Colossians - Painting A Picture (Daily Devotional)

Greetings and welcome to Living Supernaturally. Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity to minister God's word and spend a few moments in prayer. Colossians chapter 4 and verse 12, ‘Epapharus… sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.’ Epapharus holds the unique distinction among the friends and co-workers of Paul as being the only one whom Paul explicitly commends for his intensive prayer ministry. Epapharus is apparently a shortened form for the name Epaphroditis which means handsome or charming. The very fact that Epapharus was praying for his flock while absent from them was an indication of his spiritual character. His prayer concern for them was an indication of the high level of his own inner experience. It was not an occasional, listless prayer on their behalf, but a constant burden of intercession. Regularly and repeatedly, he bore them up before the throne of grace. His deep concern for them made him obedient to the words of the Lord, which says, ‘Men ought to always pray and not to faint.’ The words that you may stand perfect and be fully assured in all the will of God indicate not the contents of his prayer but rather his desire for the Colossians. Epapharus knew the result he expected from his prayers. He had grasped the reality of ministering to people through his prayers. Epapharus was well aware of the possible disastrous results if the people or the believers were lured into heretical teaching. His deeper concern was for the positive, balanced development of the Christian character. Spiritual maturity will enable these believers to stand firm in the face of multiplying heresies. Whether subtle or blatant, it is imperative that believers are firmly rooted and grounded in the truth. Epapharus further desired that the Colossian believers might stand fully assured in the will of God. The concern of Epapharus was that they might be freed from doubts and uncertainties. The soul is torn by doubts and uncertainties as to what God's will requires. God calls each of us His own. All this and more, is reason to give worship and give Him thanks. As water never rises above its levels, so our service in its quality, reality, vitality and energy will never be higher than our genuineness, our relationship and fellowship with God. Paul asks us not to only appreciate this news but also to use it as a springboard to pray for others. We do not pray in vain. Paul knows that standing on the foundation of truth is worth everything. The question is what are we standing on?

Let's pray, Father, we thank you for the truth of your word and the promises of your word. We thank you that we can stand on your promises knowing that you are a faithful God who will complete and fulfill every promise that you have made upon our lives. We pray that we will be yielded and willing to do what you have called us to do, in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

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