A study in Colossians
Colossians 1:7-8 “even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.”
What a privilege to have your name mentioned in the Word of God. Yes, but how much more of a privilege to have your name written in God’s book of life?
I am sure that Epaphras was not too concerned that his name was mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. He was most probably not aware that the letter was eventually going to become a selected book of the Bible.
And, something more precious than the mention of his name was the mention of his heart. To Paul, Epaphras was a beloved fellow-servant. He had a heart after the nature of Paul’s sacrificed heart. They both had the heart of bondservants and their master was Jesus.
Not only was Epaphras’ heart mentioned by Paul, but his reputation was mentioned also. Epaphras was a faithful ministering bondservant. And who did he faithfully minister to as a bondservant? His Lord Jesus who was living out His life through the apostle Paul.
Despite what others thought, or what the consequences might have been, Epaphras faithfully served Christ’s fellow-servants, the apostles. He was not envious or covetous of their apostolic call or close relationship with Jesus. He had a close relationship with Jesus and a servant’s role from Him, and in it he served his Master faithfully.
Jesus calls us all to different ministries and roles in the Body of Christ and it is our duty to be faithful in them. It is not for us to question why we aren’t used or honoured like others in the Body of Christ. We must accept the fact that we are all called to serve Christ as He lives in others, regardless of personal cost, fame or recognition among the brethren. Faithful bondservants only care about what their Master wants done and that He gets the glory. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
Jesus said that in serving the least fortunate of mankind, we serve Him, (Matthew 25:31-46). Let us therefore rejoice that our names are written in God’s book of life and faithfully get on with ministering unto Him as He lives in others, just as Epaphras did.
Blessings
Bob Chapman MA
