“EP´APHRAS, MY FELLOW prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristar´chus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers” (Philem. 23–24). These five men represent what we shall probably meet in the way of human dependability when we are in Christ. First, Epaphras was pure joy. Paul writes of him in Colossians: “as you learned it from Ep´aphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and has made known to us your love in the Spirit” (1:7–8). Again: “Ep´aphras . . . remembering you earnestly in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God” (4:12). That last phrase—“stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God”—shows the type of endeavor Epaphras was putting forth. A high type, he was so positive that he got into jail over it. In Colossians he was free, in Philemon he was in prison with Paul. So his high spirituality could stand low and heavy chains.
Second, Mark—he was a disappointment and a joy. After he turned back from the work in Pamphilia, Paul refused to take him on another journey, and he and Barnabas “parted in irritation” over Mark. He came back, however, made good, became a fellow worker of Paul, was “profitable for the ministry,” and wrote a gospel! He is the example of the man who lost a skirmish and won the battle.
Third, Aristarchus was faithful and a joy. In Colossians he was called a fellow prisoner (4:10), here a fellow worker. Whether in prison or free, he was faithful. Fourth, Demas was a deep disappointment. “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me” (2 Tim. 4:10). His name now stands for the worldly minded. Fifth, Luke, who was more than continuous pure joy, wrote a gospel and the Acts. In Christ you may find three continuously faithful, one who wobbled but who got his feet again, and one who was nothing but disappointment. Christ remains steady.
O Lord Christ, amid the joys and disappointments of men, I find Thee the same yesterday, today, and forever. I am glad my center holds. I lean lightly on others, wholly on Thee. So I sing amid my disappointments. I thank Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I will not go up with the faithfulness of others, nor down with their unfaithfulness—I remain steady in Him.
