Day 352: Family greetings – Colossians 4 vs 7 -18

7-9 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.  I have sent him to you for this very purpose - to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 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!

12-13 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.  I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved doctor, sends his greetings, and so does Demas.  15-17 Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 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. And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” 18 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting – Paul. Remember my chains. May God’s grace be with you. Colossians 4:7-18 New Living Translation paraphrase (English Standard Version link)

Did you pick up from vs 10 where the apostle Paul was when he wrote this letter? Yes, he was writing from a prison where he an Aristarchus were 'doing time'. Their 'crime' was preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. How deeply they must have loved the Lord to be willing to endure imprisonment and beatings for telling others about Him. So, from his prison, Paul sends some 'family greetings'. What were Tychicus and Onesimus going to do? (vs 7-9)

Paul didn't want others to be discouraged by what he was going through, so he sent messengers to the Colossians to let them know how he is. I suspect he wanted them to know how the Lord was with him in his trials rather than complain and look for sympathy. Paul once had a fall out with his close friend Barnabas because of Mark, mentioned in vs 10, but look how kindly he urges the Colossians to treat Mark. Like any family, Christians may have rifts – but they shouldn't last! Look what Paul says of Mark and the one they called 'Justus'. (vs 11) There is a great service in the Church family of being a comfort and encouragement to others.

In Colossians 1:7 we learned that Epaphras (vs 12) had been one of the people who first brought the gospel to Colossae and many of them were saved through his preaching. What do we now learn of him? (vs 12-13)

He was someone who prayed hard and often for the Christians in the cities and towns of that region. Let us never underestimate the importance of praying for one another. And let us never doubt that God hears our prayers - and will surely answer them in the way He sees best.

Verse 14 tells us that Luke, who so carefully wrote a gospel and the book called Acts, was a doctor by trade. He accompanied Paul for many years and must have helped him physically so often. Sadly, the other man in vs 14, Demas, is likely the same person of whom Paul near the end of his life wrote: “Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world.”  Oh may we not be those who disappoint the family!

The Church is a family. And what Paul urged them to say to a chap named Archippus (vs 17) is true for us all. “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.” Let us use whatever skill or ability God has blessed us with to be a blessing and encouragement to others. And let us remember too those who, like Paul then, are in chains today because of the gospel.