7 Tychicus will give you a full report about how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord’s work. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 9 I am also sending Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and Tychicus will tell you everything that’s happening here. 10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way. 11 Jesus (the one we call Justus) also sends his greetings. These are the only Jewish believers among my co-workers; they are working with me here for the Kingdom of God. And what a comfort they have been! 12 Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God. 13 I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
do you see all the people that God aligned with Paul to help him with his purpose... despite where he was.. despite what was going on... he had people he could count on to help him in his assignment... I am thinking that God does that for all of us... and we don't always even realize the value of people in our lives.. or the fact that they were sent by God.. strategically placed to help us move forward in our call...
the one man prayed that God would make them strong and perfect.. and he was fully confident that they were following the whole will of God for their lives... first of all... how diligently do we pray for other people's walk... even if we pray for a church as a whole... then to be confident that they are WHOLLY following the will of God for their lives... sheesh.. sometimes I struggle with whether or not I am doing that... wholly.. how wonderful it would be to be fully confident of this....
14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas. 15 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
*side note* nympha's family was truly wrong for giving her that name... where on earth was her father when she was being named??
16 After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them.
pass the letter on... are we passing on the knowledge that God is giving us?? or do we think it is for us alone.. surely it is not...
17 And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
I wonder if this person was struggling to not give up.. not decide they are not worthy.. or not strong enough... paul tells him be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave him.. would this mean that there are people who because of their unwillingness.. don't fulfill their destiny?? I hate to imagine that.. but now I wonder...
18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul.
Remember my chains.
remember my chains... why? why remember his chains? is this a remember that following Christ fully is not an easy task? is it to remember that we are slaves to Him... is it to remember that we are all in chains.. bound to this calling.. this walk.. this life... why remember his chains??
May God’s grace be with you.
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