Colossians 2:1 - Praying for the Nameless
Since God knows my name (John 10:3), I myself should do a better job remembering people's names!
Then again, we can serve people even when we can't remember their name.
We have the privilege to pray for people we've never met in the first place.
Paul had never visited the church at Colossi but he wrote to them:
"We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Colossians 1:3 (New Living Translation)
He prayed in detail for their spiritual health.
He later wrote:
"I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf ...and for all those who have not personally seen my face." Colossians 2:1 (New American Standard Bible, 1995)
"Nameless people" include:
Christians in other countries, some suffering from disasters or persecution.
Faces seen while shopping: customers--or employees--at the store that seem worried, or angry, or lonely.
An ambulance siren announces a stranger's emergency.
Then there are people that are "just a name." An unknown life:
Names that pop up on news feeds, or FaceBook.
Names who are the topic of local gossip, who need prayers instead of rumors.
“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ...We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father....” In Jesus' name, Amen. (Colossians 1:9, 11, 12, NLT)
Then again, we can serve people even when we can't remember their name.
We have the privilege to pray for people we've never met in the first place.
Paul had never visited the church at Colossi but he wrote to them:
"We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Colossians 1:3 (New Living Translation)
He prayed in detail for their spiritual health.
He later wrote:
"I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf ...and for all those who have not personally seen my face." Colossians 2:1 (New American Standard Bible, 1995)
"Nameless people" include:
Christians in other countries, some suffering from disasters or persecution.
Faces seen while shopping: customers--or employees--at the store that seem worried, or angry, or lonely.
An ambulance siren announces a stranger's emergency.
Then there are people that are "just a name." An unknown life:
Names that pop up on news feeds, or FaceBook.
Names who are the topic of local gossip, who need prayers instead of rumors.
“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ...We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father....” In Jesus' name, Amen. (Colossians 1:9, 11, 12, NLT)
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