Throughout the years, one of the phrases I have often heard used for someone who serves as a vocational pastor or missionary is "in the ministry." I certainly understand why that phrase is used, and I don't have any major problems with saying that, but there is a limit to that phrase that I'd like us to think about. To describe those who are serving in a vocational ministry as "in the ministry" is totally fine, so long as you're also willing to acknowledge the fact that every Christian can be "in the ministry" whether their service is vocational or not.
I believe every believer has been entrusted with a ministry that the Lord wants them to focus on during the course of their earthly life. Scripture is very clear that all believers have been supernaturally gifted by the Holy Spirit to serve other people.
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Cor. 12:4-7)
But here's what I have been noticing over the past few decades since I started serving in church leadership. While all believers are gifted to serve others, only a portion of the church believes they've been gifted, and only a segment of that group is actively utilizing the gifts they've been given. Why is that, and what can be done about it?
I'm convinced that many of us spend too much time talking ourselves out of what God has called us to do. We let our insecurities get the best of us, and we sometimes hold back from serving because we're convinced that someone else can do a better job than we can. The reality is, however, that in most cases, the reason someone might be able to do a better job is because they've been gaining practice while serving instead of waiting for someone else to do it.
Only Jesus is perfect. We are all works in progress. So, relieve yourself of doing a perfect job and start aiming to do a faithful job in a joyfully obedient way. You have a ministry, whether you realize it or not, and I wonder if some of the examples Paul highlights in Colossians 4:12-18 might inspire you to become active in fulfilling the ministry the Lord has given to you.
I. Epaphras - Investing in the spiritual maturity of others
““Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.””
Epaphras is a man that I have a high degree of respect for. He was mentioned at the start of Paul's letter to the Colossians, and he's referenced again in Paul's closing words. Keep in mind that Epaphras was the man who planted the church at Colossae. He heard the message of the gospel when Paul preached in Ephesus, then returned to his home city to share the message. It was also very likely that Epaphras was the one who prompted Paul to write this letter when he reported to Paul all that was going on in this young church. The Holy Spirit gave Paul the words to say to help these young believers along in their walk with Christ.
What motivated a man like Epaphras to dedicate his life to serving Christ and the church? Epaphras was the kind of guy who was so grateful for the grace Christ had shown him that he couldn't wait to make the good news of the gospel known to others. And as others grew in their walk with Christ, Epaphras stayed personally invested in their ongoing growth. He wanted to see the church experience true spiritual maturity.
Just out of curiosity, which excites you more; seeing someone come to faith in Christ or watching a new believer press on toward spiritual maturity? It's probably not a fair question to ask, and I don't know if I would be able to truly draw a stark line between those important experiences. But I ask because if one or the other seems particularly exciting to you, and you feel highly motivated to participate in one of those options, you may be closer to discovering the unique area in which God has gifted you to serve in ministry.
II. Luke - Evangelism through medical care and the written word
““Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas.” ”
Have you ever met someone who operates on a high level in multiple areas? A couple contemporary examples might be people like Shaquille O'Neal who has excelled at basketball, business, and broadcasting or Elon Musk who has excelled in finance, manufacturing, and rocket science. During the days of the early church, I get the impression that Luke was one of those unique people who operated at a very high level in several different ways.
Luke was a doctor who travelled with Paul and used those abilities to minister to him when he was beaten, injured, or ill. He was also a careful writer and historian who wrote more pages of the New Testament than anyone else, including Paul. Paul wrote more individual letters, but Luke wrote more words by completing the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts.
I think Luke's example is fascinating. In many respects, you could say he was an evangelist, but his evangelism was often carried out through helping people with medical needs then writing detailed historical accounts of the life of Christ and the work of the early church. When most of us think of evangelism, we picture someone preaching to a tent full of people, but medical care and writing can become powerful tools for evangelism when used properly.
Luke didn't shy away from the work the Lord entrusted to him, but one of the men who was with Paul and Luke eventually did. Paul mentions a man named Demas in this passage. At this point, Demas seemed committed to ministering to others for the glory of Christ, but that eventually changed. We're told in 2 Timothy 4:10 that Demas eventually deserted Paul because he was, "in love with this present world."
I don't know what will be said about me when my time on this earth is done, but by the grace of God I hope it's said that I was faithful to the ministry the Lord entrusted to me and that I didn't desert His calling because I loved the false promises and pleasures of this world.
III. Nympha - Hospitality and hosting the church in her home
““Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.” ”
Hospitality is a ministry that clearly matters to the Lord. Throughout Scripture, we're given examples of how it has been used to minister to people. Scripture also makes it clear that if you aren't willing to show hospitality, you shouldn't be approved to serve as an overseer of the church (Titus 1:8). Some believers are genuinely gifted in the area of hospitality.
We don't know much about Nympha. She's mentioned in this passage, but we aren't given details of her life. We don't know if she was a quiet, behind-the-scenes kind of person. We don't know if she was a good cook. We don't know if she had a small home or a large home. All we know is that she was willing to treat that home as belonging to the Lord. Some people grumble at the thought of being hospitable, but Nympha considered it an opportunity to honor Christ and serve his people. Centuries before it became common for the church to own buildings and meetinghouses, believers used to primarily meet in homes, and one of those homes that the early church utilized was Nympha's home.
Have you ever considered the fact that the hospitality you show from your home might be an important tool the Lord uses in His eternal plan to build His church? It's that big of a deal.
IV. Archippus - Keep pressing on even if your enthusiasm starts to wane
“And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” ”
When Paul and the other church leaders of his day wrote letters to the churches, those letters were often copied and circulated so they could be shared with others and read out loud when the church gathered together for worship. That's how this letter was used, as was the letter Paul wrote to the church at Laodicea (which was only miles away from Colossae). Some believe the other letter Paul was referring to here was the letter we refer to as "Ephesians." If not, then he must be referring to something he wrote to them that wasn't included in the New Testament.
When I wrote my most recent book, I had to ask some of the people I mentioned in it to sign a "release" that gave me legal permission to mention them. That's a common practice when writing a book during our era, but I do find it interesting to see just how many times Paul referenced and even called people out by name in the pages of his writing. He definitely wasn't waiting for legal approval to do so, and in this passage, he calls out a man named Archippus.
We don't know very much about Archippus. Some believe he may have been a Roman soldier who became a follower of Christ. There is also some speculation that he was Philemon's son since he's mentioned in the opening greeting of Paul's letter to Philemon.
Regardless of who he was, he had an important part in the work of God's kingdom. In fact, I get the impression that he may have been going through a season where his enthusiasm for the work the Lord had entrusted to him was starting to wane and Paul wanted to help motivate him to get serious about that work once again.
That's such a useful thing for us to read and ponder. I will confess that there have been many seasons throughout the years when I felt somewhat weary of doing the work the Lord had entrusted me to do. There have been a few brief stretches along the way when I genuinely wrestled with the thought of throwing in the towel. But when the Lord calls us and gifts us to serve in a specific way, we need to stick with it until He changes our assignment or calls us home. That's the kind of challenge I think Paul was trying to give Archippus in this passage.
V. Paul - Lovingly lead even if costs you your freedom
““I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.” ”
As Paul concludes this letter, he wanted the church to understand a few important things. First of all, he was signing this letter in his own hand writing so they could confirm that it wasn't fabricated (which some of the false teachers of the day would sometimes attempt).
Paul also wanted them to remember his chains and the grace of God. Paul was willing to take a leadership role in the early church, even though that often cost him his freedom. He did this knowing that earthly freedom isn't the ultimate freedom he was looking forward to anyway. He had been set free from the chains of sin and death through the grace of Jesus Christ, so he was able to look at earthly chains as a momentary inconvenience.
That's a good reminder to us that the setbacks and adversity we experience in the present as we fulfill the ministry the Lord has given to us are also just momentary inconveniences, not permanent realities.
In the end, you will be glad that you followed the Lord's leading and direction. You will never regret doing what He calls you to do or serving who He calls you to serve. Without reservation I can promise you from my reading of Scripture and from my personal experiences that obedience to the Lord in this manner is always worth it.
© John Stange, 2022
