Living Out the New Life: Why We Must Shine
Two flashlights sit on a table—same make, same design. But only one shines brightly. The other, though outwardly identical, is dead. No light, no power. What makes the difference? Connection. One is fully charged and ready. The other is drained and disconnected.
This is a picture of the modern Christian life. Many believers look like they should shine. They attend church, quote Scripture, and know the right words. But inwardly, they’re disconnected from the source—disengaged from prayer, detached from God’s wisdom, and running on spiritual fumes. Designed to be light in a dark world, they remain dim and silent.
The Apostle Paul addresses this kind of spiritual disconnection at the end of his letter to the Colossians. After spending chapters unpacking the truth of Christ’s supremacy and the believer’s identity in Him, Paul closes with a call to action—one that turns outward. While earlier sections focused on internal transformation and relationships within the church, Colossians 4:2–6 shifts the lens toward the world.
And here is the main idea: The new life in Christ must shine publicly—through prayer and wisdom.
If Christ is in us, then Christ must be visible through us.
- What Is It We Are Praying For?
(Colossians 4:2–4)
Paul begins with prayer. Not as an afterthought, but as the power source for everything that follows. “Devote yourselves to prayer,” he writes—a phrase that echoes with urgency and endurance. The Greek word here, kartereō, conveys persistence and grit: “to be steadfast,” “to endure,” “to hold fast and not let go.” This is not casual prayer. It is desperate, focused, courageous intercession.
And Paul practices what he preaches. Writing from prison, he does not ask for comfort or release. Instead, he prays—and asks others to pray—for open doors to proclaim the gospel. His situation does not hinder his mission; it fuels it.
Our temptation is to treat prayer like a personal wishlist. But Paul reminds us that prayer is not first about our will—it’s about God’s. Prayer aligns us with His purpose. That’s why Jesus says in John 14:13 that what we ask in His name is for the Father’s glory.
Here’s a simple truth with deep weight: Before we talk to people about God, we must talk to God about people.
Prayer is not a side job—it is the job before the job. We cannot effectively witness without first worshiping. When we pray, we ask for God’s power to work through us. We are not the convincers. We are not the converters. Only the Holy Spirit can convict (John 16:8), and only Christ can save.
Our charge is to pray for open eyes (Psalm 119:18), open mouths (1 Peter 3:15), and open hearts. But if we are disconnected from prayer, we are like the flashlight with no battery—present but powerless.
- What Is It We Are Operating In?
(Colossians 4:5–6)
If prayer is our charge, then wisdom is the beam through which our light shines. Paul urges the church to “conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders.” This is not just about strategy—it is about sincerity. The message we carry is too important to be muddied by combativeness, bitterness, or distraction.
We must be wise in the way we represent Christ to the world. That includes how we speak, post, debate, and relate. We’re called to season our speech with salt—grace-filled, preserving, and flavorful words. But we’re also warned not to be “salty” in the cultural sense—combative, abrasive, or bitter.
Be salty—but not salty.
We can stand for truth without sounding like a gong. We can be firm in conviction and gentle in tone. We can speak boldly without speaking brashly.
Proverbs 25:11 reminds us that “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” The gospel deserves our clarity, not our clutter. It is too holy to be hijacked by political hobby horses or personal agendas. The world needs to see the beauty of Christ, not the brokenness of our pride.
We can contend with God on behalf of people—but only the Spirit convicts.
We can compel others to hear—but only Christ converts.
We are vessels. He is the light.
Conclusion: Stay Connected to Shine
Back to those two flashlights. One shines brightly. The other is dead. They look the same, but one is connected—and one is not.
That’s the final image Paul leaves us with in Colossians. Our lives were made to shine. But we only shine when we are connected to Christ through prayer and guided by His wisdom.
Prayer is the charge.
Wisdom is the beam.
The grace and love of Christ is the glow.