You also Learned. Colossians 1:7-8 The Gospel is successful wherever it is preached, demonstrated by the salvation of souls and the declaration of its truth. Bearing fruit through salvation and the ongoing process of producing godliness in believers' lives gives a great reason for thanksgiving. The wider the Gospel spreads, the more benefits it provides to those who believe and the greater glory it brings to God. The grace of God is central to the Gospel, and when it is accepted, that truth is centered on our Lord Jesus Christ. There is also reason to be thankful for those who proclaim the Gospel, like Epaphras. Faithful ministers of the Gospel work hard to deliver the message and share its blessings. In this book, the theme is the preeminence and supremacy of Christ.
It’s not very different for us. We hear about some distant, previously unknown place, so we meditate, pray, and intercede; then, God stirs our interest until we seek to make some connections! Amazingly, the Spirit of God calls us to show interest, and before long, He shows us places and people who need to hear the Gospel. It is God we need for a connection! People around us ask how we know people far away. Neighbors are usually limited to coworkers and family. They wonder how we know people in Asia, Africa, South America, and other parts of the world. It’s God's will that we make connections! I am still amazed at how God's ways work. When I was young, it never crossed my mind that I would meet people from faraway nations, and even my wife would be from far away. God Himself arranged all these connections!
For some reason, Epaphras also was a “fellow prisoner” of Paul and a “dear fellow servant.” Combining what we know about him, we see that he was a man devoted to the Lord and trusted, loved, and valued by Paul. He was from Colosse and very dedicated to the assembly there, so he was naturally concerned about the believers he cared for in the Lord. No wonder the Spirit of God inspired Paul to write this epistle when so much was at stake.
What an excellent example of a recommendation for us. He impresses us by saying that God is the Source of Christians' love for each other and for those who need salvation. The love of Christ in believers compels us to urge sinners to reconcile with God. It goes beyond our natural tendencies to understand that we are privileged to serve as ministers of Christ. As such, we labor and pray earnestly for God's blessing on His people and their well-being. There is more to divine service and “goodwill to men.”
God-given concern for the Lord’s people requires love that comes from God and is rooted in the hearts of His servants. Through those who love and serve Him, the Lord Jesus Christ is honored as the Preeminent One, the Redeemer of sinners, the Lord of His people, and the Supreme Authority of the universe.
When God saves him, a man alone in his hometown might find it hard to return and share with those who knew him best something of priceless value that has changed him from within. It may be difficult to convince them he never fell under some influence. Often, people listen to mysterious stories and enjoy them just as entertainment. But when sin is revealed—both his and theirs—people start to protest, even to the point of seeking physical control.
A reputation strong enough that people will listen to what he has to say is a good endorsement of his message. When faith and reverence for God are part of it, people might desire what you already possess. Working with other fellow servants who agree with him means shared fellowship and mutual faith to enjoy. But when someone is isolated from all sisters and brothers, it is your personal testimony that you must rely on, and that matters to skeptics.
A faithful minister of Christ is a title worth aspiring to. When serving the Lord, he should speak carefully because he is not merely a hired preacher but someone who seeks the good of the people and God's glory. From such a servant, you can trust his explanations of the truth he shares for the common good. Those who truly live out what they preach understand that eternal matters are at stake, and their motivation is to serve the Lord in their words. Love in the Spirit is not just an emotion. We don't try to generate it to feel good about God and others. This love comes from the Holy Spirit and covers many sins, helping us see others as God does. God's love in us values others even when we don't like them. That love remains because of the Spirit's touch. We experience that love in different ways. We felt it on the first day of salvation; there was planted in us a love for fellow believers. Before, if they came near, we would try to avoid them. When we look at the people around us, we think about their future and want them to hear the way of salvation so they can escape punishment for their sins if they accept the Lord Jesus as their Savior.
There is also a love for God's things. Communion in prayer and reading His Word becomes a part of our lives, meeting a need that can only be satisfied when we follow God's will. Love exists because we want to gather with God's people in fellowship and worship. The words of the Gospel bring joy to our hearts, and being taught by other Christians helps our love grow.