A minister is someone who quickly and efficiently goes like a waiter from table to table. And they move so quickly that they kick up the dust that’s lying on the floor. That’s the kind of guy that Mr. E. was to the Colossians. But not just any kind of minister.
-
Faithful – What’s the first thing that all faithful people do? It isn’t to put up a website. Or get thousands of social media followers. Or even to give lots and lots of money. The absolute first thing a faithful person does is to show up. Day after day. Week after week. They show up when they say they will and do what they promise. They are loyal and boy are they rare these days.
-
Christ – Mr. E. focused his faithful service and ministering on Jesus. He didn’t spend his time, energy, and money on some hobby or cause. No matter how good the other things might be, he focused everything on Christ. God’s sacrifice and his savior were the target of his life. And he did everything he could to hit bullseye every time. Every day. Every hour.
And the relationship they had was amazing. Mr. E. loved the Colossians and the Colossians loved Mr. E. They swam around in the same pool of love that God had poured out for them in Jesus. They loved one another, only wanting God’s best for each other. They supported one another. Encouraged one another. They were willing to let the other one have the attention. Let someone else be up front. Let someone else receive the credit.
Boy, doesn’t that sound like a group of people you’d want to be connected with. To be joined together with in Jesus. That’s the kind of connection we all want with the people we sit beside on any Sunday morning. And it can be. But it comes at a price. We need to become the servant. We need to take the first step in serving them. Giving up our rights and will to do God’s loving best for them. Serving them with their needs.
And then we need to become a minister to them. Energetically dropping whatever we’re doing and kicking up some dust as we move rapidly to love on them. Not doing what we think is best, but what God says is for their good. For their best. That’s the kind of connections God wants us to make. How’s your connection making and keeping going?
Noodling Questions
-
Is there a Mr. E in your life? What are they like?
-
Would anyone call you “our dear, faithful” servant? Why or why not?
-
What’s stopping us from becoming more like Mr. E. to the people around us?
This article about Epahras originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
