Colossians 4:12 (NIV) “Epaphras… is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”
I have always believed that one of the greatest purposes we have as Christians is to help people come to know Jesus, help them discover and walk in God’s will for their lives, and then pray for them as they grow into everything God has called them to be. When I read about Epaphras, I see a beautiful picture of that kind of Christian.
Paul said Epaphras was “always wrestling in prayer” for other believers. And notice what he was praying for: “that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”
Epaphras wasn’t merely praying, “Lord, bless them.” He was praying them forward!
Think about what happens when someone moves from one home to another. A moving team shows up, picks up what is too heavy for you to carry alone, loads it, travels with it, and helps get everything into the new place. Good movers don’t keep your belongings. They aren’t trying to make your old house their house. Their job is simply to help you get from where you are to where you need to be.
What a picture of Christian ministry! God brings people into our lives who are in the process of moving spiritually. Some are moving from unbelief to faith in Jesus. Some are moving from spiritual infancy toward maturity. Others are moving through a difficult season into something God has prepared for them. They may be moving from confusion toward clarity, from fear toward faith, from hurt toward healing, or from uncertainty toward confidence in God’s will. We aren’t their destination. Jesus is. Our privilege is to help them move forward.
Sometimes that means sharing the Gospel. Sometimes it means teaching someone what God’s Word says. Sometimes it means offering wisdom or encouragement. Sometimes it means simply being there when life becomes heavy. And sometimes the greatest help we can give them happens when they aren’t even in the room. We pray. That is what Epaphras did.
There are people in your life right now who may never know how much your prayers are helping move them forward. They may not see the spiritual battles being fought by you on their behalf. They may never hear the prayers you whisper early in the morning or late at night. But God hears every one. Prayer can carry things people cannot carry themselves.
When someone is discouraged, you can pray strength into their situation. When they are confused, you can pray for wisdom and direction. When they are tempted to quit, you can pray that their faith will stand firm. When they are trying to discover God’s will, you can pray that the Holy Spirit will lead them clearly.
This is especially important with the people God has entrusted to us—our spouse, children, grandchildren, friends, coworkers, church family, and those we disciple.
Don’t merely pray that God makes their lives easier. Pray them forward. Pray that they know Jesus more deeply. Pray that they recognize God’s voice. Pray that they discover His purpose for their lives. Pray that they mature spiritually. Pray that they stand firm when opposition comes. Pray that they become everything God created them to become. These types of prayers are the prayers that every Pastor I know, prays over their congregations.
What an incredible purpose for our lives: helping people get to their next place in God. And someday in Heaven, we may discover that some of the greatest things we accomplished on behalf of others, weren’t things anyone ever saw us do. They were accomplished on our knees.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV) “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Prayer: Father, help me to be like Epaphras. Show me the people You have placed in my life whom I can help move forward spiritually. Help me encourage them, strengthen them, point them toward Jesus, and faithfully pray for them. Teach me to pray beyond their immediate circumstances and to pray that they will stand firm, mature, fully assured, and walk in all Your will for their lives. Use me to help others become everything You have called them to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
