ESOCS Devotional 12 February 2025: Attention To Your Ministry

ESOCS Devotional 12 February 2025 – Attention To Your Ministry

MEMORY VERSE: “And say to Archippus, take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Colossian 4:17 KJV

TEXT: COLOSSIAN 4:12-18

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. ¹⁴ Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. ¹⁵ Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

¹⁶ Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

¹⁸ This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

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Paul’s letter to Philemon was also addressed to Archippus (Philemon 1:2). Paul called him a

“fellow soldier.” He may have been a Roman soldier who had become a member of the Colossian church, or he may have been Philemon’s son.

Paul here exhorts this evangelist to complete the work of an evangelist to which he had committed himself to do (1 Timothy 4:6). He was to do the work of evangelism, that is, to seek and save the lost through preaching of the gospel (2 Timothy 4:5).

Archippus may have become discouraged, and thus he needed this spirit-inspired admonition to get on with the work that he had determined to do.

Which ministry did God call you into? Are you giving attention to it and how, or you are feeling discouraged? Remember, if God brings you to it, He will see you through it. He gave assurance that He will be with you always (Matthew 28:20).

The Apostles faced many challenges in Jesus Christ, enough to discourage them; but they stayed on and gave attention to their ministries. So, stay on and give attention to your ministry.

CHALLENGES

• Happenings in the world as we see today are discouraging many in their ministries.

PRAYER POINT

• Dear Lord, let your mercy say no to my discouragement and your grace to keep me on.

FURTHER READING: 1 Corinthians 10:31-33; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Colossians 3:17

ESOCS Devotional 12 February 2025