FELLOWSHIP TRANSCENDING GRIEVANCES – A MARK OF SANCTIFIED RELATIONSHIPS Posted: 06 Sep 2013 03:00 AM PDT Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 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. 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 4:7-18). Believers at their worst are capable of holding on to grievances. Earlier young John Mark had accompanied Paul and Barnabas on Paul’s first missionary journey. After ministering in Cypress, John Mark abandoned Paul when they reached the shores of Pamphylia, returning to Jerusalem. We don’t know why. It may have been the hardship of the trip. Perhaps John Mark was homesick or just became stressed. When Paul and Barnabas began planning their second journey, Barnabas insisted on John Mark coming along. Paul refused. Paul didn’t want anyone fainthearted on his team. Now twelve years later – Mark is with Paul in Rome, ministering to him. Paul sent Mark to Colossae as part of the team. Later, in 2 Timothy, Paul asked Timothy to stop and pick up Mark – “he is useful to me.” What’s the point? There was no way that two men who both loved God and were walking in fellowship with God would not have fellowship with one another. This is what true fellowship brings! If two believers cannot be reconciled, then either both or one is not in fellowship with God. Is there someone that you will not forgive – that you have no desire to forgive? If that’s where you are, then you need the fullness of Christ. If you are full of Christ, you will be like Him – forgiving. Because of Jesus, Ken Schroeder
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 11:35:04 +0000
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