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Colossians 4:1-18Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time (4:5).Pray As You Run There is a redemption, there is an atonement that only God could work for us; but there is also an acceptance, a belief, a trusting, that is only possible to the man. God has a part, and the man has a part. Both are vital and significant in our redemption. Now that is true in our work and service for God. There is a part God has to bless. He must sanctify. The Lord’s presence must be with us, but the other part is, I must offer unto God a dedicated life: my hands, my heart, my soul, in the work and ministry that rightfully belong to Jesus. And both of them are vital. A girl and her brother were walking to school. They had been playing along the way and forgot the time. Still some way from school, they heard the school bell ring. The little girl said, “Brother, let us kneel down here and pray that God will not let us be late for school.” But the brother replied, “No, sister, let us run just as fast as we can, and let us pray as we run.” Our work must be like that—our effort plus God’s blessing. That is the way a person ought to live before the Lord. He can pray, “O God, give me a house for my home.” Then he ought to say “Amen” with a hammer and a saw. He could pray, “O God, give me a job.” Then let him say “Amen” by reading all the want-ad columns and knocking at the door of an employer. We may pray, “Lord, save the world,” then we ought to say “Amen” by giving to missions. We may pray, “Lord, strengthen and bless the church,” then say “Amen” by rolling up our sleeves and pouring our life into it; “Lord, strengthen me in the faith and in Christian commitment,” and then get ready to take a part in the kingdom of God. It is a duality, always; God’s blessing and the man’s dedicated effort.