Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18


2 A.M. FRIENDS

READ:
Colossians 4:12
_________________________________________________________________________________________
He is always
wrestling in prayer
for you, that you
may stand firm in
all the will of God,
mature and fully
assured.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

A friend told me about a group of people who share a strong bond of faith in Christ. One of them, a 93-year-old woman, said, "I feel like I can call any of you at 2 a.m., and I don't even have to apologize if I feel the need for any type of assistance." Whether the need is prayer, practical help, or someone to be there during a time of need, these friends are unconditionally committed to each other,

The same sense of commitment shines through Paul's letter to the followers of Jesus in Colossae. Writing from prison in Rome, Paul says he is sending Tychicus and Onesimus to encourage them (DOL. 4:7-9). Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus send their greetings (vv. 10-11). And Epaphras is "always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" (v.12). These are bold assurances of practical help and deep-seated love.

Are you part of a "2 a.m. group"? If so, give thanks for the faithfulness of friends. If not, ask the Lord to connect you with another person with whom you can share a commitment to pray and care. I suspect it will soon grow to include others. Share the love of Christ with one another. Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. All in Jesus' name!
_____ David McCasland

**Jesus, thank You for friends who demonstrate Your love to me. Help me
to do the same for them and those around me. Most of all, thank You for
being the friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. JESUS

***************************Today's Bible Reading _ Colossians 4:2-15*****************************
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and
thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open
a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the
mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I
may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you
act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with
salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear
brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that
you may know about our circumstances and that he may
encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our
faithful and dear brother, who is one of you...

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings,
as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received
instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)

11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are
the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God,
and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is
one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He
is always wrestling in prayer for you and for those at Laodicea
and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas
send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters
at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Paul wrote the book of Colossians to the
church at Colossae, which apparently was a sister church to the
church at Laodicea about 10 miles away (COL. 2:1). The Colossian
church appears to have been founded by Paul's colleague Epaphras
(1:7) and was also the home church of Philemon and his redeemed
slave, Onesimus (4:9; SE PHILEM 1:2). _____Bill Crowder