04,930 --> 00:07:09,950 Speaker 1: Your Daily Bible Verse, on Apple or Spotify. By following 89 00:07:10,130 --> 00:07:14,740 Speaker 1: Your Daily Bible Verse and Your Nightly Scripture, you can 90 00:07:14,770 --> 00:07:19,140 Speaker 1: be sure that your day begins and ends centered on 91 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: the Word of God. Thank you.