Colossians 4
from Daily Devotional With Murphy Eyenike Hosted by Murphy Eyenike
"And say to Archippus, "Be sure to carry out the ministry the LORD gave you."" Colossians 4:17. Paul did not mention why Archippus needed to be encouraged to fulfill his ministry and calling. However, we know from this verse and from Paul's letter to his friend Philemon that Archippus was a fellow minister and soldier of God. My guess, he had become discouraged and was no longer excited at doing the work of God. At worst, he had slipped or made a mistake, just like John Mark whom Paul praised in this chapter had once done, and had withdrawn from serving. Paul says to encourage him. The lesson here is two-fold; to the person who needs encouraging and to those of us who need to do the encouraging. We can become discouraged and that's fine, for whatever reason. But we can't afford to be down too long or to completely give up on our callings. Never forget, just as Paul alludes to here, it was God who gave you this calling, not all those criticising and trying to pull you down. It is to him you would ultimately have to give account. To those of us who need to do the encouraging, Paul had warned us in Galatians 6:1 to do it in gentleness and humility remembering that we are only standing by God's grace ourselves. Be sure to fulfil the ministry the LORD gave you.
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