Colossians 4:10-18 Three Types Of Men

Paul wrapped up this letter with some personal greetings.  My commentary categorized them into three groups.

The Men Who Stayed:  "Three Jews (Aristarchus, John Mark, and Jesus Justus) and one Gentile (Luke) ... all of them characterized by faithfulness to Paul in his hours of special need..."  As Christianity was getting started, these men forsook their lives for the Gospel and joined Paul as he began to evangelize the world around him.  "John Mark is an encouragement to everyone who has failed in his first attempts to serve God.  He did not sit around and sulk.  He got back into ministry and proved himself faithful to the Lord and to the apostle Paul."

The Man Who Prayed:  "Epaphras had founded the church in Colosse.  One of the secrets of his ministry was his prayer life.  Paul knew about this because Epaphras and Paul shared the same room, and when Epaphras prayed, Paul knew about it.  He prayed constantly, fervently, personally, definitely, and sacrificially."

The Man Who Strayed:  "Demas forsook Paul and apparently was never reclaimed.  His sin was that he loved this present world ... Christians today can succumb to the world just as Demas did.  How easy it is to maintain a religious veneer, while all the time we are living for the things of this world.  Demas thought that he could serve two masters, but eventually he had to make a decision; unfortunately, he made the wrong decision."

"Ministry is not something we do for God; it is something God does in and through us."

Father, help me to be a man who stays and a man who prays.  Please show me when the world is trying to take me out of ministry.  Thank You for ever choosing me to teach Your Word to others.  I love doing so.  Do more in and through me.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford