SEPTEMBER 18, 2015
2 A.M. Friends
He is
always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of
God, mature and fully assured. — Colossians 4:12
Read:
Colossians
4:2-15
A friend told me about a group of people who
share a strong bond of faith in Christ. One of them, a 93-year-old woman, said,
“I feel like I can call any of you at 2 a.m., and I don’t even have to
apologize if I feel the need for any type of assistance.” Whether the need is
prayer, practical help, or someone to be there during a time of need, these
friends are unconditionally committed to each other.
The same sense of commitment shines through
Paul’s letter to the followers of Jesus in Colossae. Writing from prison in
Rome, Paul says he is sending Tychicus and Onesimus to encourage them (Col.
4:7-9). Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus send their greetings (vv.10-11). And
Epaphras is “always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all
the will of God, mature and fully assured” (v. 12). These are bold assurances
of practical help and deep-seated love.
Are you part of a “2 a.m. group”? If so, give
thanks for the faithfulness of friends. If not, ask the Lord to connect you
with another person with whom you can share a commitment to pray and care. I
suspect it will soon grow to include others. Share the love of Christ with one
another.
Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. All in Jesus’
name!
Jesus, thank You for
friends who demonstrate Your love to me. Help me to do the same for them and
those around me. Most of all, thank You for being the friend who sticks closer
than a brother.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for
one’s friends. Jesus10
INSIGHT:
Paul wrote the book of Colossians to the
church at Colossae, which apparently was a sister church to the church at
Laodicea about 10 miles away (Col. 2:1). The Colossian church appears to have
been founded by Paul’s colleague Epaphras (1:7) and was also the home church of
Philemon and his redeemed slave, Onesimus (4:9; see Philem. 1:2). Bill Crowder
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015