Jesu Juva
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed toward his name, in that you served the saints, and still do serve them. (WEB)
One of my favorite features of the letters written by the apostle, Paul, is his habit of mentioning many fellow believers. Paul never tells you a lot about their stories, which really makes you want to know more. But Paul does tell the reader enough to want to know more about Jesus. And that is the real purpose of the Gospel. After all, the story of grace is not about you and me. We are just blessed by God to be useful in sharing the Gospel with others.
Epaphras was one of the people mentioned by Paul. Epaphras was probably a Gentile. We believe that because of his name. We also know that he was from Asia Minor (Turkey) and that he either started the church in Colossae or he served the church in some capacity. Let’s look at the very few passages where he is mentioned. You will see what I mean about wanting to know more about the Love that drew Epaphras to be wholly devoted to Jesus. Our journey always begins with the Holy Spirit drawing people in a winsome and mystifying way.
Colossians 1: 7-8 even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. (WEB)
What would make a person want to follow Christ in the early days of the Church? These were dark and dangerous times for Christians. As you start to read and really study the people, places and events that Paul wrote about, you can easily see the way the believers journey begins. It’s not something people would ever pursue on their own. Think about that. Who would purposefully follow a religion in the face of danger and in giving up life as they had always known it?
“Through the window we would watch for the enemy’s approach. But no! The Savior stands guard. No evil can touch us. Fear not little flock.”
Sometimes it’s easier for us to believe that our best hope is happiness on earth. Don’t rock the boat. Let’s get the most out of life now because there is nothing more.
But Epaphras and the Colossian believers acted in reverse. They knew what they would face if they got caught. No easy days of rest were promised to these believers. And still, they could not resist the very Spirit of God.
Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
In verse 8 review the last phrase, “love in the Spirit.” The Spirit is always the starting point that leads to salvation. The verse above shows how the sweet attributes of the Holy Spirit will be seen in one person after another.
Epaphras told Paul about the believer’s progress in Colossae. They all prayed for each other in the Spirit and in unity as believers. What a lovely example for the Church today!
Paul was used in such an amazing way to bring the story of Jesus to Turkey. His ministry reached Epaphras, who continued the mission when Paul went back to Rome. When you read the letters of Colossians, Ephesians and Galatians you are reading about cities in present day Turkey. Many Gentile churches were formed there.
Take a look at this link on the status of Christianity in Turkey today. Look at the numbers of possible believers today. Though the numbers are miniscule, the Church still stands. Doesn’t this produce a fire in you as a fellow believer. You live in relative safety. We do not face persecution like the believers in Turkey face. That ought to make us eager to share the Gospel in the relative safety of our world.
Epaphras wanted more of his countrymen to know the Lord that he loved. The verse below tells us that one of the attributes of Epaphras was his commitment to prayer.
Colossians 4:12-13 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. (WEB)
The last thing that we hear about Epaphras was that he was imprisoned in Rome with Paul, at least for a short time. There are historical accounts of his martyrdom. However, though that is a distinct possibility, this is never mentioned in scripture. The only important thing to know is the loving, saving grace of the Lord Jesus reaches the least likely of us. When we give our lives to the Savior we should be committed to serve Him every day.
Philemon 1:23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, (WEB)
If we can’t serve on a mission field or in the role of pastoral ministry, we can certainly commit to prayer for this lost and broken world. We can tell the people in our families and neighborhoods the story of Jesus.
1 Peter 2:4-5 coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (WEB)
1 Peter 2:6
Because it is contained in Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious:
He who believes in him will not be disappointed.” (WEB)
Soli Deo Gloria!
Resources
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 