Daily Bible Reading 16th August 2025 // Colossians 4:7-18
7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 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. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 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. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfil the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Epaphras (v 12), Paul's beloved fellow-servant (1:7-8) and fellow-prisoner (Philemon 2:3), exemplifies precisely this faithful stewardship of intercession for those who are up against it. How challenging is Paul's commendation of his brother in Christ (v 12-13). Epaphras, so far away in prison in Rome, wrestled in prayer for his children in the Lord. He laboured fervently (the Greek word that Paul uses to describe Epaphras praying is the word which gives us 'agonise' in English); he agonised in prayer for the Colossians, crying to God that they might stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured (cf Paul's agonising labour for the Colossians 1:29). This is how it must be for us, conscious of our own great weakness and inadequacy, depending desperately on the prayers of the saints and, at the same time, devoting ourselves to steadfast prayer, watching and praying and bearing up our co-workers to the throne of grace in prayer, so that when the day of evil comes, both we and they may be able to stand our ground and having done everything to remain standing, firm, mature and fully assured.