Tenacious Prayer

Our two-year Bible reading plan recently took us to Paul’s Letter to the Colossians (that’s if you began this year—and speaking of Bible reading, the plan for 2024-2025 is ready for you to pick up at church, or you can download it near the bottom of this page:  decide now that you will read God’s Word daily in the new year; not planning to read is planning not to read!).

In the closing verses of the letter, where Paul shares greetings from various spiritual companions, a verse I’ve zipped by count­less times grabbed my attention:  the description of Epaphras, a man from Colossae who was with Paul at the time (Paul was in prison [4:18], probably in Rome, and Epaphras was visiting him).

“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” (4:12, ESV).  What struck me is how he “struggles” in prayer for the Colossian brothers and sisters.  The English verb “agonize” is derived from this Greek word; other translations render it “wrestling” (NIV) or “labor­ing” (NASB) in prayer on behalf of the Colossians.

Epaphras is a fighter!  I don’t mean attacking other people or having a combative disposition—but rather:  doing battle on his knees, pleading with God for other believers’ spiritual maturation (Ephesians 6:18—praying is a key action in our spiritual warfare; if we put on all the armor of God [6:10-17] but don’t cover it in prayer, we’re sitting ducks for the Enemy’s hostile fire).

Paul goes on about Epaphras:  “For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you” (4:13).  His “work” may have included other actions to aid the Colossian church (like teaching, or caring for the needy), but tenacious prayer is surely at the heart of it.

Prayer isn’t a walk in the park—it’s labor.  Are you up to the task?  Not that our petitions effect change:  prayer relies on God to exert his power; it’s a posture of utter trust in the One who truly can change lives.  So let’s join Brother Epaphras in the Great Work!