04/06/2022
Remember others
¹⁸ This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen. Colossians 4:18 NKJV
On several occasions, Paul never stopped reminding the church not to forget his situation. It did not mean he was scared of the situation, but he knew that prayers from his friends were important for revitalising his strength. Remembering, is bringing to mind a situation or someone that requires attention. This period of Pentecost, we are not only celebrating the day that the Holy Spirit came in that upper room. But, we are bringing to memory the beginning of a new life to the followers of Jesus Christ, the church. We are remembering how the ordinary disciples were transformed into fearless individuals. This is the season when they came out of their hiding to take center stage in proclaiming the awesome name of Jesus Christ.
Paul's letter to the church at Colosse was so personal, even up to the closing remarks, the salutation/greetings. It was a letter being written to the people he knew so well. The salutation was in the form of encouragement. "Remember my chains". Paul was not pleading for material support. Nor was he asking for legal representation. This was like a banner pitched at the highest point that would continue to remind the church, when passing through situations not to give up. Even in good times, the banner would remind them not to forget. This was not emotional blackmail, but was a plea to the church that the gospel of Jesus Christ must never be put aside. When you are going through persecution, remember the events of the Cross. When the opened doors of blessings start releasing answers to your prayers, remember the Cross. When doubt is overwhelming us, remember the works of Calvary. Church, the Cross was real. And Pentecost was also real. The imprisonment of the followers of Christ was also real, lest we forget.
Paul's salutation was reminding us that we need to look beyond ourselves. We need to think of others. When Jesus said to his disciples, "Love your neighbour as yourself", he was teaching them that others are as important as yourself. One of the worst things in life is to forget. In an exam, forgetting deprives you of passing the course. Forgetting directions to your destination can prolong your journey, increase your costs and can even get you into serious trouble. When we forget the Cross, it opens us to attacks from the devil. In our prayers every day, think about the prisoners, those without food, without clothes, without roofs over their heads, those without security, e.t.c., and take action.
We are now in the middle of the year 2022, remember others. One of the purposes of the Holy Spirit is for us to have the power to serve others. Let us not get tired of serving others. You don't need to have a 30 tonner truck full of bags of mealie meal. Just that 5 kgs bag of unga/hupfu/mealie-meal goes a long way to save a life. What is important is to remember. Christianity is not only about gathering one day a week, dressed in our church suits, and polished shoes. Christianity is more than carrying leather trimmed bibles and wearing innocent faces on a Sunday. Christianity is about our lifestyle. A lifestyle that is always remembering others. Ask yourself this question, why am I so mean? Remember others.
*Elder Josphat Murape*
4/6/2022
