Paul Commends Epaphroditus
25Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
28So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29Welcome him with Christian lovef and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
How many of us have known a person such as Epaphroditus?
Someone who is a Christian soldier who is always there by your side leading others to Christ.
Then they become ill and are unable to be a worker in Christ. You miss them and pray for them and the Lord willing they return to you.
And when they returned you welcome him or her with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him or her deserve.
I can honestly say the chaplains I had the pleasure of working with at the Arizona State Veterans Home fit this category as Epaphroditus did. When a chaplain couldn't attend on Friday's to make rounds we all missed them. If they were ill we prayed for them.
Most importantly, the veterans would miss them and rejoice when they returned.
Do you have a Epaphroditus in your life, a co-worker in Christ but haven't expressed the Christian love for them as Paul did towards his fellow Christian soldier Epaphroditus? Then express it today for you don't know what tomorrow will bring.
Blessings, David
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