Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 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. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.” I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
Colossians 4:14-18
Father God, I come before You this morning, thankful for Your calling on my life and the encouragement that I get from those whom You have raised up to reveal to me Who You are. Through their witness I know Christ better, their intensive study of the Scriptures and faithful transmission of its truth making plain and clear Who Jesus is and His work on my behalf. I thank You for the clarity with which they speak and the boldness that is demonstrated in their manner. They not only point me towards You but also inspire me to do the same. Their fingerprints are all over my life, pointing me towards “more” in You. For them, I am grateful. I pray this morning that You would continue to drive me to faithfully fulfill the ministry that You have given me. Continue to remind me that my calling goes beyond what I do in a church setting, that it permeates every aspect of my living. LORD, I want to exude a welcoming spirit of humility and acceptance towards everyone I come into contact with, showing them the power of forgiveness and faith in You that changed my life. Let my gratitude be evident. And as I navigate through difficulties, grant me the steadfastness to persevere through, allowing my life to be a witness to Your sustaining power, and in some form or fashion encourage someone else who is going through. Please don’t let the “chains” of my life be for nought but instead use them to Your glory in Jesus’ Name.