He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.
Summary: We know very little about Epaphroditus, and yet what we know is enough to realize that he lived a full and adventurous life in the service of the Lord.
Every truly good story is based around a hero or heroine who puts themselves at risk to save others. The ultimate risk, of course, is the risk of losing life itself.
Both Paul’s and Epaphroditus’s story fits this mold.
At the beginning of the story, Paul is converted to faith in Jesus Christ by a direct encounter with our Lord on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). From that point on, Paul puts his life at risk, time and again, in service to Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:23).
It is during one of these adventures in faith that Paul first arrives in Philippi (Acts 16:12). One gets the impression that Paul’s relationship with the Philippians is special. As the church there grows, it maintains a connection with Paul.
When Paul is imprisoned by the Romans, another stage of his adventure begins. This is a subdued part of his story. He no longer has the freedom to decide what he will do. That choice has been taken out of his hands. Yet, even when he is a prisoner, God allows Paul some freedom (Acts 24:23).
It is during this period of imprisonment that others must step up and continue the story. One of those people is Epaphroditus.
Epaphroditus is not a “big name” in the Bible. He is only mentioned twice, and both times are in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Yet, Paul has told us a lot about him. The rest of the story is left to our imaginations.
It is not hard to fill in the blanks.
The Philippians have obviously heard about Paul’s imprisonment. They know where he is, and they know he needs their help.
When it comes to how they can help Paul, they probably meet and talk. They lift up prayers to God and listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Gifts of money and supplies are brought to the meetings. The only question that remains is how to get them to Paul.
Epaphroditus steps forward. “I’ll go,” he says, and so it is decided that Epaphroditus will be their emissary to Paul.
More preparations are made. Letters of introduction are probably written so that the churches along the way will know who Epaphroditus is. Finally, the day of departure arrives, he puts his life in God’s hands, and Epaphroditus’s adventure begins.
Application: Each of our lives is an adventure. What is your story?
Food for Thought: How does God write his story on our hearts?
He writes His story on our hearts by first having our hearts. It begins with us repenting of our sin and turning to Him for salvation and then submitting to Him in trust and obedience. God can write a great story on a heart totally surrendered to Him.
2 Chronicles 16: 9: For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Psalm 37: 1 – 9: Do not fret because of those who are evilor be envious of those who do wrong;2for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
Thank you, Brother!
So true!! Our story becomes our testimony. 🙂
Thank you Rich!
How does God write his story on our hearts?
By the blood of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, God writes His story in our hearts. As we submit to His revealed will over our own, He will become the power of our words and deeds as we are used by God to minister to those around us. It is our calling to seek His will over our own, die to self so that Christ might live in us, as we allow Him to minister to this world.
Our great joy comes as we experience and personally witness the power of God flowing through us, as He uses His people to effectively reveal His truths to this world around us.
Ezekiel 36:26, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.
2 Corinthians 1:1, Is not saying do not listen to the words which are written in ink, hence, letters, but listen to your heart.
2 Corinthians 3:3, And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Thank you, Ron!
The power of the Lord is indeed a story worthy of telling.