Saturday, August 27, 2005
Bunch of No-Names?
At the end of Colossians, Paul mentions a handful of people we know very little about.
In 2005, we live in a culture of celebrities or personalities, and it is easy to feel insignificant. We've all felt insignificant or overlooked, before - at least I have. I grew up attending a church of seven thousand people - how could one person matter to God?
How could one person matter in the church?
But God really has wired each of us to make a contribution. While we are busy focusing on visible "heroes" like the Apostle Paul, God wants us to notice that everyone can play a heroic role in the faith.
For Tychicus, it was the role of "fellow servant," bringing valuable information and encouragement to Christians in Colosse.
For Nympha, it was hosting a brand new church in her own home.
For Epaphras, it was an ongoing effort to pray for other believers and their growth in the faith.
For Aristarchus, it was the key association of being a "fellow prisoner" in the Christ-proclaiming ministry of Paul.
We don't know much more about these people, or Archippus, Justus, or several others mentioned.
What I do know is that I'm reading about them 2,000 years later. They played an important role in the family of God, and so do you.
Nobody is without significance. We are all here to serve, and give what we can for God's eternal kingdom. The words Paul writes for Archippus might as well be to you and me today: "See to it that you finish the job God has given you!"
In 2005, we live in a culture of celebrities or personalities, and it is easy to feel insignificant. We've all felt insignificant or overlooked, before - at least I have. I grew up attending a church of seven thousand people - how could one person matter to God?
How could one person matter in the church?
But God really has wired each of us to make a contribution. While we are busy focusing on visible "heroes" like the Apostle Paul, God wants us to notice that everyone can play a heroic role in the faith.
For Tychicus, it was the role of "fellow servant," bringing valuable information and encouragement to Christians in Colosse.
For Nympha, it was hosting a brand new church in her own home.
For Epaphras, it was an ongoing effort to pray for other believers and their growth in the faith.
For Aristarchus, it was the key association of being a "fellow prisoner" in the Christ-proclaiming ministry of Paul.
We don't know much more about these people, or Archippus, Justus, or several others mentioned.
What I do know is that I'm reading about them 2,000 years later. They played an important role in the family of God, and so do you.
Nobody is without significance. We are all here to serve, and give what we can for God's eternal kingdom. The words Paul writes for Archippus might as well be to you and me today: "See to it that you finish the job God has given you!"
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