Monthly Archives: March 2025

Allies, Bible, Family, Included, Scripture

INCLUDING

PHILIPPIANS 1:1

“Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:” 

Everyone likes to be included, right? Sadly, the world has pushed the issue of “inclusiveness” to the point of absurdity saying that we should be inclusive of everyone, no matter what they believe or how they live their lives. No one wants to be excluded, but there are certainly moral grounds for that. I don’t need to name any of those, do I? As believers, we should know what those are since Scripture is pretty clear about them.

As we begin a new study in the letter to the Philippian church from Paul, we see Paul also offering a bit of inclusiveness to a group. He addresses the letter “to all the saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi,” but he extends a special message to “the overseers and deacons.” Why? Because they are the ones who are supposed to lead that body of Christ. He wants them to pay close attention to what he is about to write.

APPLICATION

The Greek word translated as “including” is really just the little preposition sun, which means together with or companionship. It’s the Greek “with” that implies a bond so close it can’t be separated. It’s the preposition used over and over to describe our union with Christ.

Who is included in your own spiritual journey? Do you have allies who walk beside you to encourage you? We all need each other in this walk of faith. We are not meant to do this alone. Just as Paul is calling on the overseers and deacons, we should be calling on others to join us. Some people call this having an accountability partner. I prefer to call them allies, those who are with me to encourage me, not just to hold me accountable to certain actions.

If you don’t have someone you would call an ally, ask the Lord to send someone to you. Maybe someone else is praying for an ally and God wants you to step up. Just think of all the allies Paul had in his ministry. He couldn’t get enough of them. Nor should we. Include others in your walk today.

God, make me an ally for someone today. Put others in my life to serve as my ally also.

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Bible, Falsehoods, Genuine, Scripture, Truth

WITH MY OWN HAND

COLOSSIANS 4:18

“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.”

Forgeries are commonplace today. People forge checks to steal money. Others will forge someone’s signature to gain access to property or even a company. And even though it is not technically a forgery, the auto-pen has been used for politicians to sign documents. Someone else is signing for them, though usually this is with their permission.

This last verse of Colossians has Paul confirming his authorship of the letter. He wanted to make sure they knew it was from him and not from someone pretending to be him. Many scholars believe Paul used an amanuensis, which is someone hired to write what you dictate. Matthew Poole says, “The apostle having them on his heart, and here (as elsewhere) likely having used an amanuensis to pen the body of his Epistle, to prevent fraud and forgery he doth subscribe his salutation and apostolical benediction with his own hand, which was well known (Romans 16:22 1 Corinthians 16:21 Galatians 6:11 2 Thessalonians 2:2, 3:17 Philemon 1:19).”  

APPLICATION

How do you apply a verse like this to your own life? What can you possibly get out of this? May I stretch the truth in this verse today? I don’t mean I am going to betray the text. But I have to ask the Lord why this verse is here. I believe he wants us to be genuine in our speech. Truth telling is important. It’s so easy to lie and mislead others. But telling the truth, no matter what, can be costly. Paul knew that. He had not pulled any punches with the Colossians in this letter. He wanted them to know he had penned these words.

Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.” (ESV) How about this one? “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. I could go on and on listing verses on truth telling. In fact, do some digging yourself. The Open Bible gives a list of 100 verses on this topic:

https://www.openbible.info/topics/telling_the_truth.

Make sure people know when you speak, they can count on it being the truth. Like Paul, pull no punches, but do it with gentleness, always pointing them to Scripture. Don’t be afraid to affix your signature to anything you have said or written. That way you stand before the Lord as an approved workman too.

Lord, give me only the truth today. Let my words speak of You.

(Today is the last day in Colossians. Tomorrow, we start the book of Philippians.)

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Bible, Completion, Fulfill, Ministry, Scripture

FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY

COLOSSIANS 4:17

“Tell Archippus, ‘See to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may fulfill it.’”

I am nearing the end of my ministry season. I began it back in 1979 when I served as a part-time Music and Youth Director at Bishop Baptist Church located outside of Athens, GA where I attended college at the University of Georgia. My ministry years have seen me in six states and numerous countries internationally. What a ride. I want to finish well.

As Paul ends this letter to the Colossians, he asks them to deliver a message to Archippus. He tells him to watch after the ministry he has “received in the Lord so that” he “may fulfill it.” I want us to camp out today on that last phrase – “may fulfill it.” What did Paul mean by that? Why did he tell Archippus this in particular?

APPLICATION

Strong’s Lexicon says this about the Greek word for “may fulfill.” “The verb pléroó primarily conveys the idea of filling something to its full capacity or bringing something to completion.” Paul was telling Archippus to bring his ministry to completion. It’s interesting that Archippus means “Master of horses.” It was a name which represented strength. Maybe that is why he became one of Paul’s “solidiers” (Philemon 1:2).

Jesus used the word in Luke 4:21. “Now He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” Just as Jesus fulfilled His ministry on earth, you and I have a mandate from Him to fulfill ours. Wait a minute, Carl. I am not in full-time ministry. Oh really? Are you a believer? Do you claim to be a follower of Christ? Francis Chan said (and I am paraphrasing), “The trouble with calling yourself a follower of Christ is you don’t follow Christ.”

What is your ministry? How do you fulfill it? You fulfill your calling by continuing every day to put Christ first in all your interactions with people or circumstances. All we know of Archippus is his mention in two verses. That’s it! But he obviously had a ministry which Paul was concerned about him finishing. Jesus wants us to fulfill our ministry with Him also. Will you do that? Finish the course! Keep fighting every day!

Father God, I want to finish well! I give You praise for the ministry to which You have called me.

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Bible, Gospel, Letters, Scripture, Sharing

PASS IT AROUND

COLOSSIANS 4:16

“When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part, read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.”

I had an image flash through my mind when I read this verse. It was not a spiritual image, more of a memory. I remember sitting at my Grandma Carter’s dining room table with all the family gathered around it. We would have this huge spread of food before us, and after saying grace, we would begin passing it around the table. We made sure everyone got the fried chicken and potato salad. Of course, you have to grab one of Grandma’s “cathead” biscuits and then came all the homegrown vegetables. Yum!

Paul wasn’t fixing Sunday dinner, but he was giving instructions to the church in Colossae to pass on this letter to another church body in Laodicea. They, in turn, would pass the letter they had received (which we don’t have) to them. Today, we would just forward the email or the text, right? You have to remember that back in Paul’s day, letter writing was a laborious process, taking lots of time and resources. That’s why he wanted them to share with each other.

APPLICATION

This seemingly unimportant verse here at the end of Colossians is just as important as any other verse. Why? Because it is part of God’s Word! How do we apply what this verse says? Simple! Pass it around! Share the good news. You have been given the greatest story ever told – Jesus Christ came to die for you, was crucified, buried and rose again to give us eternal life. Woohoo! Pass that on to someone.

There was a song in the 70’s that was popular with the teenagers and young adults entitled “Pass It On.” The lyrics were:

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love,
Once you’ve experienced it,
You spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.

Won’t you pass it on this week? Share the good news with your neighbor, friend or a stranger. Don’t keep it to yourself. Pass it along. Just like the fried chicken at my Grandma’s table, pass it along. Let everyone have the opportunity to taste of the goodness of God.

Lord, give me opportunities today to pass on the good news of Your Son to someone.

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Bible, Church, Home, Scripture, Worship

YOUR HOUSE CHURCH

COLOSSIANS 4:15

“Greet the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.”

There is some disagreement whether Nympha was a man or a woman or a family name. In this day of gender disorder, I don’t want you to be confused about this. Nympha comes from nymphe which means “young woman” or “bride.” That is probably the best reason to say this was a Christian woman who had opened her home up as a house church. The name is not the important thing. The important thing is what she did.

Paul obviously knew her or knew a lot about her. In the early church period, people met in homes for worship. Where else would they go? Jewish believers couldn’t worship Jesus in the synagogues. Gentile believers couldn’t enter a pagan temple and worship Him. They bonded together in their homes, sharing meals and praising the Lord. Nympha’s home was a well-known gathering place, and Paul sends his greetings.

APPLICATION

Today, we don’t see a lot of house churches in the West. We have built thousands and thousands of church buildings ranging from mega churches to small country chapels. There has been a movement to start house churches but only out of desire, not necessity.

In many parts of the world, however, house churches are a necessity. For instance, in China house churches are the norm. People have to move from house to house to avoid detection by the Communist government. Christianity is frowned upon, and people can be imprisoned for gathering for worship. House churches there take on the same atmosphere as the first century churches.

Why the history lesson? I want to ask you to make your home a place of worship. I don’t mean that you have to start a house church. But let worship spread through your home, giving glory to Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Let all who enter your home know immediately that Christ reigns there. Don’t wait to go to church on Sunday to worship. Worship every day right in your home.

Father, I commit my home to You to use as You see fit.

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Bible, Faithfulness, Scripture, Testimony, Unfaithful, Witnessing

FAITHFUL OR UNFAITHFUL

COLOSSIANS 4:14

“Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and Demas does also.”

One of the things we try to do in the ministry I serve with (Every Man A Warrior) is to take along a traveling partner when we have to travel to lead a training or a conference. Why? For spiritual and prayer support and to hold us accountable. We want to be above reproach and not cause rumors to be spread about our behavior. I recently took a dear brother with me to Jamaica for an EMAW. He helped in the teaching and was there to help guard my heart.

Paul had numerous traveling partners during his missionary journeys. Two are mentioned in today’s verse. One was faithful to the end while the other deserted Paul in the end. So, the thought came to me which I believe was prompted by the Spirit. What kind of brother am I? How will I finish this race? Will I be like Luke or Demas?

APPLICATION

You can read through Luke and Acts and follow “the beloved physician” as he travels with Paul and Peter. Luke took detailed notes as a physician is prone to do. Thank the Lord for those two books of the Bible. Don’t you wish you could have been in a front row seat as all those exploits unfolded? I sure do. I can’t wait to spend eternity with Luke and find out some of the other things he witnessed.

In 2 Timothy 4:9-11 we see these two mentioned again by Paul. This is Paul’s last letter before he is martyred. “9 Make every effort to come to me soon; 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.”

Read that again and see who you want to emulate, Demas or Luke? I choose Luke. Demas forsook Paul at the end. Paul said he “loved this present world.” We don’t know Demas’ end. Some say he became an idol priest in Thessalonica. Others say he moved there because of the wealth and commerce which he loved. One day we’ll know. But in the meantime, I want to be more like Luke – faithful to the end.

Lord, make me faithful no matter the persecution or struggles.

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Bible, Concern, Pain, Scripture

SHOWING CONCERN FOR OTHERS

COLOSSIANS 4:13

“For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.”

Raise your hand if you like pain. What? No one? I suffer from pain in my feet from neuropathy. It hurts to walk sometimes and forget about walking barefooted. Ouch! Why am I talking about pain? Because the word “concern” used in today’s verse can be translated as “pain.” That’s the depth of Epaphras’ concern for these believers. He actually was hurting for them.

Paul only used that Greek word once, right here. The other three times it is used in the New Testament, John used it. All three times he used it was in Revelation. We’ll see those below.

I am sure Epaphras shared with Paul his deep concern for these Christians in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Paul wanted to share this with the Colossians to show them Epaphras’ heart. It was real!

APPLICATION

In Revelation 16:10-11, John uses this word in a very negative way, referring to the unbelievers and what they will face in the last days. “10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds.”

Oh, but then John gives us all hope. I just love this verse. Revelation 21:4 says, “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” What a great promise. I can’t wait. I have known a lot of people who lived with pain in their earthly life who are now pain free.

How’s your pain for others? Do you have a deep concern that is so deep that it hurts? I want to be like Epaphras. I want to show others that kind of love. What stops me? My flesh! That has to die. I can’t love others like Jesus (or Epaphras) if I am looking out for myself. Will you join me?

Father, kill my flesh and let me love others with a deep painful concern.

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Bible, Faithfulness, Fighting, Prayer, Scripture, Striving

STRIVING

COLOSSIANS 4:12

“Epaphras, who is one of your own, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings, always striving earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.”

Often when you hear the word “striving” it has a negative connotation. We are trying hard, perhaps too hard to accomplish something. In the Christian world we might say that person is trying to do it in the flesh rather than the Spirit. But striving is not always bad. Let’s see what the Word has to say about it.

Paul says that Epaphras was “always striving earnestly” for others in his prayers. What a compliment! Wouldn’t it be great to be known for that? Epaphras could be counted on to pray for you if he said he would. So, was his striving a bad thing? No, let’s look at some other ways this word is used in Scripture.

APPLICATION

The word used here is agónizomai which means to struggle or to labor fervently. Jesus Himself used this word. We see that in Luke 13:22-24. “22 And He was passing through one city and village after another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to Him, ‘Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?’ And He said to them, 24 ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.’” We should strive to enter that narrow door.

In one of the best passages from Paul, we find the word used again in 2 Timothy 4:7. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;” Agónizomai is translated as “have fought.” Do you see the picture Scripture is trying to paint of this word. Striving is real. We all have our struggles. But it’s important to make sure that we are striving in the Spirit and not our flesh.

We get our word “agonize” from agónizomai. Have you ever agonized over something? Have you, like Epaphraas, ever agonized in prayer? There have been times in my life I did. God hears us. He knows the pain we are going through. Let me encourage you to strive a little more earnestly in your prayer life. I promise it will draw you closer to Him.

I cry out to You, O Lord. I know You hear and will answer according to Your perfect will.

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Bible, Fellow worker, Loyalty, Partner, Scripture

ONE OF THE FEW

COLOSSIANS 4:11

“and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.”

Sometimes when you move to a new city you will have a few of your new neighbors who reach out. They become the few among the many who make you feel welcomed. My wife and I moved to a new city one year ago and into a fairly large subdivision. It’s sad to say but the only neighbors we have met are the ones we have reached out to. No one has come to our door with a welcome gift or a casserole (that’s popular in the South). We should all be better neighbors.

Paul, however, had a few Jewish believers who stuck with him. We mentioned two of those yesterday, Mark or John Mark and Aristarchus. Many of the other Jewish believers were pretty fickle in their support for Paul. But here is Jesus (also called Justus) who Paul describes as a “fellow worker for the kingdom of God.” What a great compliment from Paul. Paul valued fellow workers because he knew he could not do the work alone. We are no different.

APPLICATION

Too many Christians fail because they think they can do it alone. This term fellow worker, used by Paul almost exclusively in the New Testament, is the Greek word sunergos. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance says it comes, “From a presumed compound of sun and the base of ergon; a co-laborer, i.e. Coadjutor — companion in labour, (fellow-) helper (-labourer, -worker), labourer together with, workfellow.” Remember, that preposition sun is that inseparable “with.”

Paul uses sunergos in Romans 16:3, 9, 16; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 1:24, 8:23; Philippians 4:3, 11; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; and Philemon 1, 24. Look up these verses and see who Paul is talking about. Can you just imagine your name listed there as one of Paul’s fellow workers? That would be awesome.

Only John, besides Paul, uses this term in 1 John 1:8. “Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may prove to be fellow workers with the truth.” And he gives the same weight to this term. We should all be fellow workers with the truth. Amen. Are you?

Father, make me into the kind of fellow worker with others that they need and give me fellow workers to accomplish all You have for me to do.

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Bible, Friends, Ministry, Partner, Reconciled, Scripture

MAKING UP

COLOSSIANS 4:10

“Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’ cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him);”

Have you ever made up with an old friend? Once you make up, you both often realize how silly your dispute was in the beginning. There’s an old song that says, “Making up is hard to do.” Well, it is if we allow our flesh to stand in the way. But if we allow the Spirit of God to rule us, we will be quick to reconcile.

Paul mentions a couple of people who are with him during this imprisonment. He directly calls Aristarchus “my fellow prisoner.” He doesn’t call Mark a fellow prisoner, so he must have been free to leave and go to Colossae. It is noteworthy that Paul asks specifically for Mark to be welcomed by the church there. He was probably afraid they may have heard about the rift between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15) over Mark and hold that against him. Paul is giving Mark an introductory letter to the church there with his full confidence.

APPLICATION

Mark had undoubtedly matured and become, once again, a trusted partner in ministry with Paul. Mark must have also lost some of his fear of persecution (some think this was the reason he deserted Paul earlier). Why else would he have been there with Paul during this imprisonment? Perhaps Mark had been rebuilding his relationship with Paul since that first breach.

We are told in Ephesians 4:1-3, “1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Paul was a peacemaker. He had made peace with Mark. Is there someone you need to make peace with?

Maybe you’re saying, Well, it’s been too long. They would never forgive me now.” Wrong. We don’t know how long it took Paul and Mark to make up, but they did. It may have been months or years. The time doesn’t matter. Do it today. At least try. You may be spurned by that person. If so, forgive them anyway. Pray for them daily. Do all you can to reconcile and then leave the rest with God.

Father, help me to be a peace with all those around me.

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