Paul and Prayer: Colossians 4:12-13

Colossians 4:12-13

“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. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.”

Epaphras was, according to the Apostle Paul, the person who started the church at Colossae. This was his hometown, situated about 100 miles east of Ephesus, earlier the center of Paul’s activity and the place where Timothy would continue Paul’s work. Likely Epaphras was converted there, and was trained at the School of Tyrannus, the building used by Paul for his teaching. Here we see that he is with Paul at the Roman prison where Paul is being held. He came to help Paul, providing food and other services on behalf of the three close-lying cities in the Lycus Valley, Colossae, Hieropolis and Laodocia. While he is there, Epaphras relates the issues facing the Colossian church as well as what he knows about those sister churches close by.

Epaphras is a concerned man. He cares about the work of God in people’s lives. And he is not only working hard to meet Paul’s needs, but is “struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.”

Think of that phrase, “struggling on your behalf in his prayers.” This is the heart of the best prayers. Prayer is not easy or something glib. He’s laboring under a burden. And this is the kind of person you could wish would pray for you and for your own church’s problems. He is a true intercessor.

I have seen in the record of Scripture that the persons who cry out under a burden almost always see answers to their prayers. It’s not the effort that brings the answer, but a merciful God who loves to meet the deep concerns of his children. God is moved by our concerns. The burden is what you cannot help, not a method to cause God to respond. He responds because of who he is — the compassionate Father. Your compassionate heart appeals to his. Think about this as you pray.

And, oh yes, don’t forget that Paul needed the prayers of others also, just as do we. He ends his letter with this small sentence, “Remember my chains.” Perhaps he is reminding the Colossians that he is there for the sake of the gospel, and therefore for the sake of them. But it also may be Paul’s way of saying, “pray for me in my chains — don’t forget me” (4:18).

Pray for others we love and are burdened about. That’s the message.

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Thanks for reading. I am working through the prayer passages of the New Testament to receive guidance and stimulus for myself and others to pray more effectively and fervently.